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Towards Building a Canadian Francophonie of Tomorrow

Summary of Initiatives 2002-2006 to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Message from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Message from the Co-chairs

Background

Objective 1
Increase the number of French-speaking immigrants to give more demographic weight to Francophone minority communities

Objective 2
Improve the capacity of Francophone minority communities to receive Francophone newcomers and to strengthen their reception and settlement infrastructures

Objective 3
Ensure the economic integration of French-speaking immigrants into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities in particular

Objective 4
Ensure the social and cultural integration of French-speaking immigrants into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities

Objective 5
Foster regionalization of Francophone immigration outside Toronto and Vancouver

Appendix 1
Citizenship and Immigration Canada — Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee

Acknowledgements

Diane Vincent and Marc C. Arnal, co-chairs of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee, would like to thank everyone who contributed to this crucial phase of the initiative: developing two-year action plans based on the five objectives in the strategic framework. Since we launched the strategic framework, we have lost some of our original team members and gained some new ones. Many people have had a hand in the committee’s progress, and we would like to thank them for their commitment and cooperation.

CIC REPRESENTATIVES:

We would like to thank the representatives from the various CIC branches who attended one or more Steering Committee meetings over the past year: Daniel Jean, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Program Development, Marilyn Viger and Robert Godfrey (British Columbia and Yukon Region), Rob Vineberg (Prairies and Northern Territories Region), Lucille LeBlanc, Irena Nikolova and Richard Lecours (Settlement, and Port of Entry, Ontario), Tony Marshall (Atlantic Region), Rosaline Frith (Integration), Beverly Davis, Marc Wills and Lyne Deschênes (Strategic Policy and Partnerships), Renald Dussault, Marthe Dufour, Johanne DesLauriers and Jane Veneranda (Selection), Janet Siddall and Peter Duschinsky (International Region), Robert Orr, Marc Béland, Rick Herringer and Bruce Scoffield (Refugees), Louise Gravel, France Genest and Anne Wallis (Human Resources).

PARTNERS:

We would like to thank all the representatives from federal and provincial departments and agencies for their contribution to this initiative: Joanne Lamothe, Michelle Hamelin, Suzanne Riberdy and Monique Tremblay (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada), Louise Trahan, Nicky Norris and Jacques Paquette (Canadian Heritage), Aldean Andersen and José-Nicolas Blondin-Doucet (Health Canada), Tricia MacDonald and Graeme Hamilton-Fac (Foreign Affairs Canada), Jo-Ann Gagnon (Industry Canada), Monique Rose (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Anne Scotton, Lyne Labrèche and Josée Laverdière (Privy Council Office), Keith Fernandez and Kiran Caoon (Western Economic Diversification Canada), Gilbert Philion and Kurt Inder (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), Jacqueline Gauthier (FedNor, Industry Canada), Gérald Clément (Immigration, Manitoba), Robert Galipeau (Northwest Territories), Jacqueline Frank (Francophone Affairs, Ontario), Bodgan George Itoafa (Immigration, New Brunswick), Nathalie Dubois (Intergovernmental Francophone Affairs, New Brunswick), Bill Burgers (Immigration, British Columbia), Barbara Leung (Immigration, Alberta) Danielle Ferron and Carsten Quell (Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages).

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES:

We would like to thank all the representatives from Francophone minority communities: Renée Champagne (Ontario), Michel Chartier (Manitoba), Keith Coughland (Nova Scotia), Zaïn Esseghaïer (Prince Edward Island), Maxim Jean-Louis (Ontario), Luketa M’Pindou (Alberta), Lise Ouellette (New Brunswick), Joseph Poirier (Saskatchewan), Michelle Rakotonaivo (British Columbia), Léonie Tchatat (Ontario).

SECRETARIAT:

We would like to thank the team responsible for coordinating all our efforts: Jean Séguin, Micheline Doiron and Denise Legault (CIC), Diane Côté and Roukya Abdi Aden (Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, FCFA), as well as the Special Initiatives and Outreach staff at CIC and at the FCFA for their administrative and logistical support, which allowed us to accomplish our tasks.

Message from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

I am very pleased to present the Summary of initiatives 2002-2006 to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. It follows the Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities issued in November 2003 by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee. This summary outlines the main aspects of the initiatives launched by CIC and its partners in their efforts to implement the Strategic Framework. It also reports on progress to date. The Strategic Framework supports the federal government’s Action Plan for Official Languages issued in March 2003 and ranks among the federal government’s priorities.

I’d like to thank the members of the Steering Committee for their commitment and congratulate them on their progress. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to foster close co-operation between the various levels of government and the communities. I believe that partnerships are fundamental to the successful development of official languages minority communities.

Linguistic duality is an undeniable asset to Canadian culture. Francophone immigration to French-speaking communities is an important factor in Canada’s economic, social and cultural development. I am committed to continue promoting Canada’s linguistic duality and supporting my department’s efforts to implement initiatives that foster the development of Francophone minority communities (FMCs) and the leadership in that area by communities, provinces and territories. CIC’s mandate includes official languages as one of its priorities.

CIC’s initiatives in addition to strengthening ties with the provinces, territories, municipalities and communities, ensure that those entities play a key role in supporting and integrating immigrants who can meet their economic and social needs.

The initiatives in this summary are only a few examples of the activities that will help equip FMCs for demographic, economic and social growth, ensure their full development and improve Canada’s position in the new global economy.

Joe Volpe
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Message from the co-chairs

We’re proud of the progress that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee has made since the launch of the Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities in November 2003.

We’d like to thank all our federal, provincial, territorial and community partners for their support and participation in implementing this initiative, from developing the Strategic Framework right down to the concrete actions set out in the national, provincial and territorial action plans.

For this summary, we chose a format that would highlight both current actions and those that will be achieved within two years. These actions include three-way consultation between the federal and provincial governments and the communities, as well as within the immigrant communities themselves; innovative and unifying pilot projects that support integration; better understanding of Francophone immigration through analysis, research and studies; and raised awareness among political and community decision makers. These initiatives will also be promoted in an upcoming five-year strategic plan.

This summary doesn’t attempt to describe all the current or planned actions. Instead, it provides an overview of proposed actions that enable the recruitment, selection, reception and integration of immigrants in FMCs. These initiatives take the situation and the specific needs of each community into account.

We know that there is still so much left to do. We are counting on the leadership of current partners and of new partners who will join in the effort to move this unifying project forward.

It is our pleasure to continue working to enhance the vitality of FMCs and support and assist their development.

Diane Vincent Co-chair Government Side		Marc C. Arnal Co-chair Community Side

Background

Recent studies show that, in the past years, [note 1] FMCs have not benefited from immigration as much as Anglophone communities. Since immigration is a major factor in Canada’s population growth, both of our country’s linguistic communities should benefit equally.

In order to maintain their demographic weight, FMCs and their partners have committed to gradually receiving more French-speaking newcomers over the next five years. In November 2003, the CIC - FMC Steering Committee issued a Strategic Framework containing five objectives. This summary of initiatives 2002-2006 complements the Strategic Framework and comments on the progress made on the initiatives described in the two-year national, provincial and territorial action plans.

These initiatives facilitate promotional and recruitment efforts to attract and assure the retention of Francophone immigrants. They also promote the implementation and improvement of a structure to receive and integrate Francophone immigrants socially and economically. Finally, they suggest methods to encourage the distribution of Francophone immigrants in a way that will benefit small and medium-sized communities.

This summary of initiatives takes into account the requirements for Francophone immigration over the next two years and will set the tone for a five-year strategic plan. It represents a multisectoral approach and, like the Strategic Framework, is divided into five distinct yet complementary objectives.

In addition, cities that are home to a large pool of Francophones, that show an interest in the initiative and that are suitable for launching projects will be targeted. Best practices will be defined that will ultimately benefit other regions throughout Canada.

This summary of initiatives does not describe all the initiatives undertaken or planned by the FMCs, nor does it include extensive detail. Its purpose is merely to outline some of the priority initiatives. More detailed information can be found in the two-year national, provincial and territorial action plans. These plans are not final and initiatives can be added to them. To obtain a copy, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA).

Objective 1
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS TO GIVE MORE DEMOGRAPHIC WEIGHT TO FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES

During the next five years, the number of French-speaking immigrants must increase to 4.4% of all immigrants outside Québec to maintain the demographic weight of Francophones in FMCs. Promotion, awareness and recruitment efforts are being made to achieve these objectives and others are in the planning stages.

PROMOTE FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE CANADA

To foster Francophone immigration to FMCs, we must promote them outside Canada and provide potential French-speaking immigrants with up-to-date and relevant information.

Completed or current initiatives

• Exploratory missions were carried out in some countries:
  • Promotion and information tours of Latin America and central Europe have been completed; others are currently under way in Africa and Belgium;
  • A tour by Francophone entertainers promoted FMCs in South America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
• The Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site (www.cic.gc.ca) now offers potential Francophone immigrants quicker and easier access to information on FMCs.
• To foster regionalization, profiles of eight FMCs have been developed to promote small communities in Canada and abroad. These profiles will be posted on the CIC Web site (www.cic.gc.ca). There are plans to develop additional profiles.

Planned initiatives

• Organize other missions to represent FMCs abroad:
  • Implement strategies to recruit immigrants for provinces such as Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan from Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
• Gather more information on Francophone communities and post it on Web sites. For example, post information on Franco-Manitoban communities on the Government of Manitoba’s Web site: www.gov.mb.ca/comingtomb.html.
• Conduct information and promotional campaigns on FMCs to target embassies, government departments and other international partners.

ENCOURAGE THE ARRIVAL AND FACILITATE THE INTEGRATION OF FRENCH-SPEAKING FOREIGN STUDENTS

Francophone foreign students are ideal target immigrants. They are generally highly successful immigrants because their integration process begins during their school years and because they graduate with Canadian qualifications. The following initiatives will facilitate their arrival and integration.

Completed or current initiatives

• Active recruitment by French-language universities and colleges:
  • Organize promotional tours abroad and participate in overseas university fairs or exhibitions.
• Provide better access to off-campus internships and employment for foreign students:
  • A pilot project is giving foreign students the opportunity to hone their skills and gain work experience in Canada through off-campus employment in cities such as Moncton and Saint-Boniface.

Francophone communities promotion tour in Central Europe and South America in March 2004.

Planned initiatives

• Promote the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), [note 2] which allows the provinces and territories to select immigrants according to their specific economic needs.
• Support French-language universities and colleges in their recruitment efforts and in the recognition of skills and credentials:
  • Increase networking with French-language institutions [note 3] and universities worldwide and improve co-operation with post-secondary schools in the international French-speaking community, for example, through university partnerships.
• Implement the program for off-campus work for international students.

PROMOTE THE SPONSORSHIP OF REFUGEES

Canada holds to its long-standing humanitarian tradition of protecting refugees and people in similar circumstances. To become involved in sponsoring refugees, FMCs must know their needs, have the tools that will allow them to be properly received and actively participate in the sponsorship program.

Completed or current initiatives

• Create promotional and awareness tools:
  • A brochure for government-assisted refugees;
  • An information booth to help bilingual settlement services providers recruit volunteers.

Planned initiatives

• Organize promotional and awareness sessions with FMCs to encourage their involvement and their becoming Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs).
• Undertake a study of the ability of five Francophone postsecondary institutions outside Québec — Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Université de Moncton, Laurentian University, Université Sainte-Anne and Glendon College — to effectively sponsor Francophone refugee students.
• Develop a pilot project to welcome refugee families into Francophone communities.

FACILITATE THE ARRIVAL OF POTENTIAL FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS

CIC has reviewed the recruitment procedure for potential French-speaking immigrants.

Also, the Department and its partners have agreed on a process that would speed up the arrival of qualified workers under the PNP, including French speaking qualified workers.

Completed or current initiatives

• Award more points to skilled workers who speak both official languages via the selection grid.
• Include language clauses in the new and renewed agreements made under the PNP to recruit Francophone immigrants. For example, agreements have been concluded or renewed with the following provinces: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia.

Planned initiatives

• Hold training sessions for information and visa officers to increase their awareness of Francophone immigration and better equip them to serve current and potential Francophone immigrants.
• In each province, promote the implementation of consultation activities between the Government of Canada, the provinces and the communities to encourage recruitment of immigrants who know French or who can integrate into FMCs.

Objective 2
IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE FRANCOPHONE NEWCOMERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RECEPTION AND SETTLEMENT INFRASTRUCTURES

Integrating Francophone immigrants into Canada is largely facilitated by reception and settlement structures tailored to the socio-demographic reality and to the immigration rate in the host Francophone community. Also, members of the host communities must be made aware of the richness of cultural diversity and of the importance of the reception they give to these newcomers.

STUDY IMMIGRATION IN FMCS

The immigration issues of Francophone communities are complex. It is necessary to conduct research, studies or assessments to better understand them.

Completed or current initiatives

• Studies have been conducted to define the needs and the capacity to receive Francophone immigrants in FMCs in the following cities: Moncton, Ottawa, Sudbury, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and London-Sarnia. They have also been conducted in the following regions: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
• A project led by the Société des acadiens et acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB) identifies the necessary measures that will allow the Acadian community in New Brunswick to recruit larger numbers and improve the reception and integration of Francophone immigrants.
• Study on socioeconomic integration of French speaking immigrants belonging to a visible minority in Winnipeg is being conducted.

Planned initiatives

• Study the reception and inclusion capacity of the Acadian community.
• Identify other immigration issues within Francophone communities that could be studied.
• Organize a conference on Francophone immigration and diversity for fall 2005 and a seminar for summer 2006 on the same subject (Centre de recherches en éducation franco-ontarienne (CREFO)). The conference, during which new research and initiatives under way in various settings will be presented, will be the source of educational materials for the seminar.

STRENGTHEN RECEPTION AND INTEGRATION INFRASTRUCTURES

Reception and integration structures are established based on the specific characteristics of each community, that is, its size and vitality, its capacity to receive immigrants and the number of immigrants that come to the community. This requires local leadership, co-operation and adapting to constant change.

Completed or current initiatives

• Some FMCs already have such structures in place. New services in French are now available in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Ottawa. Also, steps have been taken to provide improved services in cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, Sudbury and Toronto.
• In New Brunswick, a round-table session was launched as a pilot project to encourage reception and integration of Francophone newcomers and to promote community awareness.

Planned initiatives

• Continue pilot projects to identify and improve permanent structures or mechanisms and ensure improved reception and integration of French-speaking immigrants in FMCs.

DEVELOP TOOLS FOR RECEIVING IMMIGRANTS

To facilitate the establishment of reception structures, several tools have been developed and more are expected in the next few months.

Completed or current initiatives

• The Standards linguistiques canadiens 2002 (SLC 2002) [note 4] and the French placement test under the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) [note 5] program have been developed. As a result, the language skills of newcomers can be better assessed and French courses that better meet their needs can be offered.
• Organize a national conference on the Host Program during which French workshops will be offered. The program will be promoted throughout FMCs.
• Reception services offered in French at the Vancouver International Airport have been improved. French employees have been hired and a booklet with a list of contacts for FMCs throughout the country has been published in French.
• Development of photostories in Ontario to raise awareness amongst immigrants and refugees on problems of mental health.

Integration services.

Planned initiatives

• Discuss and assess with the government call centres the possibility of setting up a toll-free line that will provide access to settlement services in French throughout Canada.
• Translate and print various promotional and recruitment tools to improve the reception and integration of newcomers in each province.

RAISE AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF FRANCOPHONE IMMIGRATION

In light of local issues and needs, and in parallel with the implementation of reception structures, each community must raise awareness among its members of the many socioeconomic and cultural benefits that Francophone immigration offers.

Completed or current initiatives

• The Vive la difference! project to promote cultural diversity was launched throughout Canada. This project is a Canada-wide effort to redefine the concept of community in light of the new paradigms that will shape Francophone and Acadian communities in the next decade. Phase I of that project involved the development of communication tools that raise awareness about the benefits of cultural diversity and encourage communities to build bridges with new Canadians.
• Canadian Heritage created the annual Racism. Stop it! Campaign aimed at eliminating racial discrimination and raising awareness of the negative impact of racism on our society.
• Nationwide, FMCs are organizing events that raise awareness among their members of the benefits of cultural diversity:
  • Some community organizations in British Columbia have held information sessions in French on immigration and workshops on cultural diversity;
  • Francophone schools in Ontario have organized special anti-racism events;
  • In Manitoba, awareness campaigns have been organized for young Francophone immigrants and an ad campaign was launched targeting employers and FMCs and highlighting the contribution of immigrants;
  • In Saskatchewan, information and sensitization meetings are being held in the community in preparation for a provincial forum on immigration.

Planned initiatives

• Create, distribute and present an information kit to various organizations and institutions throughout the country on the importance of receiving newcomers.
• Document and distribute best practices for promoting diversity nationally:
  • Develop a complete guide for small communities that want to attract and assure retention of immigrants on how to implement the best immigration practices in FMCs;
  • Complete an inventory of different delivery service models (alternatives to traditional classes) under the LINC program and distribute it to the regions, provinces and territories.
• Implement Phase II of the Vive la difference! project which is to assist more directly certain provincial and territorial communities in becoming aware of openness and inclusion.
• Target and adapt anti-racism campaigns strategically.

Awareness campaign in Manitoba.

Objective 3
ENSURE THE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS INTO CANADIAN SOCIETY AND INTO FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR

The economic integration of immigrants is crucial to their settlement in a community and can play an important role in the development of that community.

• A number of factors facilitate the integration of immigrants into the workplace:
  • Awareness among employers of the potential of immigration and efforts to encourage them to hire immigrants to meet their labour requirements;
  • Awareness among French-speaking immigrants of Canadian labour market issues;
  • Recognition of skills and credentials acquired outside Canada;
  • Knowledge of Canada’s official languages.

FACILITATE ACCESS FOR FRANCOPHONE IMMIGRANTS TO THE CANADIAN LABOUR MARKET

The skills of Francophone immigrants do not always match Canada’s labour requirements. Both immigrants and employees would benefit from a clearer understanding of Canadian labour market issues and the benefits of Francophone immigration. This would help facilitate access to and integration into the labour market for Francophone immigrants.

Completed or current initiatives

• A number of Web sites [note 6] provide information that helps immigrants better understand how the Canadian labour market works. Recently, those Web sites have been improved and promoted.
• Studies have been conducted on the labour market’s need for Francophone and bilingual employees.

Planned initiatives

• Raise awareness among regional partners focused on strategic and community economic development of the issues surrounding the employability and economic integration of Francophone immigrants.
• Review the criteria of some federal department programs [note 7] to remove barriers to those programs faced by Francophone immigrants.
• Plan to create local activities, for example, create the first orientation program for newcomers to Manitoba; adapt and deliver orientation courses, as well as courses in business terminology and language; launch an internship program in newcomers’ professions.
• Propose projects under the new Enhanced Language Training Program to facilitate the integration of Francophone immigrants into the labour market.

FACILITATE THE RECOGNITION OF SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS ACQUIRED OUTSIDE CANADA

Another factor that helps Francophone newcomers integrate into FMCs and into Canadian society in general is recognizing the skills and credentials they have acquired outside Canada. A variety of actions have been taken to facilitate this process that hinders integration of newcomers into communities.

Completed or current initiatives

• Pilot projects to recognize the credentials of doctors, engineers and nurses are under way in some provinces:
  • Links have been established between communities and existing associations to facilitate the recognition of qualifications and skills and improve the recognition process for newcomers;
  • Currently, immigrants can receive assistance to enable them to access college courses designed to improve the process of recognizing skills acquired abroad.
• Under its new contribution program aiming to improve access to health services for FMCs, Health Canada is funding a training program through the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS); create eventually programs for Francophone immigrants that will upgrade their level of skills.

Analysis of employment opportunities in New Brunswick.

Planned initiatives

• Implement the road map for recognizing the qualifications and skills of newcomers. The provinces have identified the targeted sectors, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is facilitating discussions between the professional associations and the provinces so that mechanisms can be set up to recognize newcomers’ credentials and skills:
  • Develop a cross-Canada approach to recognizing skills and credentials by organizing meetings of a pool of decision-makers in certain sectors;
  • Collect and analyze data on the credential recognition process in Canada and abroad, and develop an action plan;
  • Recommend the best approach for implementing the project in the provinces and territories.
• Explore a process by which Francophone universities would recognize foreign diplomas.

Objective 4
ENSURE THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INTEGRATION OF FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS INTO CANADIAN SOCIETY AND INTO FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES

Certain factors are essential for the social and cultural integration of Francophone immigrants into FMCs. Examples of these factors are: Promoting the cultural benefits and contributions of Francophone immigrants in Francophone educational, media and cultural institutions and providing access to health and social services, as well as to housing.

PROMOTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE LIFE OF FMCS

Making members of FMCs aware of the contribution and cultural resources of immigrants is essential to immigrants’ successful socio-cultural integration. Some initiatives to attain this result are already under way and others are in the planning stages.

Completed or current initiatives

• A Citizenship ceremony has been organized in a Francophone school for fifty French speaking immigrants in British Columbia.
• Under the Settlement Workers program in Ontario schools, information sessions on the Canadian education system are being organized for Francophone immigrant parents and children.
• Some Francophone associations have adopted a more inclusive definition of the Francophone community and are opening their doors to members of ethnocultural communities within their democratic structures. For example, the board of directors of the Assemblée des communautés franco-ontariennes, the Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta and the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique all include Francophones born outside Canada.
• Set up a structure that encourages Francophone organizations to review their organizational structure and invite all partners to participate in this process.

Planned initiatives

• Enable young Francophone immigrants to participate in exchanges and youth forums in Francophone communities through Exchanges Canada. [note 8]
• Recommend to Radio Canada that it should better define the “reflection of Francophone and Acadian communities.” [note 9]
• Ask the Council of Ministers of Education to start up a national program on cultural diversity and Canadian citizenship.
• Launch a national awareness campaign with the Association de la presse francophone (APF) and the Alliance des radios communautaires (ARC) to highlight the importance of immigration to FMCs in local Francophone newspapers and on Francophone community radio.
• Explore integrated governance methods in the Francophone educational and community network.

FACILITATE ACCESS FOR IMMIGRANTS TO VARIOUS SERVICES

To integrate into the social and cultural life of FMCs, Francophone immigrants must have access to basic services.

Completed or current initiatives

In Ontario, intervention tools have been developed to facilitate access to various services for immigrant women survivors of war.

Citizenship ceremony in British Columbia.

Planned initiatives

• Ask the Société de Santé en français inc. to create a partnership strategy with provincial and territorial community networks to identify the specific needs of Francophone immigrants and ensure that those needs are considered in the proposed activities.
• Raise awareness of the needs of newcomers within community health networks.
• Raise awareness among key stakeholders, including the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and explore the options available to newcomers.

Objective 5
FOSTER REGIONALIZATION OF FRANCOPHONE IMMIGRATION OUTSIDE TORONTO AND VANCOUVER

Immigration is generally an urban phenomenon. However, nearly three quarters of FMCs are located outside the major urban centres. [note 10] One factor that could encourage the vitality of FMCs is to increase the number of Frenchspeaking immigrants settling outside Toronto and Vancouver — the two centres that attract the most Francophone immigrants outside Québec.

PROMOTE THE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE TORONTO AND VANCOUVER TO ATTRACT, RECEIVE AND INTEGRATE NEWCOMERS

FMCs outside Toronto and Vancouver face certain challenges. Identifying those challenges and taking specific steps to meet them will foster Francophone immigration. The commitment of the provinces and municipalities is crucial to accomplishing this objective.

Completed or current initiatives

• A grid that sets out the criteria for success in attracting and assuring the retention of Francophone immigrants to FMCs is being developed. It will be useful in carrying out projects that meet the identified needs.

Planned initiatives

• Raise awareness and encourage regional bodies to increase their involvement in the group sponsorship program.
• Organize cross-cultural activities.
• Distribute information tools on job openings, affordable housing and quality of life specific to each region to encourage immigrants to settle there.
• Encourage the provinces and municipalities that show an interest in Francophone immigration, to participate in the activities identified by the Francophone communities and stakeholders, and to start innovative and unifying pilot projects.
• Organize a tour of Québec to allow the Francophone and Acadian communities to connect and to discuss best practices on immigration.

CIC Web site: Discover Canada’s Francophone Communities.

Appendix 1
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA — FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES STEERING COMMITTEE

CO-CHAIRS

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC): Diane Vincent
Francophone minority communities: Marc C. Arnal

CIC REPRESENTATIVES

Patricia Birkett, Acting Director General, Integration (replacing Rosaline Frith)
Renald Dussault, Director General, Selection
Pierre Gaulin, Director, Settlement and Ports of Entry, Ontario
Brian Grant, Director General, Strategic Policy and Partnerships
Louise Gravel, Director General, Human Resources
Tony Marshall, Director General, Atlantic Region
Robert Orr, Director General, Refugees
Janet Siddall, Director General, International Region
Marilyn Viger, Director General, British Columbia and Yukon Region
Rob Vineberg, Director General, Prairies and Northern Territories Region

PARTNERS

Aldean Andersen, Director, Official Language Community Development Bureau, Health Canada
Tricia MacDonald, Chief, Public Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs Canada
Gérald Clément, Assistant Deputy Minister, Immigration, Manitoba
Annie Dell, Manager, Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité, Centre-Southwest Region
Nathalie Dubois, National Co-ordinator, Francophone Intergovernmental Affairs
Keith Fernandez, Director General, Western Economic Diversification Canada
Okenge Yuma Morisho, Manager S41 and Francophonie, Industry Canada
Robert Galipeau, Manager, Official Languages, Northwest Territories
Katherine Hewson, Director, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario
Bogdan George Itoafa, Project Officer, Immigration, New Brunswick
Michelle Hamelin, Director, Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Louise Paquette, Director General (FedNor), Industry Canada
Gilbert Philion, Director, Programs, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Monique Rose, Senior Policy Analyst, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Anne Scotton, Director General, Official Languages, Privy Council Office
Louise Trahan, Director, Interdepartmental Co-ordination, Canadian Heritage

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES

Renée Champagne, Ontario
Michel Chartier, Manitoba
Keith Coughland, Nova Scotia
Zaïn Esseghaïer, Prince Edward Island
Maxim Jean-Louis, Ontario
Luketa M’Pindou, Alberta
Lise Ouellette, New Brunswick
Joseph Poirier, Saskatchewan
Michelle Rakotonaivo, British Columbia
Léonie Tchatat, Ontario

OBSERVERS

Bill Burgers, Senior Policy Analyst, Immigration Division, British Columbia
Danielle Ferron, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Barbara Leung, Director, Community Programs, Immigration, Alberta

_______________

Notes:

1. Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Immigration and the Vitality of Canada’s Official Language Communities: Policy, Demography and Identity, 2002; Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Official Languages and Immigration: Obstacles and Opportunities for Immigrants and Communities, 2002.

2. The PNP is an agreement between the Government of Canada and a province that allows that province to select immigrants whose admission would be significantly advantageous to its economic development.

3. Francophone or bilingual colleges and universities, the Agence universitaire de la francophonie, the Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne, etc.

4. The Standards linguistiques canadiens 2002 are used as framework documents for assessing the proficiency of new immigrants in French.

5. LINC courses are designed to teach adult immigrants basic skills in one of Canada’s two official languages as soon as possible after their arrival in Canada.

6. “Jobs, Workers, Training and Careers” http://www.jobsetc.ca/, “Human Resources Management” http://hrmanagement.gc.ca/, “Job Bank” http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/, “Going to Canada” http://canadainternational.gc.ca/Going_To_Canada-en.asp and “Government On-Line” http://www.ged-gol.gc.ca/index_e.asp.

7. Specifically, programs that are not regulated by an act.

8. Exchanges Canada is a Government of Canada initiative that enables young Canadians to network and experience a diversity of Canadian cultures through communities and languages.

9. Recommendations to Radio Canada will ensure that the portrayal of Francophone communities outside Québec accurately represents their reality and diversity.

10. Statistics Canada, 2001 Census

Production of this document was financed by the Government of Canada through Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official Language Communities (IPOLC), an initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Catalogue No. CI51-153/2003
ISBN 0-662-67679-3