Official Languages Committee on June 3rd, 2010

[Jean Léger]

Yes, we definitely would like the government of Nova Scotia to set a target for Francophone immigration. We have already discussed this with government officials. In fact, this is the right time to make that suggestion, because Nova Scotia is currently reviewing its immigration strategy. We have been in touch, particularly since the Office's intervention. As a result of your question, we contacted the Office with the idea of moving forward on the issue of percentages. They are not sure yet how they will deal with this.

However, we would like the target to be greater than 4% in Nova Scotia. In Nova Scotia, 4% of the population are mother-tongue French speakers. As far as we are concerned, 4% is woefully inadequate and we would like the target to be between 8% and 10%, at the very least. Obviously, that is a minimum, and not a maximum. At the present time, Mr. Bélanger, we have figures that are not insignificant. We are actually approaching 6%, 7% and even 8%. It has even gone as high as 9% in recent years. What is important is to maintain these percentages and increase them.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. Boyer, I am happy to accept your offer to forward the list of researchers, as well as the subjects of their inquiries. I think that would certainly be of interest to committee members, and could possibly be an appendix to our report.

I would like to know, quickly, if there was anyone doing research aimed at comparing Francophone immigration in rural minority communities to Francophone immigration in urban minority communities?

[Julie Boyer]

I don't think there is a study dealing with that specific issue, but some researchers are looking at integration in both the rural and urban environment.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Well, I do hope that the Metropolis Project—the minority group component—will give this some thought, because, based on the testimony we have received thus far, there is a significant difference in approach, technique, success and failure, depending on whether it's rural or urban immigration.

I think we will have to look at this. In my view, no organization is in a better position to do that than Metropolis and its network. So, I hope that will happen.

There is another aspect I would like to address with you. This has not yet been done, but I don't think it's too late. I think research should be done on the usefulness of immigration targets. I don't know whether that has already been done. In any case, I am passing this on to you, for future consideration.

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you very much for that recommendation. That has not been done yet.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Is my time up yet?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, it is, Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

You can't be serious?

I'm leaving, Mr. Nadeau! Ah, ah!

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I would now like to recognize Ms. Guay.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

How many minutes are you giving me, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have five minutes.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I actually think that, when immigrants arrive here and have qualifications, it is important that they immediately be able to work in their field, particularly if they are able to speak the language. For example, in my riding, there was an Iranian couple, both of whom were nuclear physicians, which is very rare. They both spoke very good French and English. In fact, I think they spoke four or five different languages. They had to work at the emergency for two years to satisfy current requirements. That is too bad, because it isn't always necessary.

It was the same situation when we brought nurses here from Belgium, France, and other countries, because of a shortage. So, I think we should look at this very seriously. I even think we may have to make representations in that regard to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

As regards immigrant integration, I would just like to tell you about what I see on an ongoing basis in my own riding—which is 99% Francophone—and where immigrants settle and become well integrated. I have not had the same experience as you. We have an organization that looks after them as soon as they arrive—immediately—and puts them in touch with Quebec families. It helps them to find a job, a place to live, provides support and helps the children. In fact, when the parents arrive, they have to take French courses, because they do not necessarily speak French. The children go to school, but the parents are unable to help them do their homework. So, this organization helps the children do their homework. It has a very well structured and well organized system in place. People stay, because they learn to love Quebec and the region. They adjust twice as quickly as would be the case if they were in large urban centres.

I don't know whether the situation is the same for you in your respective provinces, but I would be interested in hearing your comments on that.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

That is exactly what we aspire to. At one point, the Government of New Brunswick resisted the idea of involving the communities, but it ultimately realized that, without the communities, integration would be extremely difficult.

In that vein, I would like to tell you about an African family with eight children—this occurred in Prince Edward Island, not in our province. They arrived in PEI, went to Montreal and returned to PEI. Unfortunately, their house burnt down, but by the following morning, they already had another house, because the community supported them. They returned to live in PEI.

So, that is also our aspiration. We cannot attract 500 Senegalese to the Acadian Peninsula over night, without educating residents. We know that we will have a major challenge on our hands in terms of public awareness and public education.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

It is important not to rely on public education alone. These people also have to be offered services when they come here. If we don't have adequate human resources to receive them when they arrive… They are from another culture and are not yet familiar with Quebec culture. I experienced pretty much the same thing you did. I have a spouse who is from France. He came to Quebec because I was here, and I did not want to live in France.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

It was love.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Ah, ah! But it wasn't easy for him to adapt to life in Quebec, even though he spoke the language.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

No, it isn't always easy to integrate into the community, even for someone who is French.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

No, it isn't always easy. Now, he is very well adjusted; don't worry. He may even know more Québécois words than I do. It's easier when you are acquainted with the culture, but there must be the appropriate infrastructure in place to provide services to immigrants, so that they can find jobs, and so forth. I would like to know whether you have access to these kinds of services.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

It's like the CAIIMM in Moncton. There is a list of families who are ready to put people up for one, two or three weeks, while they look for a place to live. There are also community services, like the Salvation Army, which are able to help people temporarily. That is exactly what the community is prepared to do. Also, we can bring them together, from time to time, for intercommunity activities.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

And what about government financial assistance?

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

We finally succeeded in securing $10 million for Francophone immigration in New Brunswick. We are anxious to get down to work, but we have been delayed for a year and a half because of problems in negotiations between the federal and provincial governments.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Ms. Guay.

We'll now continue with Ms. O'Neill-Gordon.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I extend a warm welcome to all our witnesses and a special welcome to the New Brunswickers. As a New Brunswicker myself, I have to extend a warm welcome.

I was happy to hear Mr. Nadeau mention Mr. Bernard Lord's name. As all New Brunswickers know, he was a very strong promoter of the francophone and Acadian culture. He did a lot in that area.

As well, whether or not he promoted the five-year action plan that we're into now, our government is certainly happy to implement this. It's an historic road map that provides $1.1 billion, as we all know, towards the promotion and protection of both official languages in the communities. This is the most money ever dedicated for this purpose. New Brunswick was very fortunate in receiving more money than any other province, with $10 million going toward this.

The SANB has put in place a table over which it presides and is a key player on the issue of francophone immigration in New Brunswick. I applaud all of you for that. I've heard that while there has been perhaps a slow start with the present provincial government to get the issue off the ground, things have progressed a bit so far. I'm wondering if you could elaborate on some of the successes you have had and where things could be improved.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

Where immigration is concerned, the urban communities are always ahead of the rural ones, except for the region Mr. D'Amours is from. There have not been many initiatives. Even in the Miramichi area, I don't believe there is an immigrant reception committee. Bathurst and the Acadian Peninsula have begun, and Campbellton will be starting soon.

St. John is also a real success story. The Anglophone community has a school-community centre where a wonderful lady, Rama Kuresh, of Tunisian origin, is doing a fantastic job with immigrants. Sometimes Canada tends to focus a little too much on wealthy immigrants or immigrants coming to invest. When I was there three or four weeks ago, there was a Congolese carpenter and a Congolese electrician. These occupations are overlooked. We tend to want to attract people from the upper class, when in fact we need increasing numbers of plumbers, truck drivers, and so on, as I was saying earlier.

So, the SANB's work was put on hold for a year and a half. We waited and were told not to do a thing, because the money would be coming. So, we were a little frustrated, but now that it has gone through, we're happy. Ms. Blin was only hired two or three weeks ago. However, we do have enough people on the ground now to start coordinating work and developing tools together.

Another success story would be in the field of medicine. The University of Moncton, the CAIIMM and other immigration agencies developed a lexicon for foreign physicians, to help them communicate with Acadians. For example, Acadians call diarrhea cholera. Medically speaking, there is obviously a big difference between the two. A doctor can make a patient sicker if that patient tells him he has cholera. So, it's small scale initiatives such as this that simplify things and allow people to move forward. We want to see more initiatives like that. We're very happy to at last be able to get fully involved in the immigration file.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

I have another comment. I was happy to hear Julie Boyer mention that they were taking steps to help the parents learn English, because when we met at the school the other day, we heard that was one of the main challenges that caused them to move back to their country: they couldn't get integrated into the communities.

They felt they just didn't belong, so they were going. Because of not having English, they couldn't find jobs. That was the biggest thing. I'm sure all of you have come across that along the way.