Official Languages Committee on Nov. 24th, 2016

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Express Entry nevertheless does not yet have a francophone presence.

[Stefanie Beck]

Yes. People who are bilingual are assigned more points.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Then why did an FCFA representative say, when she appeared before the committee, that Express Entry does not have a francophone presence that helps attract francophone immigrants to minority communities?

[Stefanie Beck]

They would like to have more points. They would like to enjoy a kind of positive discrimination. As we previously said, we cannot force people to move to a given city. If they have a job or family in one place, that is where they will go. We are working with the communities and with the francophone immigration networks, the FINs, to try to arrange that.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

As you just mentioned, these people would like to have more points. We see that we are not reaching the targets, which are important. They were not selected at random. Their purpose is really to maintain demographic weight. So it is extremely important to meet those targets.

Have you started thinking about how to assign more points in order to increase the number of francophone immigrants?

[Stefanie Beck]

Absolutely. You talked about our minister earlier. That is one of the things he wants to do in the coming months. I cannot speak for him, but I know that is something he is thinking about.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Are you confirming for the committee that you are adding points and increasing the number of francophone immigrants?

[Stefanie Beck]

Yes.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

As you mentioned, this is essential because we cannot meet the target, which was not selected at random. It was really set in order to maintain the demographic weight of our francophone communities.

[Stefanie Beck]

We have not yet reached the targets.

We are considering other things. For example, we know people are applying to the Express Entry pool and not necessarily considering a francophone community.

We think we may make changes to the system. Since we have their email addresses, we can send them messages as a kind of marketing tool, reminding them of the good reasons for settling in Saint-Boniface. No such system previously existed since everything was done on paper. With this new system, we will be in a better position to target francophones and thus to increase their numbers in the various provinces.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

How much speaking time do I have left, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You have 45 seconds left.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

All right.

Even though you will not have time to react to this, I want to cite some remarks by the FCFA simply as a way to introduce the idea. Here is what she said on October 18:

When we talk to the immigration department about a similar project for society, its officials tell us they are concerned about immigration issues. Consequently, we have to make them understand and work with us so that this tool, which is immigration, is used to develop communities and a project for society. This falls somewhat outside their usual role, and I understand that. However, if we are unable to break that impasse and make it so the department becomes a support in achieving that objective, then we will go round in circles and wind up with the figures we expect and our percentages will not increase.

That is all the time I have, but you may of course add something to that as you answer other questions that come up.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

Now we will hear from Mr. Lefebvre.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to be sure I correctly understand a point about governance. To whom does the Official Languages Secretariat report? Is it directly to the minister?

[Stefanie Beck]

It reports to the deputy minister.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I see.

We talked a little about financial resources. You told us you report to the deputy minister. You work closely with the provinces and the regions. You said the regions, but I think you meant the provinces. I see that is the case.

Ontario is also facing major francophone immigration challenges. That is what the people from the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario told us when they appeared before the committee.

Am I to understand from your testimony that the 1.4% figure from 2016 will increase to 4% by 2018? Will we be able to meet that target simply because we changed the definition?

[Jean Viel]

That is a good question. I repeat that we are determined to reach the target; that is clear. We are satisfied it can be achieved. The change in definition is obviously part of the current picture. That error had to be corrected in the previous definition.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

So it was a definition problem.

[Jean Viel]

At the time, we counted people whose mother tongue was French. As a result, native Africans, for example, who arrived here and did not have French as their mother tongue were not counted as francophones. At the time, the co-chair of the IRCC-CFSM committee was originally from Senegal and therefore, anecdotally, was not counted among the francophones. And yet he was the co-chair of that committee.

There was quite obviously a problem in identifying clients who should be considered francophones. That is why we decided to change the definition.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I travel a lot. Immigrants who arrive in Canada frequently pass through Pearson airport in Toronto. We know the port of entry to Canada is usually Toronto. Vancouver airport obviously serves the west and Montreal airport the east, but Toronto plays a bigger role.

I often pass through that airport, even on international trips. When I arrive, I see no signs of improvement. Bilingual signs are obviously posted indicating that you can obtain services in French, if you speak French.

Unless I have not noticed them, what efforts are you making? We talk about Pearson airport, Canada's port of entry. First of all, it is very difficult to obtain services in French at the border. Second, it is hard to inform and show new immigrants arriving in Canada that our country is bilingual. Lastly, it is a federal airport. It is regulated by the federal government, and that is very important. In my opinion, we do not make enough of an effort.

What should we do? What do you propose so that we can do a better job of affirming bilingualism in Canada for immigrants arriving in the country?

[Stefanie Beck]

A new immigrant arriving at Pearson airport does not take the same path as you, who are a Canadian citizen. He goes through the first checkpoint and, at the second, finds himself among employees who of course speak English and French. Then he is directed to a specific location to obtain initial services. He is welcomed to Canada and given contacts in the anglophone, francophone, or other communities.

This kind of matching occurs at the airport, and that is where immigrants will see what the situation is.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

That is good.

The question is whether the service Is actually offered. We have to believe you because you tell us it is, but, if it is offered the way the Canada Border Services Agency does it, it is not a very strong bilingual offer.

[Stefanie Beck]

We have reached contribution agreements with agencies that are required to provide services in both official languages.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

What are those agencies?