Official Languages Committee on Sept. 27th, 2016

[David Manicom]

The immigration categories are quite complicated. We establish classes of immigrants using a points system. The points are mainly granted for the person's qualifications. It's one element, along with the points for language proficiency in English or French. It's then submitted to the Government of Canada.

For 15 years, we have been using standardized tests prepared by language professionals, since we are not experts in that field.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Are the tests administered by Canadians?

[David Manicom]

Pardon me?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Are the tests administered by Canadians?

[David Manicom]

No. They are standardized international and local tests. There are enormous fraud problems in all sectors, including this one. For example, impostors sometimes show up for the tests.

When I was starting my career, visa officers were the ones who determined people's language proficiency, and they did it in interviews. It was not professional at all, nor was it objective. Each officer had somewhat different standards. They chatted with the person for a certain period of time, and then granted points on that basis.

In 2001, the government changed the approach and started using standardized tests to allocate a certain number of points based on linguistic proficiency.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

It's a bit like a classification system.

[David Manicom]

Yes, and the system has been in place since then. So it isn't new.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

I understand that it's a complex system. I have no experience in immigration, so I'm broaching the subject.

How do you manage economic immigration compared with non-economic immigration when it comes to people who have family in Canada? How do you manage it in minority communities?

[David Manicom]

The non-economic programs are the family class and humanitarian class. For the family class, it can be someone who sponsors a spouse, grandchildren, or, in some circumstances, parents. The government doesn't decide where those people will live. It's never the federal government that decides where the people will settle. They're free to move around the country.

However, with the humanitarian programs for refugees sponsored by the government, we have resettlement in Canada. We are the ones who place those refugees in certain communities and decide on their destination. There is a whole host of reasons for this. Is there an existing family connection somewhere? Are there special medical or other needs?

There is no program in which the federal government decides where someone will live, except in relation to refugees sponsored by the government.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Could you give me an idea of the importance, to francophone minority communities, of cooperation agreements with the provinces and territories?

Are there agreements with certain provinces that encourage francophone immigration to these communities?

[Corinne Prince-St-Amand]

We have entered into agreements with several provinces on the subject. We are working closely with New Brunswick to add an appendix to our agreement in order to improve our cooperation and integrate francophones into minority communities in New Brunswick.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Are there provinces other than New Brunswick?

[Corinne Prince-St-Amand]

We're negotiating with several other provinces, including Ontario.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Sorry to interrupt, but I don't have much time.

Are they specific agreements to encourage francophone immigrants to come and live in our communities? For my part, I represent Saint-Boniface, in Manitoba.

[David Manicom]

Yes.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Are they specific programs to encourage francophone immigrants to come to Manitoba?

[David Manicom]

Yes.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

We have that type of agreement?

[David Manicom]

Yes.

There is the Provincial Nominee Program, which gives them the power to select a certain number of economic immigrants.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

The Provincial Nominee Program?

[David Manicom]

Yes, exactly.

The purpose of the program is to encourage francophone immigration outside Quebec. The program is very active in New Brunswick. The new program in Ontario is very ambitious, because it has set a 5% target.

In its dealings with the provinces, the federal government doesn't always insist they use the Provincial Nominee Program to encourage francophone immigration, but it's a principle of our agreements with the provinces. Some provinces are more active than others.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

We're talking about New Brunswick, but what about the other provinces, like Manitoba, for example? Are there specific agreements to encourage francophones to come to our communities?

[David Manicom]

There are programs in New Brunswick and Ontario. I think there's a program in Manitoba, but I'd like to check before giving you an answer.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

So it's important to get the provinces involved.

[David Manicom]

Yes, absolutely.