Evidence of meeting #41 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was settlement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Since Ms. Wong ran out the clock and Mr. Dykstra could not ask a question, I'll just do Mr. Dykstra a favour and ask an intelligent question on his behalf.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
I want to engage in a little bit of role reversal. I want you to know that Mr. Dykstra and I, and Ms. Wong and everyone here, work together with one objective, and that is to improve the quality of life and standard of living of immigrants. That is what we are driven by. We have to make recommendations. So I, along with Mr. Dykstra, Mr. St-Cyr, Ms. Thi Lac, and many others, will produce some recommendations. Then we'll debate them.
Now if you could play our role and you were writing the report, what would be the number one priority in this study of best practices? What would you say? What would you want included--just one thing, not ten--as an absolute must, a deal breaker of sorts?
10:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Afghan Women's Counselling and Integration Community Support Organization
When we are looking at best practices in settlement, there has to be a holistic approach in terms of settlement, not just looking at the selected needs but looking holistically at the needs and the quality of the needs of the newcomers, and also recognizing and acknowledging their diversity, because some factors will work very well for some immigrants but not for others. So just recognize that diversity and keep it in mind.
And also, it's--
10:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Afghan Women's Counselling and Integration Community Support Organization
Okay. That's okay.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
10:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Chinese Family Services of Ontario
Employment is important, but how has the Government of Canada responded to or addressed the harmony of families and individuals?
10:35 a.m.
General Manager, Chinese Professionals Association of Canada
I would say it would be mentoring support. You can leverage a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge from among the community. So the government only needs to propagate the method, propagate the model down to the community and let the community work with these people. By leveraging those who are already here, those who have been exposed to the problems, you can solve these problems and teach the newcomers this way.
10:35 a.m.
Executive Director, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
My suggestion would be to have significant investment in engaging immigrants in public processes so that there is no alienation or marginalization. We know that second-generation immigrants are also facing job challenges, having been born here or having been brought up here. Statistics Canada says that as well. So I think immigrant engagement has to be part of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's profile of work.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Thank you very much for your contributions.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone here. Since you are the last panellists before the Christmas and holiday season break, we wish you all the very best and much joy and happiness with your family and friends.
December 10th, 2009 / 10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciated Mr. Bevilacqua's comments, as usual.
I do have a couple of questions that arose from the presentation. One of them, Ms. Niazi, had to do with the three recommendations you made.
On the third part, in terms of the gap in mental health services, I do think this is one of the issues that our government has addressed. In 2006 we received a review of the mental health in the country and the focus that the country needed to take. It was actually co-chaired by a Liberal senator and a Conservative senator. It ended up being in the 2006 budget, and we actually worked through the implementation of that strategy with seven or eight locations across the country that have become foundations in terms of moving the strategy forward. I think we are moving in that direction.
The reason I brought it up is that I think the issue of mental health in this country is not subject to just new immigrants. It is an issue that we face as a country, because it is something that has been ignored for far too long. I appreciate your bringing that forward.
I just wanted to reinforce that it is an issue. I think this actually goes across party lines, despite who did or didn't support a particular budget. The 2006 and 2007 budgets, with specific regard to this issue, were supported by all parties. It is not something that we have taken lightly from a government perspective.
I have a bit of concern around expansion of the criteria with respect to settlement services for those who have become Canadian citizens, because it does open the door from a use perspective. It also opens the door from a cost perspective. I hesitate to say that I can agree with you on that point. I would like to give you the opportunity to see how we would address that issue.
If we open it up for all citizens, it becomes a very difficult issue to manage. There are opportunities, obviously, for those who have become citizens to further their education and their understanding of Canada, including the new document that has been put together by the ministry for new citizens and those who are coming to the country to be able to learn about it.
I would ask that you comment on that, because I have no idea how we would afford to be able to do that.
10:40 a.m.
Executive Director, Afghan Women's Counselling and Integration Community Support Organization
Thank you very much, especially on the mental health. I really appreciate that.
I meant that if the settlement organizations are also supported and receive funding, especially to deal with the mental health cases, that would be very helpful. There are mainstream services, but we have the experience, when we send out clients. First of all, it's not competent for the needs of the client. There's not the understanding, sensitivity, and also the language. We had a project funded by the United Way. It was very positive and it worked very well. It would be good if the organizations were also funded.
In terms of criteria, we have met some immigrants, especially seniors, who lived here for many years and have become citizens, but they don't know their address. They have their address; they show it. There is a great need for them. They do need settlement services. If they approach us, it means there is still a need. After three or four years, people become citizens here.
As I mentioned, when the women come here, first they take care of their family, then they get some low-income job, whatever it is. For the citizenship, the language that's needed is very basic, but it's not enough to qualify them or make it easy for them to get employment, especially for people who come with high qualifications. They need higher language classes, like ELT.
We have many clients coming to our office who are in dire need of services, but we cannot provide that service under CIC-funded programs. We get just enough money to work with them, but the work we're doing is not at the same standard.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
She's been gracious and said I could use some of her time.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Shan, I have a couple of questions for you and also a question for Mr. Chang.
I was a little taken aback by your comment about how the South Asian communities had difficulty integrating into the country. I want to give you an opportunity to clarify.
Based on my experience, the South Asian community in Niagara, in particular in St. Catherines, has done an amazing job of integrating. And some of my closest friends...obviously, the leaders in the community, in terms of professional aspects, whether they be lawyers, doctors, or accountants, and right across the board in terms of education.... Some of the top teachers in our community are from South Asian communities. I guess I disagree with you, because certainly my anecdotal experience in Niagara has been the exact opposite. I just want to give you an opportunity to clarify.
