I’d like to welcome Stephan Reichhold here today. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the committee. The work you do with immigrants is remarkable.
In Quebec, the Canada-Quebec Agreement applies to immigrant settlement. I would like you to describe to us the impact of the growing percentage of young people. This aspect of the question must be examined; it’s becoming more and more important. We can see it in our offices. People who apply for permanent residency or who request a work permit are often accompanied by young children. When they decide to remain in Quebec, their children have learned to speak French with other Quebec children or in day care.
Is this problem one that is unique to a particular province? Has Quebec gone forward in its treatment of young immigrants?
As for the other participants today, what steps have you taken with the federal government? You have surely met certain officials from Citizenship and Immigration. I certainly hope that the federal government didn’t dismiss your request and that you were provided guidance. Could you describe for us some of the progress that has been made with Citizenship and Immigration?