2003-48

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO FOSTER IMMIGRATION TO FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITIES

OTTAWA, November 3, 2003 -- The Government of Canada will take immediate steps to implement a strategic framework designed to attract more French-speaking immigrants to Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.

"The development of Francophone minority communities requires the close collaboration of several federal departments and agencies, and partnerships with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as the communities themselves," said the Honourable Denis Coderre. "CIC will continue to build the partnerships necessary to implement the framework."

Minister Coderre made the comments at a ceremony to mark the release of the Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. The framework charts a course to ensure that Francophone minority communities share the economic and social benefits of immigration. It contains five objectives, including increasing the percentage of French-speaking immigrants who settle outside of Quebec to 4.4 percent by 2008. In 2001, only 3.1 percent of immigrants who settled outside of Quebec were French-speaking.

The framework was prepared by the CIC-Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee, which is made up of representatives of Francophone communities across Canada, CIC officials, and representatives from targeted federal departments and the provincial governments. The Steering Committee, which was established by Minister Coderre in March 2002, is co-chaired by Diane Vincent, Associate Deputy Minister with CIC, and Marc Arnal, a community representative.

"The strategic framework supports the Action Plan for Official Languages announced in March 2003, and clearly shows the government's commitment to strengthening the linguistic duality that is fundamental to our Canadian identity," said Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Stéphane Dion.

"Implementing the strategic framework will enhance the vitality of Francophone minority communities," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve the objectives that the Steering Committee has established."

"The strategic framework is an excellent tool to assist in developing a true action plan that will identify the specific actions to be taken at the national and regional levels. To achieve this, we need the cooperation of a wide variety of departments and agencies of the federal government, the provincial and territorial governments, the municipalities and, of course, community representatives," said Marc Arnal, community co-chair of the Steering Committee.

The other four objectives of the framework are to

• improve the capacity of Francophone minority communities to receive Francophone newcomers, and strengthen their reception and settlement infrastructures;
• ensure the economic integration of French-speaking immigrants into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities in particular;
• ensure the social and cultural integration of French-speaking immigrants into Canadian society and into Francophone minority communities; and
• foster the regionalization of Francophone immigration outside of Toronto and Vancouver.

"I commend the members of the CIC-Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee, who have worked tirelessly to prepare this document, and I thank them for their dedication in developing a thoughtful, yet practical approach that supports the Government of Canada's commitment to developing Francophone minority communities across the country," said Minister Coderre.

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For more information (media only):

Report:
Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities

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