LINC is a free language training program for eligible adult learners and in the words of ISS of BC:

• are designed to meet your English language needs, ranging from day-to-day living to finding a job
• improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, while providing you with information on your local community, life in Canada and searching for a job.
• are offered for free to Canadian newcomers who have received an assessment by the LINC Assessment Centre.

The LINC program is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and as mentioned above you do not have to pay for LINC classes.

In Ontario, the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) program is primarily offered in English. However, there are institutions that offer it in French but they are rarer in you may need to look at more programs to find one that suites your needs.

LINC offers both full- and part-time classes, and some centres have free child-minding while you attend classes. Remember, every adult in your family can take LINC classes if they are eligible.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for the LINC program in Ontario, you must

• Be a landed immigrant (not a Canadian citizen or visitor)
• Or a convention refugee (not a refugee claimant)
• And be of 18 years of age
• Take a language assessment test at a Language Assessment Centre, to figure out which level is right for you.

If you live in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) you can apply via the Toronto District School Board website. You may speak with a counsellor for an assessment after you fill out their online forum.

For More Information

• Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) – The nationally recognized standard for assessing of Adult English as a Second Language in Canada.
• CLB – Online Self-Assessment – This tool will assess your CLB levels in reading and listening. Your test results are for your information only – they are not official results.