Evidence of meeting #27 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Good morning, once again.
You have talked about a number of things. This is the first time we have heard about Canada Week. I had never heard of it. I do not know whether the other committee members had heard of it either.
Can you tell me what Canada Week is?
10:45 a.m.
Francophone Initiatives Team Leader, New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
I think it was the fifth or sixth edition of Canada Week this year. The event is held in Paris and Lyon during the last week of June. It is not just about immigration. There is a post-secondary education component and a component for doing business in Canada. The embassy communicates with the provinces about it. We have to pay a certain amount to take part in it, but it is a relatively small amount. Last year, I think it cost us $5,000 for our immigration team and two of our post-secondary educational institutions to take part. Ultimately, people go there to promote Canada and all it has to offer.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
So Canada Week is a good way to start recruiting francophones.
10:45 a.m.
Francophone Initiatives Team Leader, New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
Yes.
Last year, New Brunswick and Ontario were the only two provinces represented for immigration. The other provinces decided not to attend or did not have the necessary funding. Only two provinces took part in Canada Week.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Have you seen any results since the event?
10:45 a.m.
Francophone Initiatives Team Leader, New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
Yes. We see results every time we take part in a mission. If we did not get results, we would not go back.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
I am glad to hear that.
Canada Week is news to me. I hope we hear more about it because you say very few of the provinces take part in it. Perhaps it is a tool that the present government should look at with the embassy since we have a very good ambassador in Paris, Lawrence Cannon. I am sure he will understand all that.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you for your kind comment about Mr. Cannon, who is a friend of as all.
The last speaker is Mr. Samson, who has the floor for two minutes.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will make a comment and then ask an important question.
With respect to Destination Canada, when you say you engage in promotion, that is what distinguishes the francophone communities outside Quebec from Quebec. Francophone immigrants who come to Canada and want to live in French go to Quebec. Those who want to live in French but also want to learn the other official language, which is English, will settle in the other provinces.
I went to our Destination Canada event and I know the field. You have to do promotional work around the world and inform people that the offerings in Quebec are in French but that people can also learn English elsewhere since you learn French and catch English. It is automatic. It is very important to say that.
You raised an interesting point, and I would like you to take a minute to explain it to us at greater length. Your target is 33% francophone Immigration. I find that quite interesting because the francophone population of New Brunswick represents about 33% of the total population. That is what you are going after in order to avoid assimilation. I like that figure. You cite a figure of 20% who attend French-language schools. Am I to conclude that of the 33% of immigrants who arrive, 20% will attend French language schools, or is your objective to have 33% of immigrants attending those schools?
10:50 a.m.
Francophone Initiatives Team Leader, New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
The 20% figure I cited earlier concerns refugees. We do not really have any control in that case. The federal government has sent them to us and the provincial government has a support role to play in that regard. We do not have a choice. The 20% figure refers to refugee children, those who arrived without being able to speak English or French and who were allophones.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Do you have any idea of the number of francophone immigrants? If 33% or 20% arrived tomorrow, would they all go to French-language schools?
10:50 a.m.
Francophone Initiatives Team Leader, New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
Francophone immigrants go to francophone schools because the Official Languages Act in New Brunswick provides that persons who have previously been educated in French must continue their studies in French.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Samson.
Thank you, Ms. Groulx.
That brings today's meeting to an end.
On behalf of committee members, I thank you for the excellent presentation that you made. I apologize, but some committee members must leave to attend other meetings elsewhere.
We will adjourn until Thursday.
Thank you, everyone.
The meeting is adjourned.