Evidence of meeting #9 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ontario.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Earlier, a witness, a lawyer, was saying that accountability was needed.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Council of Employers
That's right.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
It makes no sense to go on like this. We have heard from immigration department representatives, but they were unable to bring up a single factor to explain the challenges the department is facing.
So there seems to be a lack of political will from senior officials. Something is blocking the process. We will see what will happen. The same goes for francophone immigration outside Quebec. There are francophone universities in Ontario, and the refusal rate is higher there.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.
The last questions will be asked by Ms. Ashton.
Ms. Ashton, go ahead for four minutes.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I also thank all the witnesses.
My question is for Mr. Zahoui.
We followed what happened to Laurentian University, and we were dismayed. We support the University of Sudbury and want post-secondary education in French to be available in northern Ontario, as well as in Canada's francophone regions.
Your testimony mentioned the role of students in the community. The Sudbury francophone community would welcome foreign students, for example.
What role should a post-secondary education institution like the University of Sudbury play?
Immigration Services Coordinator, Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury
As you could see when I shared the numbers with you, people who come to Sudbury do so primarily for access to education.
That is a primary role for us because it is a tool that helps us attract international students and permanent residents. We are talking about relocation. People who come here end up mostly in large centres, such as Toronto or Montreal.
The loss of Laurentian University was a big blow to us. We feel that a project for establishing a francophone university is a crucial solution that will help us retain people at home, in Sudbury.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Thank you very much.
That is a reality we are familiar with here. In Manitoba, more specifically in Winnipeg, we have the Université de Saint-Boniface. What you are saying applies to a number of communities.
My next question is about access to care services for francophones, which is a real problem. Francophone immigration could contribute to the recruitment of skilled staff in health, for instance, to provide all francophones with decent health care services.
What strategy do you have in mind for that area?
Immigration Services Coordinator, Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury
Prior learning recognition is [technical difficulties], as we have been able to see here. I would not hesitate to say that people who come here are often poorly assessed, but there is still a concern as far as the assessment goes, especially when it comes to prior learning recognition and skill transfer.
Previous witnesses have said so, we must rethink the way immigrants are assessed. Those people bring us a lot, but the system does not give them a chance. That is what's painful. Let's use the pandemic as an example: those people have been a breath of fresh air, and their support has been essential.
What I am saying is that the machinery must really be rethought. The system must be made more flexible, and solid mechanisms that enable us to achieve our targets must be established.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Thank you.
So what do you recommend the federal government do to provide newcomers with services, especially those who live far from urban centres?
Immigration Services Coordinator, Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury
The government must invest more, as there are not enough services in remote areas. We mentioned that we have no IRCC office, which is a problem. The communities must be given resources; they need them.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Mr. Zahoui.
Thank you, Ms. Ashton.
Witnesses, your comments have been really useful. I thank you for your presentations.
Mr. Zahoui, I believe this was your first appearance before our committee. So I wish you welcome. It was really interesting.
Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Hamel, it was a pleasure to see you again.
If you ran out of time and think that other useful information should have been provided to the committee, please do not hesitate to send it to us, in writing, through our clerk. She will then pass the information on to all the committee members.
I thank all of you. I thank my colleagues. This was a very good meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.