National Initiatives

Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities

MEETING OF THE
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA –
FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES
STEERING COMMITTEE

Videoconference

February 9, 2004

Attended by:

Co-chairs:

For CIC: Diane Vincent, Associate Deputy Minister
For the Francophone minority communities: Marc C. Arnal

CIC representatives:

Rosaline Frith, Director General, Integration
Louise Gravel, Director General, Human Resources
Renald Dussault, Director General, Selection
Janet Sidall, Director General, International Region
Peter Duschinsky, Senior Analyst, International Region
Marc Béland, Senior Analyst, Refugees Directorate
Beverly Davis, Director General, Strategic Policy
Lyne Deschênes, Policy Analyst, Strategic Policy
Jane Veneranda, Selection Branch
Lucille LeBlanc, Acting Director, Settlement and Ports of Entry, Ontario
Tony Marshall, Director General, Atlantic Region
Rob Vineberg, Director General, Prairies and Northern Territories
Marilyn Viger, Director General, British Columbia/Yukon Region
Jean Séguin, Director, Special Initiatives and Outreach, Integration Branch
Marthe Dufour, Policy Analyst, Selection
Rick Herringer, Director, Resettlement, Refugees

Partners:

Kurt Inder, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Nathalie Dubois, National Coordinator, Francophone Intergovernmental Affairs
Robert Galipeau, Manager, Official Languages, Northwest Territories
Gilbert Philion, Director, Programs, ACOA
Aldean Anderson, Director, Official Language Community Development Bureau, Health Canada
Michelle Hamelin, Director and Secretary General, Human Resources Development Canada
Suzanne Riberdy, Human Resources Development Canada
Nathalie Dubois, National Coordinator, Francophone Intergovernmental Affairs
Louise Trahan; Director, Interdepartmental Coordination, Canadian Heritage
Monique Tremblay, HRSDC
Nicki Norris, Senior Analyst, Interdepartmental Coordination, Canadian Heritage
Monique Rose, Policy Analyst, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ann Scotton, Director General, Privy Council Office
Tricia MacDonald, Public Diplomacy Program, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Jo-Ann Gagnon, Manager, Section 41 and Francophonie, Industry Canada
Bogdan George Itoafa, Project Officer, Immigration, New Brunswick

Community representatives:

Renée Champagne, Ontario
Lise Ouellette, New Brunswick
Michelle Rakotonaivo, British Columbia
Léonie Tchatat, Ontario
Luketa M’Pindou, Alberta
Michel Chartier, Manitoba
Keith Cougland, Nova Scotia

Observers:

Bill Burgers, Senior Policy Analyst, Immigration, British Columbia
Barbara Leung, Represenative of the Province of Alberta

Secretariat/Organization

Micheline Doiron, Senior Advisor, Policy and Program, Special Initiatives and Outreach, Integration Branch, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Denise Legault, Program Specialist, Special Initiatives and Outreach, Integration Branch
Roukya Abdi Aden, for the communities, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Welcome

Diane Vincent, committee co-chair for the government, welcomed the members of the steering committee and thanked them for their participation in the videoconference. She explained that the purpose of the videoconference was to report on the working subcommittees’ projects and to determine the support the two co-chairs could provide to facilitate their work. She then announced that the Minister, Judy Sgro, was unable to join the videoconference as planned. However, she assured members that the Minister and co-chair Marc Arnal would have a telephone conversation in the next few days. She added that, as a result of the creation of the new Cabinet of the new Prime Minister, the Honourable Paul Martin, some of the services that were part of the mandate of the department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada were transferred to the Canada Border Services Agency. Those changes will be beneficial for Citizenship and Immigration Canada; the department can now strengthen its immigration and citizenship services. She then told members of the Minister’s support for the Francophone immigration issue, which was expressed at the meeting of Immigration ministers held in Victoria January 21 and 22. She emphasized the positive contribution of Quebec to the conference and the interest that province has in supporting the issue of Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

Marc Arnal, community co-chair, emphasized the positive reception of Quebec’s interest in the issue.

Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted unanimously.

Adoption of the minutes of the November 3 and 4 meeting

The minutes of the November 3 and 4 meeting were adopted unanimously.

Reports

Diane Vincent, committee co-chair for the government, thanked members for the efforts they are making to meet the deadlines.

Inventory

Rosaline Frith, Director General, Integration, indicated that a first draft of the inventory of government programs was shared with all committee members. She added that the inventory will be constantly updated. She then invited government partners to submit any additional information.

Diane Vincent, committee co-chair for the government, thanked the team who worked on the inventory. She added that the information collected for the inventory will be very useful in the committee’s work.

Working group 1:

Renald Dussault, Director General, Selection, and co-champion for this working group, informed members that the group had a brainstorming session on December 9. As a result of the brainstorming session, a first draft of the action plan was prepared. He assured the committee that a final draft of the action plan for objective 1 will be submitted March 5, 2004.

Working groups 2, 3 and 4:

Rosaline Frith, Director General, Integration, and co-champion for this working group, announced that the members of working groups 2, 3 and 4 met on February 19, 2003. At the meeting, it was agreed that departments would send the first draft of their two-year action plan March 5, 2004. On March 12, 2004, the members for the government will meet to review the action plans. A copy of the draft action plans will be shared with the members for the community in working groups 2, 3 and 4 and with the members of working groups 1 and 5. It was also agreed to identify target cities to increase the chances for success of the pilot projects. The members for the government proposed a list of cities. The list of cities will be on the agenda for discussion at the next steering committee meeting.

Michel Chartier, community representative from Manitoba, would like to see the idea of selecting cities meet the objectives of the working group on regionalization.

Working group 5:

Beverly Davis, Director General, Strategic Policy, and co-champion for this group, pointed out that the group adopted a work plan in December. The group met February 9. It was agreed at that meeting that a draft action plan would be circulated by the end of February to group members for feedback. She assured members that the March 5 deadline will be met.

Renée Champagne, community representative from Ontario and co-champion for this group, concurred with Beverly Davis. However, she regretted the absence of a representative from Fednor on the working sub-group and asked for support from the two co-chairs on that point.

Provincial plans

Atlantic

Lise Ouellette, community representative from New Brunswick, announced that New Brunswick is in the process of consolidating its coordination mechanism. She did not think the province will be able to meet the proposed deadline. She proposed to follow up on the issue.

Ontario

The members from Ontario said the work of their subcommittee is ongoing. The subcommittee has held teleconferences and will meet again on February 10 to consider the preparation of the provincial action plan.

Manitoba

Michel Chartier, community representative from Manitoba, announced that a broad outline of the provincial plan has been prepared. He added that the plan will have to be approved by the community.

Alberta

Luketa M’Pindou, community representative from Alberta, informed members that a first draft of the provincial plan was sent to the members of the Alberta subcommittee. He added that a final version will be submitted March 5.

British Columbia

Michelle Rakotanaivo, community representative from British Columbia, announced that the province has prepared a status report with 17 recommendations. She indicated it will be difficult to meet the March 5 deadline.

The two co-chairs said they were very satisfied with the progress in this area and congratulated members on all the work done.

Integration-Net Project

Jean Séguin, Director, Special Initiatives and Outreach, informed members that the technical arrangements for the Integration-Net project are being completed. The site could be available at the end of March. The site will put all steering committee activities on-line.

Activities Report

Rosaline Frith, Director General, Integration, indicated that an enormous amount of consciousness-raising has been done within the department. She encouraged members to review the activities report they were given.

Closing

The two co-chairs thanked committee members for their leadership and involvement.