Definitely.
Evidence of meeting #8 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subamendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #8 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subamendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Noon
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
Definitely.
Noon
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
We recently read some articles on that subject. The students often pay their fees when they submit an application and are still waiting to be accepted.
Can you tell us whether your institutions receive these amounts? If so, are these fees reimbursed if the student is not accepted?
We know that this also causes problems for African students.
Noon
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
That's a good question.
I can speak on behalf of Quebec CEGEPs. Registration fees are usually low at the outset, but I can't give you the technical details. In principle, yes, they are reimbursed.
Noon
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
According to some of the articles, students have been complaining. They are asking why Canadian institutions accept these payments and do not reimburse them when their applications are refused.
Do you agree that these fees should be reimbursed to students who have not been accepted?
Noon
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
If we are talking about a nominal administrative fee for processing applications, that's one thing. If we're talking about tuition fees paid in advance, that's another matter.
Noon
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
We cannot not reimburse tuition fees to a foreign student who is not coming. These must be reimbursed. In any event, the courses have not begun. It's a basic principle. If a service hasn't been rendered, then the amounts paid need to be returned, of course.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
Now I'll ask Ms. Madhany a question.
You talked about the Study and Stay program that seemed to be a success. Can you expand a little on how we can expand on the program and what measures you would propose, as well as what safeguards you can suggest to the government to put in place to ensure that we have a legitimate process to accept students and to make sure that we are able to retain them?
12:05 p.m.
Managing Director, Canada and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services
Basically, it's a program in Nova Scotia called Study and Stay. It's an application process. You have to apply, and you have to demonstrate through a letter of intent why you want to stay in Nova Scotia. The way it works is that you have to commit to staying in Nova Scotia for a full two years after you get this process and application.
During the time you are there, you get mentorship and you get supports. They will make sure that everything is supported, like housing or whatever else. I don't mean free; I mean generally from a rent perspective.
They've found that it has been highly successful—
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
I'm sorry for interrupting. Your time is up. Thank you.
We will now proceed to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for two and a half minutes.
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, you can please begin.
12:05 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
As this is my final turn to speak, I would like to thank the witnesses directly, because they were well prepared. They gave terrific testimony today on behalf of the committee and its eventual recommendations.
I asked you a question earlier, Mr. Dornier, and I think that we skirted the subject to some degree because we went off in another direction. Can you tell us how important foreign students are for specific programs at certain institutions? I'm thinking of institutions like the Matane CEGEP. They are mainly regional postsecondary institutions, in places like Saint-Félicien and Alma. I've been told that some programs in these institutions were there partly because of the foreign student clientele.
Is what I have been told true?
12:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
Yes, absolutely.
For many colleges, even outside Quebec, the tipping point for some programs amounts to only a few students. Quebec's or Canada's demographics make it difficult to find the required students. Searching for them abroad and bringing them here can mean the difference between continuing with the program and having to abandon it.
If the cohorts are not filled by foreign students, some complete course offerings may be compromised or even cancelled.
12:05 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Broadly then, let's agree on three facts today.
First of all, foreign students are seeing their dreams shattered because they are not accepted here.
Secondly, there is a risk that programs will have to be cancelled, particularly in the regions, which will penalize students who are already there and who are Canadian citizens.
Thirdly, Quebec society could end up losing students who would otherwise have remained here afterwards.
Am I mistaken?
12:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
No. I would even go so far as to add that consolidating francophone communities in the country also requires francophone and francophile students who come here to study French. It's exactly the same mechanism more or less across the country.
12:05 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
So we are talking about francophone communities outside Quebec?
12:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
Yes, definitely.
12:05 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
We've already discussed the government's 4.4% target for francophone immigrants, which has never been met. I see you agreeing, Mr. Léger, I think there is work to be done on that.
12:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
Precisely. There's a lot of work to be done.
Attracting international students is a very important factor in reaching this 4.4% target. That's why it's absolutely essential to address it now, because the government has been promising to reach this target for a long time, but we've never really implemented any measures to get there.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We will now proceed to Ms. Kwan for two and a half minutes, and that will end the round of questioning.
Ms. Kwan, go ahead.
12:05 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
One of the issues that international students have brought to my attention is this. They are often not able to get enough points through the express entry system because their work experience here in Canada is not counted towards that calculation. They've been arguing and suggesting that this should be changed, and I'm inclined to agree with them.
I'd like to get your thoughts on that in terms of the immigration policy. Should students' work experience and study experience be recognized towards their landed status application through the express entry system? This is for both witnesses, please.
12:10 p.m.
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
You're talking about the experience they acquire while they are students here.
12:10 p.m.
Chairman of the Board, Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada
Okay.
That definitely should count. Factors like these demonstrate that students are putting down roots and becoming accustomed to their new environment and their new host society. I've always taken the same view of students who come to stay with us. All positive measures other than those related strictly to their studies should definitely be taken into account.