Official Languages Committee on Oct. 4th, 2016

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Choquette now has the floor for three minutes.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will be brief. Ms. Sniadoch, you mentioned the importance of the green economy, green infrastructure, and innovation. When you take part in fairs to recruit candidates, do you promote that? Are you trying to achieve alignment between this sector of great focus for you—innovation, green infrastructure, clean and low-carbon technologies—and the needs of workers who have skills in those areas, so we can improve our knowledge?

It's well-known that the folks in Europe have a lot of skills and are very advanced in this field. Here in Canada, we're taking our first baby steps. Would it be advantageous to align the economy and francophone immigration needs?

[Valérie Sniadoch]

It's important to note that, in the case of Destination Canada, we are mandated by employers. So we start from job descriptions and offers from the various employers.

We were able to act on mandates in the audiovisual field, but this year, we're exploring the prospect of eco-tourism and green economy mandates, because we know there's potential, and we know there are people in Europe in those fields who don't have a job. So we start with a specific mandate. When we're at the fair, we promote those activities as well.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I'm not sure there was much talk about indexation before the roadmap, but there was the issue of unspent amounts from the roadmap. Did you receive all the amounts contemplated by the roadmap?

[Annick Schulz]

Yes, we received them.

As for the economic sector, we have received our funds in the manner—

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

So the need is for indexation as soon as possible. If I understand correctly, it would be good to have it next year, if possible.

[Annick Schulz]

Exactly. Our agreements with ESDC end in March 2017.

[Valérie Sniadoch]

As for my organization, the three-year agreement ended in 2016, but, following the arrival of Syrian refugees, it was extended by a year, and we've received promising input about our 2017-2020 agreement. We're awaiting negotiations with IRCC.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Lightbound will have the last word.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Sniadoch and Ms. Schulz, thank you for being here.

You spoke about LMIAs earlier. In the Quebec City area, where I come from, there is full employment. Bakeries teeter on the edge of bankruptcy because they can't recruit bakers, whereas, in France, there are people who would be glad to come help. Unfortunately, the process for creating an LMIA for each job is really quite onerous, even though there could be one for an employment category.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about LMIAs. How could we improve them?

And more specifically, how could they be put to good use for francophone communities outside Quebec?

[Valérie Sniadoch]

It's true that Mobilité francophone does not apply to you, because it's for francophones outside Quebec. I can say, from experience, that I have worked on labour market opinions, or LMOs, which preceded labour market impact assessments, but were easier. The fee for the employer was $250, as opposed to $1,000. The posting period on job banks would be two weeks, compared to four at present.

The government's efforts on these LMIAs have not produced the anticipated results. Employers are reticent. It's very difficult. When someone makes an LMIA application, they contact ESDC, which responds that this aspect is handled by IRCC. When they contact IRCC, the response is that the ESDC is the responsible for it. So there's a lack of coordination, discussion and communication between these government bodies on the subject of LMIAs. It's very difficult to get answers, and it's very difficult for an employer to get support for the process.

If efforts were made to provide support for the process, and provide help for preparing LMIA applications, more employers would be inclined to submit such applications.

It's certainly possible to reduce the posting time for positions in short supply, such as bakers. In Ontario, there's a shortage of heavy truck drivers. In my opinion, LMIAs should be simplified for fields where there's a shortage of workers.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Perfect. That answers my question.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Lightbound.

Ms. Sniadoch, Ms. Schulz, on behalf of our committee's members, thank you very much for your presentations and testimony. It was very interesting.

[Annick Schulz]

For information purposes, we will be pleased to send you the brief that will be submitted to the Department of Canadian Heritage, along with the answers we've provided you today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We would ask that you submit everything to the clerk of the committee.

Very good. Thank you, ladies.

[Annick Schulz]

Thank you as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Ms. Boucher, you have the floor.

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

I have a proposal.

I would like the Standing Committee on Official Languages to hold an after-work reception, like francophone Conservatives. Once a month, we invite our anglophone friends to spend an evening with us in French only, and to exchange ideas with us, in French. I'd like our committee to do the same thing in November, so we can show our anglophone colleagues that we're not dangerous. It can be enriching to open up to the world.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Well, gentlemen?

Mr. Choquette, you have the floor.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last session, there was a request—it's certainly been a while, but perhaps it was forgotten—that, at the beginning of each session, an email be sent to all staffers on the Hill, to remind them to ensure their mass emailings are sent out in both official languages. It might be a good idea to reiterate that request. I asked that the Committee be permitted to do this. It might be worthwhile.

Randy Boissonault could also look after it. That way, we would ensure that we're sending a clear message that when we prepare communications, we must do so in both official languages. Sometimes people simply forget.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Firstly, I will ask the clerk to prepare wording I can sent to all staffers.

Secondly, further to Ms. Boucher's recommendation, I will ask the clerk to organize an evening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., somewhere in Parliament, to which we can invite our anglophone colleagues.

Does that work?

Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.