Who pays the cost?
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.
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.
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
For training in English as a second language, there is federal funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. As for French training, I couldn't give you an answer. I don't know whether it's provincial or federal funding.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Funding from the Government of Canada is used to provide francophone immigrants with training in English. Is that what you're telling me?
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
The goal is to enable them to give them easier access to the labour market.
Liberal
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
As I said, it's dual training.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
But it isn't paid for by the Canadian government in the case—
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
I can send you the answer in writing concerning French training. I don't have it at this time.
Liberal
Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of Francophone Affairs, Government of Ontario, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
I don't have that information. I know that language training is offered in French and in English in Ontario, but I don't have the details on the amounts invested and so on.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Could you send us information on that subject? Would that be too much to ask you?
Mr. Boisvert, do you have any information on that subject?
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
I could send you figures or specific information, but the fact remains that it varies from one community to the next in New Brunswick. Some need training in French, and others need training in English.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Does the $10 million that the Government of New Brunswick has received from ACOA include funding for language training?
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
Under the agreement, it's in accordance with the needs of the community.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Who determines that: the community or the Government of New Brunswick?
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
It's the resource centre. We also have to ensure that the $10 million is used to complement not replace the funding we receive from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The language training offered is paid for by CIC. I can send you specific information on that point.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Yes, I would like that, but I'm going to continue exploring the matter in the time I have left. I've tried to obtain information through a question on the Order Paper. However, reference was made to amounts, although the exact amount intended for language training in English and French respectively was not given. This leaves us utterly confused. This information is of some utility, but it isn't what we're trying to find out. I may come back to this later, when witnesses from the Government of Canada appear. What I want to know is what percentage of the funding is allocated to the language training in French offered to francophone immigrants. These cases seem quite rare. If I'm right, recommendations may have to follow. If I'm not right, I would like to know.
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the witnesses for volunteering to send us that information. We'll await it with interest.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you very much, Mr. Bélanger.
Mr. Godin, go ahead, please.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Ultimately, what more do you need to support francophone immigration in New Brunswick and elsewhere in Canada?
A professor from the University of Ottawa said that francophone immigration started in Moncton and ended in Sault-Sainte-Marie. He forgot there is a beautiful francophone culture in Saint-Boniface and British Columbia, as we can see. Now all the francophones from back home are going to Alberta to get work. I don't think a lot of immigrants would come to Caraquet since everyone has to go to Alberta to get work. It doesn't stop in Sault-Sainte-Marie, as some believe.
Ultimately, what more would you need to increase immigration and help the provinces, Ms. Drapeau-Miles?
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
Can my colleagues start answering? I'll come back to it later.
Executive Director, Population Support, Population Growth Secretariat, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick
Yes, it's a big question.
Director Executive, Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Government of Manitoba, Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
I believe that, in the next few years, within two or three years, we'll be able to take a closer look at needs, priorities and so on.
There was the Action Plan for Official Languages. Now there's the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality. We very much hope there will be a third, similar plan. Under a new plan, I believe immigration will have to be a central theme. There should be funding attached to it.