Evidence of meeting #17 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was brunswick.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
So the schools play an important role. What about working in French in Manitoba, New Brunswick and Ontario? I know we're talking about a majority anglophone world here, but I'd like to know what you can do about jobs.
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
In our communities, one of the important observation is that people can live in French in the francophone community, but knowledge of English is absolutely essential for work purposes. People therefore have to become bilingual if they aren't so already. At the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, for example, we offer English second-language courses to immigrants, specifically to enable them to have easier access to the job market.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of Francophone Affairs, Government of Ontario, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
In Ontario, it depends on the regions. Working in French in Toronto is very rare. You absolutely have to be bilingual, to know English. It's easier in the regions in eastern Canada and in the northeast, as you are no doubt aware. So it depends on the region.
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
My answer would be similar. Mr. Godin is aware of that. We can function in French in certain regions. However, if you work in the private sector and your customers are American, even if you live on the Peninsula—
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
People also have to be able to get a job. I assume that's important for retention purposes.
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
One of the settlement objectives of these regional resource centres—
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
I'm going to finish, and that will provide food for thought, because I know my time is running out. I'm talking about the credentials issue. We know this is a provincial jurisdiction. The federal government has some responsibility, particularly with regard to doctors. There are pressures. Where do we stand on that subject? We mustn't have any more doctors driving taxis than there are doctors in hospitals. Have any measures been developed in that area?
Conservative
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
This would be worth it; I would only take a minute, Mr. Chairman. I know you'll grant me that.
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
I know there is a federal agency that deals with the recognition of foreign credentials. We're looking at that issue in Manitoba, in particular. There is an enormous, colossal job to be done.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.
I'm going to continue using my speaking time. I have two questions for the representatives from New Brunswick on the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie.
Ms. Drapeau-Miles, can you tell me how many immigrants there were in total in New Brunswick in 2008 or 2009?
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
Do you want me to send you the exact statistics?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
I would like you to do that.
In addition, is it possible to know the percentage of francophone immigrants? You mentioned an objective, which was approximately one-third. Where do you stand in relation to your objective?
Immigration Program Officer, Population Growth Secretariat, Government of New Brunswick
Based on the 2006 census, approximately 12.5% of newcomers are francophone.
Immigration Program Officer, Population Growth Secretariat, Government of New Brunswick
I expect that has increased since then.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
That's fine.
I'm going to put the same question to the representatives of the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie. Do you compile data on francophone immigration? This really seems to be a new field of interest. The appeal of French Canada was mentioned. Have you started to look at this matter in a systematic way, to compile data on the subject, as a pan-Canadian grouping?
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
The Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie doesn't compile data on that subject. However, I believe Citizenship and Immigration Canada does. It would be relatively easy to obtain figures.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Do you compile any other data on the vitality of the francophone communities? Are you conducting any analyses?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of Francophone Affairs, Government of Ontario, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
I can talk about Ontario. We're conducting demographic analyses on the Franco-Ontarian population. In the fall, we'll be publishing some detailed demographic profiles. There will be four of them. We also published one in December on the Ontarian francophonie as a while. We'll have four sectoral profiles, including one on franophone immigration to Ontario. So we'll have the data in the fall. We're doing this work with Statistics Canada.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you.
That completes our three rounds. Some committee members may perhaps wish to speak.
Ms. Glover, go ahead, please.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I simply wanted to say that Mr. Weston wanted to speak.