Official Languages Committee on March 13th, 2012

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Thank you for being with us this morning. Since we have an opportunity to hear from representatives of two organizations whose work seems to be similar, I am going to take advantage of it.

At the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, you have implemented measures to attract immigrants. What about at ACOA? Do you talk to each other? Is there any overlap? Can you both explain for us how you work when it comes to the Atlantic provinces?

[Peter Sylvester]

I will start to answer your question and then I will invite my colleague to continue.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, we set up a steering committee as part of the strategy. Several departments are represented on the committee, including ACOA. There are also representatives from the provincial government, from the communities, and so on.

I know that at the local level in the province, on the ground, ACOA also has a committee and CIC sits on it. So there are two vehicles, if I may put it that way. At the national and regional level, there are working groups. As well, there is the ACOA steering committee. We often have occasion to talk to each other and coordinate our efforts through those two vehicles.

[Denise Frenette]

I agree with those comments. The way we make sure there is no duplication and we are moving in the same direction is really by creating a committee and maintaining ongoing dialogue with CIC.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

You are moving in the same direction, but is one in more of a position of leadership in relation to the other, when it comes to the initiative in the Maritimes? When it comes to francophone immigration in the regions, is there one organization that goes looking for francophone immigrants and another that takes charge of them so that these people stay in the Maritimes?

[Denise Frenette]

The project in New Brunswick is really an exception to the rule. It is a specific project, it provides an additional contribution to the efforts made by the Immigration Department in the Atlantic region. In terms of everyday things, the Immigration Department is responsible for immigration, not ACOA.

[Peter Sylvester]

When it comes to the broad directions taken, the steering committee meets once a year to set priorities at the national level. Then, in the committees in the regions, on the ground, there is also discussion among all the participants about the priorities or strategies to be pursued during a specific period.

Maybe Yves could add to my answer. I also know that arrangements have been made in New Brunswick to coordinate our efforts. For example, most of our efforts, in terms of immigration, are concentrated in the southern part of the province, while ACOA focuses mainly on the north. So there is already some division of funds, to have maximum coverage of the province.

[Yves Saint-Germain, Director, Information, Language and Community Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada]

I will briefly add that there are two aspects to the coordination between ACOA and CIC. The first relates to promotion and recruitment. CIC is in charge of efforts relating to promotion and to recruiting francophone immigrants. When there are events like Destination Canada, we certainly invite our partners to participate. We collaborate on strategy.

As Mr. Sylvester said, when it comes to settlement services, including reception services, language training and community development in the host communities, CIC works closely with New Brunswick and ACOA on a tripartite regional committee. That is how we have been able to develop the services offered in the northern part of the province.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

We have moved from theory to practice. Can you give us a concrete example of a successful initiative in the region? Can you name one organization or another that is a case you have both worked on, where that has borne fruit?

[Yves Saint-Germain]

I will come back to the case of Destination Canada. As you know, that is an annual promotion and recruitment event held in Paris, Brussels and Tunis. Our organizations work at the local level to raise awareness among employers and communities about recruiting immigrants. So there is a long preparation process that takes place throughout the year. A delegation is sent to Paris, Brussels and Tunis. We work closely with New Brunswick on this, and we have done for some years.

Since the roadmap was adopted, we have redoubled our efforts. There are a lot of sessions devoted specifically to candidates who plan to settle in New Brunswick. Under its provincial nominee program, New Brunswick selects francophones. That is how we work closely together.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

That is all, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Bélanger?

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

I'm just wondering, Mr. Chairman, if I were to move a motion that we table indefinitely the study of the Feuille de route, if that would be debatable.

But I won't do that. I just notice that there are only four on the opposite side there. I thought they'd learned a lesson, but they haven't, it seems.

Anyhow,

Thank you for being here this morning.

Mr. Sylvester, how long have you been working at the Department of Citizenship and Immigration?

[Peter Sylvester]

In fact it is approaching five months. I am new to this area.

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

And you, Mr. Saint-Germain?

[Yves Saint-Germain]

For me it is nearly five years.

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

Have you heard about a report by the Standing Committee on Official Languages that was tabled in the third session of the 40th Parliament, relating to immigration?

[Peter Sylvester]

Yes, indeed. When I was assigned to this file, I had an opportunity to review and identify the major issues and the parameters of the file. Since the report was public, it was appended to the file. So I had an opportunity to go through it and familiarize myself with it.

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

And you, Mr. Saint-Germain?

[Yves Saint-Germain]

Yes, indeed.

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

That report was tabled in November 2010. Parliament was not dissolved until April 2011. I imagine that someone in the department must have started working on the reply we asked for. Does that bring anything to mind?

[Yves Saint-Germain]

Yes. The Department had 120 days to table a reply, but Parliament stopped sitting.

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

Yes, but it had been nearly 120 days when Parliament was dissolved. Had a start been made on preparing a reply?

[Peter Sylvester]

From what I have here, the report was obviously released, so I would think that people were preparing to reply to the report. That would be logical.

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

You do not have that information.

Mr. Saint-Germain, you were there at the time and you were involved in official languages issues, is that right?

[Yves Saint-Germain]

Yes.