Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities
MEETING OF THE
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA –
FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES
STEERING COMMITTEE
November 3 and 4, 2003
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Ottawa, Ontario
Present:
Co-chairs:
For the Government: Diane Vincent, Associate Deputy
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
For the Francophone minority communities: Marc C. Arnal
CIC Representatives:
Rosaline Frith, Director General, Integration
Louise Gravel, Director General, Human Resources
Rénald Dussault, Director General, Selection
Janet Siddall, Director General, International Region
Peter Duschinsky, Senior Analyst, International Region
Marc Béland, Policy and Program Advisor, Refugees
Beverly Davis, Acting Director, Strategic Policy
Lyne Deschênes, Policy Analyst, Strategic Policy
Lucille LeBlanc, Acting Director, Settlement Branch,
Ontario
Tony Marshall, Director General, Atlantic Region
Rob Vineberg, Director General, Prairies and Northern
Territories Region
Marilyn Viger, Director General, British Columbia and
Yukon Region
Marthe Dufour, Policy Analyst, Selection
Partners:
Gilbert Philion, Director, Programs, ACOA
Aldean Andersen, Director, Official Language Community
Development Bureau, Health Canada
Louise Trahan, Director, Interdepartmental Coordination,
Canadian Heritage
Jacques Paquette, Director General, Multiculturalism,
Canadian Heritage
Monique Tremblay, Human Resources Development Canada
Nicky Norris, Senior Analyst, Interdepartmental Coordination,
Canadian Heritage
Keith Fernandez, Director General, Western Economic Diversification
Canada
Monique Rose, Senior Policy Analyst, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada
Anne Scotton, Director General, Privy Council Office
Tricia MacDonald, Public Diplomacy Program, Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Jo-Ann Gagnon, Manager S41 and Francophonie, Industry
Canada
Gérald Clément, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Immigration – Manitoba
Bogdan George Itoafa, Project Officer, Immigration, New
Brunswick
Josée Laverdière, Privy Council Office
Suzanne Riberdy, Human Resources Development Canada
Community Representatives:
Renée Champagne, Ontario
Lise Ouellette, New Brunswick
Michelle Rakotonaivo, British Columbia
Léonie Tchatat, Ontario
Maxim Jean-Louis, Ontario
Luketa M’Pindou, Alberta
Michel Chartier, Manitoba
Observers:
Carsten Quell, Parliamentary Affairs Officer, Office
of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Jacqueline Frank, Executive Director, Office of Francophone
Affairs – Ontario
Bill Burgers, Senior Policy Analyst, Immigration Division
– British Columbia
Secretariat/Organization
Diane Côté for the communities, Fédération
des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Roukya Abdi Aden for the communities, Fédération
des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Jean Séguin, Director, Special Initiatives and
Outreach Division, Integration Branch
Micheline Doiron, Senior Advisor, Policy and Programs,
Special Initiatives and Outreach Division, Integration Branch, Citizenship
and Immigration Canada
Denise Legault, Program Specialist, Special Initiatives
and Outreach Division, Integration Branch, Citizenship and Immigration
Canada
Absent:
Zaïn Essengaheir, Community Representative, Prince
Edward Island
Barbara Leung, Director, Community Programs, Immigrant
Settlement Services – Alberta
The Steering Committee asked consultant André J. Lalonde
to chair the meeting.
Welcoming Remarks
Diane Vincent, Committee co-chair for the government, welcomed all the
partners to the meeting and thanked them for participating in the joint
effort to implement the Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone
Minority Communities. She specified that the purpose of the Committee
will be to leverage all government and community initiatives. She then
asked each of the organizations represented to begin examining how to
reallocate resources to find the financial and human resources to support
the Steering Committee’s mandate and facilitate the development
of action plans.
Marc Arnal, Committee co-chair for the communities, welcomed all Committee
members. He stated that the issue is national in scope, with ramifications
for the provinces that have to be identified. He added that the Francophone
and Acadian communities of Canada would work actively to ensure its success.
He also emphasized that the communities had already begun a genuine effort
to redefine the guideposts of their identity. Projects to that end are
currently under way, such as the project undertaken by the Fédération
des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) entitled
Vivre la différence, focusing on redefining the concept of community.
Agenda
The chairperson moved that the agenda be adopted.
The agenda was unanimously adopted.
Minutes
The chairperson moved that the minutes of the March 2003 meeting be approved.
The March 2003 meeting minutes were unanimously
approved.
Reminder of the Steering Committee’s Mandate and Approach
Marc Arnal, Committee co-chair for the communities, asked the members
to review the Committee mandate found in their meeting package.
In regards to the approach adopted by the Committee, he stated that,
following the March 2003 meeting, the members felt it would be wiser to
achieve a greater understanding of the complexity of certain aspects of
the issue and consolidate partnerships before developing an effective
action plan.
Round Table and Presentation of Achievements since March 2003
The chairperson stated that the reports on the actions taken since March
2003 are included in the members’ meeting packages. However, he
asked the representatives to give a brief summary of their organization’s
achievements.
British Columbia
The members reported that a citizenship ceremony was held at a bilingual
school and a day of consultations was organized. The report on the day
of consultations will be available at the end of November and will form
the basis of a provincial action plan. Included in the actions taken in
British Columbia is the translation of the British Columbia Newcomers’
Guide.
Bill Burgers, representative for B.C.’s Immigration Division, told
the members that negotiations had begun between the provinces of British
Columbia and Quebec to develop a framework agreement for cooperation and
exchange between the two provinces.
Health Canada
Representative Aldean Andersen told the members that Health Canada had
initiated a program to ensure greater access to health services for Francophone
communities.
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
Representative Tricia MacDonald told the members that the Public Diplomacy
Program had enabled DFAIT to support a number of initiatives and activities
within the Francophone community.
Manitoba
The members reported that a steering sub-committee had been set up to
implement the recommendations of the provincial action plan. They also
reported that a coordinator was hired under the auspices of the Société
franco-manitobaine (SFM) to coordinate the file.
Alberta
The members reported that a steering sub-committee was set up. The sub-committee
will meet for the second time on November 15. The governments of Canada
and Alberta had signed an agreement to attract more qualified immigrants
and foreign students. They further stated that a reception centre for
Francophone immigrants was established in Edmonton.
Saskatchewan
The members reported that a multipartite working session on Francophone
immigration was held.
Canadian Heritage
Representative Louise Trahan reported that Canadian Heritage is working
closely with the Francophone minority communities through the Interdepartmental
Partnership with the Official-Language Communities (IPOLC). The department
had supported a number of initiatives within the Francophone minority
communities, in particular the Vivre la différence project with
the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne
du Canada (FCFA).
Human Resources Development Canada
Representative Monique Tremblay told the members that the department
had held a conference on May 5, 2003 that brought together all regional
coordinators in charge of implementing section 41. Marc Arnal and Rosaline
Frith gave a presentation on the immigration issue.
Ontario
The Ontario members told the Committee that they are currently working
to translate the project concepts resulting from provincial consultations
into concrete projects. The projects will be submitted to the Ontario
steering sub-committee. The members also underlined the willingness that
was evident at the table. A research project on diversity and integration
was currently under way. The Centre des jeunes francophones de Toronto
was coordinating the project.
Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs
Representative Jacqueline Frank told the Committee that an information
session was held with 30 multicultural associations interested on the
issue of entrepreneurship. The Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs is
also working with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and the Chambre
économique de l’Ontario to develop a guide for Francophone
entrepreneurs to assist immigrants who want to start a business. In addition,
a project to develop a guide that will include a list of Francophone multicultural
associations is under way.
Refugee Branch - CIC
Representative Marc Béland informed the Committee that a letter
explaining how clauses 5.4 and 5.5 were to be implemented was sent to
the regional directors. He also indicated that Selection Branch, Refugee
Branch and International Region are working closely together on the issue.
Atlantic
The members told the Committee that, following the February 2003 meeting
between the federal government, the province and the community, an agreement
was made to set up a working group to develop terms of reference for the
creation of a provincial sub-committee. The working group had yet to meet
but could do so in the near future.
Bogdan George Itoafa, representative for the province of New Brunswick,
told the members that two persons are dealing exclusively with Francophone
communities at the department and that they were in the process of finalizing
a longer-term strategy. He further stated that several information sessions
were held in Europe.
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Representative Carsten Quell reported that the Office of the Commissioner
of Official Languages has organized a bilingual citizenship ceremony in
Toronto. He stated that the initiative to hold a workshop for Francophone
researchers interested in the issue of Francophone immigration at the
Edmonton Metropolis conference, was very productive. He emphasized that
research was an area that would have to be given greater attention. Lastly,
he pointed out to the members the opportunities that Francophone immigrants
might represent for the Francophone minority communities.
Privy Council Office
Representative Anne Scotton told the members that the Privy Council Office
wanted to develop an inventory of research being carried out in order
to share information and make a contribution to the process of policy
setting within government.
Industry Canada
Representative Jo-Ann Gagnon told the Committee that the department was
working closely with regional economic development agencies. In Ontario,
for instance, a mentorship project for young immigrants was funded in
partnership with Immigration Canada. Consultations with the Francophone
community are also under way.
Agriculture Canada
Representative Monique Rose told the members that British Columbia’s
Rural Secretariat team, in partnership with other departments, had begun
a dialogue with Francophone groups to assist them in identifying issues
specific to that community.
International Region - CIC
Representative Peter Duschinsky reported that efforts were taken to promote
the bilingual identity of Canada abroad. He specified that field missions
now had promotional materials to attract immigrants who would be interested
in settling in Francophone minority communities. A Web site project for
potential immigrants is under way. International Region is also working
closely with the provinces. To that end, International Region established
an excellent partnership framework with the province of New Brunswick.
Integration Branch - CIC
Rosaline Frith, Director of Integration, reported that the Office of
the Commissioner of Official Languages and CIC had signed a cooperation
agreement to share information. An accountability framework had been developed
to support the promotion of linguistic duality within the department.
An interdepartmental committee including Industry Canada, Health Canada,
Canadian Heritage and Human Resources Development Canada had been set
up. Ms. Frith felt that the committee was a good basis for a partnership.
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Representative Keith Fernandez told the Committee that Western Economic
Diversification Canada was working closely with the provinces to support
Francophone businesses.
Discussion of the Process of Developing National / Provincial / Territorial
Action Plans
Following the round table discussion, Diane Vincent, Committee co-chair
for the government, stated her opinion that significant progress had been
made since the Committee was set up. She then asked the participants to
discuss a work structure to ensure development of effective national and
provincial action plans.
She moved the following:
- A two-step strategic planning process, with a two-year action plan
and a five-year action plan;
- The appointment of champions for each of the working groups. The co-champions
would lead the working groups.
She underlined the importance of consistency between the national and
provincial action plans. She specified that secretarial services would
be provided to the Committee jointly by the Fédération des
communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) and the
Integration Branch of CIC.
Marc Arnal, co-chair for the communities, stated that the communities
were in favour of the principle of champions. He specified that two community
members would be part of each working group: one champion and one person
to support the champion. He further stated that it would be necessary
to develop strategies that focused specifically on the issue of Francophone
immigration. Lastly, he moved that the possibility of inviting Quebec
to sit on the Committee be examined and that a structure to ensure coordination
of the issue over the longer term be considered.
Jacques Paquette, representative for Canadian Heritage – Multiculturalism,
suggested that the partner organizations start thinking about the issue
of reallocating resources to set up realistic financial partnerships.
Luketa M’Pindou, community representative for Alberta, moved that
the working groups be named according to the objectives to which they
referred. He further moved that the members assigned to be champions be
notified in writing by the two co-chairs.
Gérard Clément, Assistant Deputy Minister for Immigration
in Manitoba, moved that the provincial governments be involved in the
national planning process.
Lise Ouellette, community representative for New Brunswick, moved that
the Atlantic region approach be focused on the provinces of New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia to minimize the challenges. She specified, however, that
the information would be circulated throughout the Atlantic region.
Carsten Quell, representative for the Office of the Commissioner of Official
Languages, moved that progress be assessed frequently.
The chairperson asked the members to discuss the following two items:
- The challenges they foresee in their planning process;
- The support that the two co-chairs could provide to facilitate their
work.
The community representative for Alberta, Luketa M’Pindou, felt
that the position of the province of Alberta was still unclear and he
requested the support of the co-chairs in bringing the province to the
provincial coordination table.
Jacqueline Frank, representative for the Ontario Office of Francophone
Affairs, felt that the major challenge remained the lack of an agreement
between the province of Ontario and the Government of Canada. She suggested
that the Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Immigration, raise the
issue of Francophone immigration with his Ontario counterpart. She also
suggested that the co-chair for the communities, Marc Arnal, meet with
Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Minister Responsible
for Francophone Affairs. Lastly, she stated that a link should be established
between the various committees on Francophone immigration.
Louise Trahan, representative for Canadian Heritage, felt that there
was not yet a concrete commitment to mobilize on the part of the government
agencies involved in the issue and that it would be necessary to raise
awareness among the departments regarding their commitments.
The members also expressed their concern regarding transmission of information
between the various working groups. To address that concern, it was suggested
that an Intranet site or newsletter be developed. The two proposals would
be examined to determine which method would be the most practical.
Champions
The names of the proposed champions for each objective were as follows:
Objective 1: Increase the number of French-speaking immigrants to give
more demographic weight to Francophone minority communities
Léonie Tchatat (Community) and Rénald Dussault (Citizenship
and Immigration Canada)
Objective 2: Improve the capacity of Francophone minority communities
to receive Francophone newcomers and to strengthen their reception and
settlement infrastructures
Luketa M'Pindou (Community) and Rosaline Frith (Citizenship and Immigration
Canada)
Objective 3: Ensure the economic integration of French-speaking immigrants
into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities in particular
Maxim Jean-Louis (Community) and Rosaline Frith (Citizenship and Immigration
Canada)
Objective 4: Ensure the social and cultural integration of French-speaking
immigrants into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities
in particular
Michel Chartier (Community) and Rosaline Frith (Citizenship and Immigration
Canada)
Objective 5: Foster regionalization of Francophone immigration outside
Toronto and Vancouver
Renée Champagne (Community) and Beverly Davis (Citizenship and
Immigration Canada)
Actions
The Committee members approved the following actions:
- The co-champions would provide a list of the members of their working
groups and give feedback on the start of their planning process by November
24.
- A videoconference would be held with the co-champions in January 2004.
- The Committee would hold its next meeting during the Metropolis conference
to be held in Montréal March 25 to 28, 2004. The working groups
would submit their draft action plans at that meeting.
- Two-year action plans would be finalized in fall 2004.
Conclusion
Marc Arnal, co-chair for the communities, thanked the Committee members
for their leadership and involvement. He pointed out once again the complexity
of the immigration issue and wished the committee members a good working
session.
Diane Vincent, co-chair for the government, also underlined the complexity
of the issue, which called for a number of partnerships, and thanked the
Committee members for their contributions.
End of plenary session.
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