Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning, everyone.
Labour market integration is one of the major challenges facing newcomers. We tell them to come to Canada, to an English or French area, depending on the minority, and we show them the work that is available in the region. In Quebec, for example, 80% of immigrants wind up in Montreal. Efforts have been made for a portion of immigrants to be directed to the regions. However, immigrants sometimes return to Montreal. In my city, in Gatineau, we find 4% of immigration to Quebec. You get an idea of the picture? And yet, it's a centre, but Montreal has a very great power of attraction.
Earlier you mentioned the birth place of Louis Riel, Saint-Vital, as well as Saint-Norbert and Saint-Boniface, which are now part of Greater Winnipeg. However, Winnipeg represents roughly half of the population of Manitoba. So we're still talking about a major centre. For obvious reasons, small villages like La Broquerie, St. Jean Baptiste and all those along the Red River to the south don't benefit from this immigration, or at least not as much as the centres you referred to earlier. I'm putting my question to people who work in the field, in Manitoba and Quebec.
What options are you considering? The problem is always there, and it's no one's fault. Do we have to find a way to revitalize the communities, to ensure immigrants have jobs and to recognize their credentials, which is a provincial jurisdiction? They need jobs in the communities that are consistent with their training.
The people from Manitoba could answer first, then leave some time for our friends from Quebec.