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Speaking Remarks for the
Honourable Monte Solberg
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

at the

Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Symposium

“Diversity – Opportunity and Growth”

St. John’s, Newfoundland

September 17, 2006

Check against delivery

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Ladies and gentlemen, this may be the first symposium on immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador, but it doesn’t mean that this province doesn’t have a very long history of immigration. A thousand years ago, my Norwegian ancestors immigrated to L’Anse-aux-Meadows. Amazingly, they even managed to get there without the help of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I don’t know who filled out the paperwork. As you may know, it didn’t work out. They ended up going back to Norway, but you know, that is what happens when there is no settlement agency to welcome you: people go back.

Ladies and gentlemen, this symposium is a sign of how important immigration has become as an issue everywhere in the country, and certainly here in Newfoundland. Just last month, I was pleased to meet with the four Atlantic provincial ministers responsible for immigration and later this week, Newfoundland and Labrador will be hosting a conference with the Atlantic provinces dealing with settlement issues. These new initiatives send a very clear and, I think, exciting message. The message is that Canada is undergoing an unparalleled period of growth. To take part in this growth, to fuel it, we need ideas, leadership, infrastructure and equipment, but most of all, Canada in general and Newfoundland and Labrador in particular need people.

I can tell you that my government is committed to working with the provinces, non-governmental organizations, academics and the private sector to help make immigration an integral part of Canada’s future, and we are working to make it so in every part of the country.

Last year, Canada welcomed 262,000 new immigrants, but there was a problem. 70% of these new arrivals went straight to the three biggest cities: Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, MTV as we call it. Atlantic Canada gets less than 2% of the annual input of immigrants. For Newfoundland and Labrador, that works out to just 0.2%, but already you are working to solve this problem. One answer is to develop a full-fledged strategy to promote Newfoundland and Labrador to new Canadians, promote the advantages and opportunities of living and working, learning and raising a family here in this beautiful province, a province with some of the warmest and most generous people in the country.

I know that you are in the process of developing Newfoundland and Labrador’s first provincial immigration strategy and we are anxious to see the results of that important initiative, in effect a marketing campaign with no lack of competition from other provinces and countries around the world. The first objective is to build awareness, and this is what this conference is all about.

Another key to attracting new immigrants is to enhance the range and quality of services provided to newcomers once they arrive here. Language training, career counselling, family assistance and cultural programs all play a role in helping new immigrants ease into life in Canada. This is an important role that communities, immigration organizations and governments need to build.

I’m pleased to see that my government is making progress on that. In the 2006 budget, the Canada's new government provided $307 million in additional funds for settlement services across the country. That was the first increase in funding for settlement agencies since 1995. Newfoundland and Labrador will benefit from that by applying it to existing service gaps. From my conversations with Minister Shelley, I know that training for immigrants is needed for literacy, life skills and workplace-specific language. We have also announced $18 million in funding for consultation in the foreign credentials recognition process and those consultations are just starting to get under way. We have also moved to let foreign students work off campus so that they can gain Canadian work experience, which is critical, of course, to helping them become Canadians, permanent residents and Canadian citizens down the road. A number of other new initiatives have also been announced.

As well, there are currently a number of bilateral agreements and arrangements in place between the federal and Newfoundland and Labrador governments that present the solid framework to enhance immigration activities and outcomes in the region. For example, the Provincial Nominee Program is up for renewal and we are committed to having a new Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador agreement in place by December of this year. I know that it is critical to this province to be able to select workers with specialized skills and experience.

As well, it is a way to attract immigrant entrepreneurs. Let me underline my support for this initiative. Immigration is certainly a way for Newfoundland and Labrador to create opportunity and growth. It is an integral part of the new government’s vision for a better Canada.

Let me tell you a little bit about how my government is working to make this vision a reality. As you know, Prime Minister Harper has made commitments to providing choice in child care. Well today, young families are receiving universal child benefits. We said we would cut taxes, and in particular, the GST has been cut. We said we would strengthen the justice system. We now have introduced legislation providing for mandatory minimum sentences for violent criminals. We said we would establish accountability in government and today, we have legislation before the Senate that would provide for the toughest ethics and anti-corruption legislation in Canadian history, the Federal Accountability Act. And today, we are working with the provinces to ensure that patients can get health care when they need it, with a patient wait time guarantee. We are delivering on our promises.

Ladies and gentlemen, naturally these initiatives help lifelong Canadians, but I would argue that in many cases, they actually help immigrants more than they help anybody else. These priorities are going to make for a better Canada , a Canada that will help attract new immigrants and inspire them to stay. And getting people to stay is important. Newfoundlanders know that better than anyone else, we need people to stay. You know, too many people leave this beautiful province, enticed by opportunities thousands of miles away. The solution is to create equivalent or better opportunities right here in Newfoundland and Labrador . New immigrants with new ideas, new skills, new businesses, new contacts working side by side, hand in hand with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador , can help invigorate the province’s economy and let them stay in the province that they love.

Dr. Hilary Rodrigues of Markland is one person who is doing just that. He is here tonight and you will hear from him tomorrow. Born in Tanzania , Dr. Rodrigues moved here in 1975. It is a great story. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the island, Hilary saw the potential of Newfoundland and Labrador berries. Now, being from Alberta, I know a little bit about buffalo berries in Saskatoon but I would need a Newfoundlander to tell me about Partridge berries and bakeapples, which I think are also known as cloudberries. Well, Hilary looked at all of these berries and he saw an opportunity and was inspired to resurrect the local wine-making tradition. He started by making a few hundred cases of wine. Soon, he and his wife were producing 7,000 cases a year.

With their wine-making business a success, Hilary has now created a new company: Natural Newfoundland Nutraceuticals. The company will produce wellness products and power juices from Newfoundland and Labrador berries and this time, he is adding bilberries and sea buckthorn. He is also adding 60 new jobs to the local community. Imagine, ladies and gentlemen, the difference it would make if this province could attract another 30 or 40 people a year like Dr. Rodrigues. It is no exaggeration to say that it would transform the province.

Half the battle is believing that it is possible to attract more people like Dr. Rodrigues. I don’t think it is, I know it is. My commitment to this audience and to my friend, Paul Shelley, is that I will work with him and his government, with settlement agencies and with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador to help realize this goal, the goal that, if realized, would strengthen this economy and let the people of Newfoundland and Labrador build a life right here in this wonderful province, the province that they love so much.

Thank you very much.