Evidence of meeting #17 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was immigrants.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Thank you very much, Mr. Minister.
We have a very brief question, our final question, from Mr. Murphy.
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Minister, thank you for coming here.
You spoke about upping the program by $300 million. We certainly want to know whether it's specifically within your department, whether it's specifically above the action plan as presented by the department, and whether it's specifically for francophone communities.
I'll let you answer that after I ask my second question, which is really more of a comment.
I'm from Moncton, New Brunswick. It's a tremendously vibrant community, not only culturally and linguistically, but it has a great economy. It should be a centre and a target for immigration in this country.
I'm a little disturbed because the deputy mayor of my city, the former premier, and Monsieur Patry, from our party, attended. I don't recall any discussion from those individuals on the issue of immigration to Canada. Moncton itself has a consulat général for France in its community, as well as a consulat de Roumanie in our community.
The buck stops at your desk and you have to take responsibility. I'm not sure that you as minister emphasized the importance of the francophone minority population and the economic vibrancy that exists in New Brunswick or that you promoted it as a department. I don't know what role you had at the Sommet de la Francophonie and whether you were maximizing it, but I don't think you were.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Well, I appreciate your question.
I have spent a lot of time in the past with the Minister of Immigration from New Brunswick and talked about these issues. In the past, it was Percy Mockler. Of course, he had an abiding interest in the issue of francophone minority communities and services, as well as the tie to regionalization and finding ways to encourage people to come to live and work in cities or areas outside Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
You're right that Moncton is a very exciting place these days. There's lots going on and that's great.
It's true that I wasn't at la Francophonie, but we have a deep interest in this.
The $307 million is new funding that was announced in the budget. It's going to settlement services in general around the country. But obviously, in New Brunswick, our only bilingual province, a lot of the money will end up going to support settlement services for francophone minority communities.
I'm excited about that. I think this is a great chance to really put the resources behind this strategic plan. Now when we go abroad and encourage people to come to places like New Brunswick, we'll also have the resources to make sure they feel very welcome when they finally arrive.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Thank you very much, Mr. Minister.
On behalf of my colleagues on the committee, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to assist at our committee. Your information has no doubt been very helpful. I'm sure we'll be talking in the future.
Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.