Mr. Speaker, following my comments of April 14 last, in this House, regarding certain allegations made by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration concerning COFIs, centres for the integration of immigrants into the French community, may I remind the minister that the fact that the federal government reinvests taxpayers' money in these centres does not give it the right to interfere with Quebec's rights.
As a matter of fact, the jurisdictional limits of both levels of government were defined in the federal-provincial agreement known as the Cullen-Couture agreement, which was signed in 1978, and later broadened and confirmed by the MacDougall-Gagnon-Tremblay agreement. The terms of the agreement are very clear. They give Quebec total jurisdiction over immigrant services and social integration of immigrants through the COFIs.
Fortunately, the Quebec Minister of International Relations and Cultural Communities, Mr. Ciaccia, called his federal counterpart to order and suggested that he should mind his own business, just as the Bloc Quebecois did in this House.
The statement by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration criticizing the lack of enthusiasm shown by the COFIs in presenting the Canadian reality is indeed a case of unacceptable meddling in Quebec affairs.
I would remind the minister that it is not for nothing that Quebec has been demanding, and finally got, some powers regarding immigration. In fact, the repatriation of every power in this area amounts to nothing less for the Quebec society than its own survival and the preservation of the French language on its territory. The integration of newcomers into the French community has always been essential to our survival as a nation.
I take this opportunity to congratulate COFI instructors for their excellent work in making refugees and immigrants feel welcomed and in helping them get integrated into our society.
I would point out to the minister that COFIs are not supposed to give immigrants courses on federalism, but rather to give them basic instruments which will help them cope with their new environment, that is Quebec and especially Montreal, where over 80 per cent of the immigrants are found.
Lessons on day to day living informs newcomers about front-line services such as transport, housing, welfare, health insurance or education. As you can see, all those services are under Quebec's jurisdiction.
The minister should know that out of approximately 45,000 immigrants to Quebec, only a small fraction can take advantage of the COFIs' integration services. A large majority of them must manage by themselves to find information and adapt to their new environment.
As we can see, the situation is far from reflecting the minister's description. Instead of asking COFIs to praise Canadian federalism, the minister should give them the financial means to offer all newcomers the services they need for harmonious integration into our society.