Official Languages Committee on June 14th, 2017

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

That is a very important question, and we have taken leadership on it.

In the context of our public consultations I sent a letter to all ministers who are in charge of official languages or francophonie, depending on the provinces and territories, to get their feedback. Particularly with Quebec, we wanted to make sure that we got the feedback of the Quebec government to know what they were doing and how much they were willing to study the question of supporting the English-speaking minority in the province.

Therefore, I sent a letter and had good discussions with Minister Fournier. We wanted him and the Government of Quebec to act on this important subject, the constitutional rights of the anglophone minority. He sent me a letter with some suggestions and recommendations, and we're studying all of that in the context of our plan. We know that it is extremely important for the Government of Canada to play not only a leadership role but also to have the state of English minority rights organizations in Quebec at heart and to make sure that that community is well served according to their rights that are enshrined in our Constitution.

Mr. Arseneault, I'm all yours.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Merci.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you.

Four minutes for two people is not a lot. Thank you for sharing all that good news with us. I also want to congratulate you on reintroducing the court challenges program. Since I have little time, I will get to the point. My question is for Madam Minister or Mr. Gauthier, and it is about the protocol.

Mr. Gauthier, you held a meeting with francophone organizations. However, those organizations are worried about the fact that the term “additional costs” is not well defined. In order to ensure that additional costs would not constitute spending by the Department of Education to comply with section 23 of the charter, would it not be preferable to come up with a clear definition?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

As part of the public consultations, we're currently holding—and we want to continue—discussions with a number of organizations. There are representatives here from organizations, including the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones, or FNCSF; the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA; and the Commission nationale des parents francophones, or CNPF.

Ultimately, we want to make sure that the provinces put money on the table and that the rights of minority language communities are respected. We also want more resources allocated to families, children and the school system. We'll continue our discussions. We're ready to study these definitions or find solutions. That's one of the reasons why my department is currently holding discussions with the organizations.

Time is of the essence.

Obviously, as part of our plan, we must also sign bilateral agreements. These agreements should be implemented by April 2018. Therefore, we must hold these discussions and reach agreements as quickly as possible.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Minister Joly.

I understand that John Nater has given his four minutes to Michelle Rempel. Michelle, it's your turn.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My questions are in relation to recommendation 13 of the report by the committee. It relates to the recruitment of immigrants identified as official language minorities as well as outlined in the government's response around settlement services. My two questions are for the Minister of Immigration.

What percentage of the refugees brought into Canada under the 2016 levels targets were proficient in one of Canada's official languages upon their arrival in Canada? Now, 13 months later, what percentage of refugees have obtained proficiency in one of Canada's official languages?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Of the refugees brought into Canada in 2016, 5% were proficient in one or other of Canada's official languages. For the second part of the question, I'll let my officials respond.

[Stefanie Beck, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

We don't have that data yet. It would vary depending on the age of the person when they arrived, their needs, their particular—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

When do you expect to have that data?

[Stefanie Beck]

We can get you 2016 data within the next few weeks, but we can't get you the entire cohort because they didn't all arrive at the same time.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I would ask, Mr. Chair, that that information be tabled with the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Okay.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Given that we don't have the data and that the 2016 levels report showed a very large increase in the number of refugees coming to Canada, the recommendation says that there will be a targeted effort to ensure there is immigration to minority francophone communities outside of Quebec.

Can you give the committee a sense of what percentage of that refugee cohort was settled in minority francophone communities outside of Quebec?

[Stefanie Beck]

You may be aware that the decisions made on where refugees are settled—in fact, we've discussed it before at this committee—are very much dependent on how they were brought in. If they were privately sponsored refugees, then they go to where the private sponsors are. Similarly, if they were the half-and-half category, the BVORs, they will also go to where the privately sponsored group is. When they're government-assisted refugees, we send them to the major centres across Canada. From there, they are destined onward depending on what the needs of the particular province are.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Are there any specific programs or guidelines to direct refugees who do not have proficiency in one of Canada's official languages to minority francophone communities?

[Stefanie Beck]

No.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

With regard to language proficiency services, one of the things we've heard at the immigration committee is that there has been a lack of language proficiency training for refugees. The reason I was looking for the data on the percentage of refugees who have obtained language services is that we know that these have been very low.

What programs have been put in place to target French training for refugees, specifically government-sponsored refugees who may be resettled, or that—as we know now—are not targeted to refugees in minority francophone communities outside of Quebec?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I absolutely reject that premise. We have funded an increase in funding for language training for refugees. We—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

My question specifically—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

If I may, let me answer the question, Mr. Chair, please.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

My question specifically, Minister—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Can I answer the question, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Go ahead, Minister Hussen.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Thank you. I'd like to answer the question.

We as a government spent $76 million more last year on settlement services, and the lion's share of that is for language training.