Official Languages Committee on June 3rd, 2010

[Jean Léger]

There is another factor that can have an impact. For example, if a Francophone immigrant who is an engineer comes here from Africa, his credentials have to be recognized by the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia. The association receives all the documents in English and is not able to translate them. So, that is an additional burden for Francophone immigrants. We have experienced this at the provincial level, even in Nova Scotia.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

As a general rule, you will have to ensure that the federal government absorbs the cost of translating these documents.

[Jean Léger]

At the very least, we should be supporting the professional associations and raising their awareness of the need to provide services in both official languages and to have certain resources in French. Otherwise, this represents an additional burden for immigrants.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

How does it work in Nova Scotia with people who come here to study in university and decide they want to emigrate to Canada?

Do some people who go to Nova Scotia to study end up staying afterwards?

[Donald Kenny]

It's surprising, actually. Most immigrants who come to Nova Scotia stay there. They remain Francophone immigrants because within the Halifax Metropolitan community, with a population of 400,000, there are 12,000 Francophones. It's a small community within a community.

These same immigrants go through the FANE at the intake stage, or through the university, to receive training or participate in internships. We see them after that in the community—at mass, for example. The immigrants come and talk to us and become integrated. I am a very simple person. I always say that if, in the final analysis, they have work and are well treated, they will stay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Godin.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chairman, I would like some clarification. Mr. Léger mentioned that when engineers in Nova Scotia receive documentation in English, this causes them problems.

[Jean Léger]

I am sorry. I would like to correct that. When Francophone immigrants send their documentation in French, there is a problem because the professional association is not able to translate them.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you for that clarification.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We are going to complete our round.

Mr. Nadeau, would you like to add something?

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Of course.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Please do.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Léger, I think you wanted to answer a question earlier about France and Acadia, student training, and so on. I believe you had some comments to make. Here is your opportunity.

[Jean Léger]

As regards relations between Acadia and other French-speaking countries, I think that the federal government could support youth mobility programs, for instance. There is also the Working Holiday Program and the France-Acadia Agreement which provides for youth mobility. It seems to me that youth mobility across French-speaking countries would be a very good idea. Those ties should be strengthened.

At present, the Société nationale de l'Acadie is developing an agreement, with France, through the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse to bring French trainees to Acadia. I think this should be supported by the federal government, because when young people come to our region, they discover Canada in addition to discovering Acadia. Sometimes they want to stay in our region. It's a way of recruiting Francophone immigrants, if you like.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We have living proof of that here, don't we, Mr. Nadeau? Thank you very much.

It is now my pleasure to thank our witnesses. I would ask you to leave the room and remain outside for a few minutes. I have to keep committee members here because we have a report to adopt. I will give them back to you after that, because I am sure they would like to speak to you personally.

We will therefore be meeting very briefly in camera. I would ask all committee members to remain in their seats. We will be distributing the documents for the report.

[The meeting continues in camera.]