Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to begin by thanking the Standing Committee on Official Languages for the privilege of appearing here today to discuss the important issue of francophone immigration in Canada and Quebec.
I'd like to talk about three points today in my presentation. I'll begin with a review of the social function of French- language universities in minority communities. The second will address the importance of immigration for linguistic vitality in mid-northern Ontario. I will conclude with a discussion of the challenges facing French-language regional universities as they attempt to achieve their full potential, not only in terms of attracting, but also retaining, international students.
Historically, French-speaking Ontario has been perceived as a national minority or a small society. The premise at the outset is that it is an agent of its own history, an autonomous political entity capable of acting as a hub for societal integration.
A university, in addition to being a force for social, cultural and economic development, also performs a role as a medium for integration and a place for critical thinking, bringing the society in which it is located into the broader world. It means that francophone Ontario can conduct societal debates based on the franco-Ontarian societal fact. To paraphrase sociologist Joseph Yvon Thériault, while society creates the university, the university makes it possible to create society. Hence the existential importance of these institutions in francophone minority communities.
Sudbury's francophone community desperately needs immigrants to maintain its linguistic and cultural vitality and to meet the challenges of labour shortages. the Northern Policy Institute estimates "that between 46 per cent and 64 per cent of all new in-migrants should be Francophone...in Greater Sudbury" (28.2%).
But only 11 out of every 1,000 residents were born outside the region. That's one of the lowest levels in the country.
Because of its role, the university community attracts migratory populations. Regional French-language universities therefore become an essential factor that can contribute to linguistic vitality because of its inclusive social role and its ability to offset labour shortfalls.
Some systemic issues reduce the institutions' capacity to achieve their full potential. The visa issues pointed out by our colleagues, including those at the Université de l'Ontario français, are a reality. Throughout its history, Canada has always, through formal or informal mechanisms, limited access to French-language immigration. I believe we are paying the price for that today.
Reversing the trend will require major investments in university institutions, in reinventing settlement mechanisms, and in the country's migratory policies.
Postsecondary institutions can be instrumental in attracting, retaining and integrating immigrant populations in minority communities. In Ontario's mid-north, universities have unfortunately not done very well in attracting and retaining international francophone students, particularly in comparison to the successful efforts of other institutions like Hearst University.
Many of its students come from abroad. Many decide to stay. That contributes enormously to franco-Ontarian renewal and vitality in that region. Welcoming and mentoring international students plays a huge role in regions like Sudbury, and the needs are critical.
But we lack the resources. For example, the province does not provide grants for international students, which leads to a capacity imbalance between urban and regional institutions. Some are able to waive tuition fees, a difficult practice to implement to the same extent in the regions because of the high cost of education.
And yet, the immigration needs in the northern region are proportionately much greater. Because of the lack of a consistent strategy and resources, our regional French-language university institutions are simply unable to provide the services that would attract and retain the immigrant population needed to preserve and promote the linguistic, cultural and economic vitality of the French language in areas like the mid-north.
Those are the challenges we face.
Thank you most sincerely.