Official Languages Committee on Sept. 27th, 2016

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

That's what we want to do with this.

[David Manicom]

It's part of our discussions with the provinces. We will be having a ministerial meeting with the people in Manitoba in a few weeks, and francophone immigration outside Quebec will certainly be on the agenda.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Vandal and Mr. Manicom.

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

Mr. Chair, I'd just like to add that I've spoken with the Premier of Nova Scotia, and he told me his province has a strategy for francophones on the subject.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

Ms. Boucher, you have the floor.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the witnesses for being here with us today.

I find this interesting, but rather complex. Like Mr. Arseneault, I have all kinds of solutions.

The French test that immigrants are asked to undergo is from Europe, isn't it? The Test d'évaluation de français, or TEF?

[David Manicom]

Yes, the TEF is from Paris.

[Stefanie Beck]

That's correct.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Has anyone here had the opportunity to take the test? I took it, and it was extremely difficult, even for a Canadian.

I'd like to make a special request. Could you send the TEF to this committee so we can see what the questions are like? I'm from Quebec. Sometimes, fellow citizens tell me it's very difficult to pass that test. I am very good in French, and I had a hard time.

Is the Quebec test the same as the TEF? Is there a specific test for Quebec?

[David Manicom]

We have done—

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Manicom, could you provide the clerk with a copy of the test in response to Ms. Boucher's request?

[David Manicom]

Yes, but I would like to clarify something about our points system. For both the French test and the English test, linguistic experts establish equivalencies in relation to Canadian standards. Accordingly, a grade of x on the TEF is equivalent to a grade ofy under Canadian standards.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

In other words, Canada's specificity is incorporated into it.

[David Manicom]

We do a translation, but I know that the equivalency, as far as the TEF is concerned, is complicated.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I know, yes.

[David Manicom]

It's why we have a group of language experts that gives its opinion on these questions, and helps us determine how many points must be granted to people as immigrants.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Could we see this test?

[David Manicom]

Yes, of course.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

That would be nice.

Thanks to an immigrant from my riding, I had the opportunity to take the test at one point, and can assure you that it wore me out.

[David Manicom]

Okay.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

So the test has a specifically Canadian element.

[David Manicom]

Yes. We receive the same complaints about the English test.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

It might be a good idea for us to have a look at the English test too. I find the reason the English test is less expensive than the French one problematic.

[David Manicom]

It's because of the number of people who take the test.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

So there are more people who take the test in English.