Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and members, I am pleased to be here today to talk to you about the Citizenship and Immigration Canada—Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee, its achievements to date and especially the priorities it has identified for the next five years. I am proud to co-chair the committee with Mr. Marc Arnal, an ardent supporter of the program with extensive knowledge of francophone minority communities.
The steering committee was created in March 2002 to develop strategies to promote immigration to francophone minority communities. In November 2003, it released the strategic framework, which set out key objectives: increase the number of French-speaking immigrants to francophone minority communities and facilitate the reception and the economic, social and cultural integration of those immigrants into the communities. In March 2005, the steering committee published a progress report called Towards Building a Canadian Francophonie of Tomorrow, a summary of initiatives undertaken and planned between 2002 and 2006.
As you know, the steering committee launched its strategic plan at a media event in Winnipeg on September 11 that was attended by the Honourable Monte Solberg and the Honourable Josée Verner.
The strategic plan flows directly from the five objectives in the strategic framework, but more clearly identifies the challenges to be addressed, proposes focused actions for the next five years, and sets out a course for the long term. Marc Armal has already presented the details of the plan to you.
When the strategic plan was launched, Minister Solberg announced the renewal of the steering committee's mandate for the next five years (2006-11) to ensure the implementation of the plan. The steering committee is made up of 10 CIC representatives from various branches and regional directorates, representatives from 12 federal departments, six provinces and one territory, one representative from the Francophone Intergovernmental Affairs Network, and 11 community representatives.
The success of the steering committee lies in the inclusion, contribution and commitment of key federal, provincial, territorial and community partners.
Examples of initiatives already undertaken include the new reception and settlement infrastructure within the francophone communities of Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Ottawa. Also, various tools have been developed to facilitate the integration of immigrants, like the reference guides on services available in French in six cities in Ontario. I would also like to emphasize the promotion and recruitment activities in countries like France, Morocco and Mauritius and the promotional events that were held in Nice, Brussels, Paris and Rabat to encourage skilled worker applications.
Tremendous progress has been made, but much remains to be done, especially as we officially begin to implement the strategic plan.
To ensure implementation, we will set up a committee smaller in size and reporting to the steering committee. This implementation committee will establish and support the necessary relations and collaborations, identify the need for studies and research, and follow up on the priorities and strategic directions identified by the steering committee, the regional and local networks and its federal, provincial and community partners.
Part of the funding to implement the five-year strategic plan will come from existing programs.
First, the Action Plan for Official Languages, launched in March 2003, allocated $9 million over five years to CIC to promote immigration within francophone communities.
Second, the additional settlement funds announced in the 2006 budget will support some of the initiatives of the strategic plan. These new funds will be used to meet the immediate needs of immigrants by improving existing programs and developing pilot projects for target client groups, including francophone minority communities.
Third, we will rely on the leverage effect that can be created by forming strong partnerships with other departments, be it the Department of Heritage, the Department of Health or others.
Fourth, the implementation committee will examine the existing funding mechanism for the implementation of the strategic plan and will identify shortfalls to ensure its success.
I would also like to mention some data that may help you in understanding the strategic plan. In 2001, about 3.1% of immigrants were French-speaking people who immigrated to francophone communities outside Quebec. The strategic plan sets a goal of increasing the number of French-speaking immigrants to francophone communities outside of Quebec, from 3.1% of Canada's overall immigration to 4.4% by 2008.
I would like to point out that, in the plan, we have also changed the definition of what we deem to be an immigrant whose first official language is predominantly French. Consequently, the objective is even more ambitious.
Based on historical levels of immigration, that could represent between 8,000 and 10,000 French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec every year.
Thank you very much for inviting us to make this presentation today. We would be happy to answer your questions.