Official Languages Committee on Sept. 27th, 2016

[Corinne Prince-St-Amand]

As far as hosting in francophone communities outside Quebec is concerned, the department has been subsidizing the francophone immigration networks, commonly known as RIFs, for several years. We subsidize 13 networks located in the different provinces and territories other than Quebec, except Nunavut. It's a partnership between the communities, the employers, the provincial governments and the federal government. All the community members work closely to give a good welcome to the francophones who settle in those communities.

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Saint-Jean, QC]

Many thanks for answering my questions so quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Many thanks for answering so quickly.

The last person to intervene is Mr. Samson, and he has the floor.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you, Chair.

Ladies, gentlemen, if you have the time to answer, all the better. Otherwise, you can add the information to your report, which will be enhanced with all kinds of data.

I want to thank you. It's not easy to do what you're doing here today. Our group is usually very nice, but there are times when we are very stimulated by the questions and subjects being addressed.

I'd like to see the report. I see that this great committee has been devoting more than an hour to discussing francophone immigration to regions other than Quebec. I expect results.

In your report, could you talk about the objectives that were established in the last three or five years, and about the objectives fixed today? What adjustments are you making? You said you've only achieved 1.5%, but that there's still time until 2018. What will the new objectives for the coming two years be? For example, you can say that there were five objectives before, but seven now, for the next two years. I would certainly like to see that.

There's a second thing I'd like to see in the report, and you can all answer my question.

On what principles is the Government of Canada's francophone immigration policy based with a view to respecting the demographic weight of the official language communities? Do you put more emphasis on the policy depending on the needs?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I have one last question.

What tools does the government use to monitor progress?

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

[Stefanie Beck]

I might have missed something with all these questions.

If I remember correctly, our objectives are 4% for 2018, and 4.4% for economic immigration.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I am not talking about the objectives, but about the strategies to achieve them.

[Stefanie Beck]

Understood.

There's a whole series of things in that regard. There's what is stated in the roadmap. There are consultations with a view to the action plan that will follow the roadmap. We are spending money each year to increase immigration.

Above all, we are asking ourselves how we will go about getting more people to come not only to Canada generally, but also to francophone minority communities. It does not depend on us alone. I know you're studying francophone immigration, but our federal colleagues, the provinces, the territories, and especially the municipalities and communities, need to make their contribution. We can't create jobs for these people, or find them family, schools, medical services, and other such things that will retain them in those places.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

It's not your responsibility.

[Stefanie Beck]

No, but—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Don't worry about that.

[Stefanie Beck]

We, too—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Are involved in attracting people.

[Stefanie Beck]

We're as passionate as you are about this question. We are working with the communities, and are trying to give them as much money as possible to increase their capacity to welcome these immigrants—to attract them and retain them.

It's not easy. You also have quite a job ahead of you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you.

We can complete this discussion at another time.

Mr. Choquette has asked to say a few words.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Since the question of French tests has elicited a lot of interest among us today, I will take advantage of the opportunity to give the clerk the report of the Commissioner of Official Languages on French tests and on the department's non-compliance with the Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Choquette.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you, Chair.

The witnesses are responsible for putting policies in place. After the committee hears all the other people, it might be interesting to have these witnesses back. They will inevitably keep each other apprised of what happens in the committee over the coming weeks. It would be interesting, later on, to share the concerns or possibilities that the other witnesses will have shared with us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We are counting on your being available, of course.

In closing, I'd like to thank you very much for helping the committee in its deliberations today.

This meeting is adjourned.