Official Languages Committee on May 9th, 2023

[Alain Desruisseaux]

Do you mean the demographic weight of the communities?

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I'm talking about the demographic weight of francophones in Canada.

Has achieving our objectives maintained the demographic weight of francophones in Canada, that is, people who speak French?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

If we consider the admissions that were confirmed last year, and if we compare them to the statistical projections in terms of demographics, this result contributes to slowing the decline.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

It means that we're not breaking even. This result is not enough.

Is that it?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

That's right, it's not enough.

The demographic studies, including those commissioned by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA, suggested much higher increases in admissions.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

They suggested a certain number per year in order to catch up.

You made a good presentation to the committee, and the picture was very bright. However, we know that more needs to be done. I'd like you to tell us more about the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

How long has it been open?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

The centre—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

That's a technical question—

[Alain Desruisseaux]

Okay

The centre opened in November.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

How much money was invested in this centre before the renewal of the action plan for official languages in 2023?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

I don't have the exact figures, but these amounts were absorbed by the department while waiting for the investments made under the action plan.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Is it the Department of Citizenship and Immigration or the Department of Canadian Heritage?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

They have been absorbed by IRCC.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

How much money has been allocated to the centre for the next five years?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

An amount of $25 million has been allocated to this initiative.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Do you know how much money was invested before the action plan was adopted?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

It's marginal, because we're talking about operational costs.

The launch of the centre and the immediate priorities pointed to staffing. For us, it was really important to build the necessary platform to be ready as soon as the funding was confirmed.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Desruisseaux, how will the centre allow us to have more French-speaking immigrants quickly?

It should be remembered that today's study is about increasing francophone immigration. In what way will the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration in Dieppe have a positive impact on the increase in francophone immigration in the Maritimes in the near future?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

The centre has a national mandate, but it will be one of many measures that will contribute—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

How will the centre contribute to it?

[Alain Desruisseaux]

Essentially, it will promote new measures that will enable us to intensify our efforts to promote francophone immigration.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

So the measures aren't defined.

[Alain Desruisseaux]

The measures are—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

So they haven't been defined yet.

[Alain Desruisseaux]

We're in the process of finalizing the terms of the programs.