You already have a copy of the statement suggested by the Department of Canadian Heritage in summer 2016, which is entitled, “Study on the Roadmap and Immigration in the Official Language Minority Communities.”
I will read that statement to you.
In summer 2016, the Department of Canadian Heritage undertook a nationwide consultation to develop the Government of Canada’s next multi-year action plan for official languages. In this context, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages (the Committee) will study the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future and Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013–2018: Education, Immigration, Communities. The objective is to identify the priorities of Canadians with regard to official languages and, more specifically, those of official language minority communities (OLMC), in order to make recommendations in order to develop the new action plan. Immigration in OLMC figured in the last two roadmaps and remains a priority issue for the vitality of OLMC. Therefore, the Committee will examine federal government programs and tools that encourage immigration in OLMC, specifically francophone immigration in Francophone minority communities (FMC). The Committee hopes to make recommendations that will help to improve the ability of OLMC to recruit, intake and integrate immigrants. Furthermore, the Committee is aware of the potential that refugees represent for the development of OLMC and the challenges they—and their host communities—face. The Committee will look into government and community initiatives aimed at refugees in order to shed light on this issue and to make recommendations to help refugees settle in OLMC. Lastly, the Committee believes that it is important to hear the testimonies of individuals to understand what they have gone through and to keep in mind the human aspect that is intrinsic to the immigrant experience.
Does anyone want to comment on the subject?
Mrs. Boucher, you have the floor.