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Towards Building a Canadian Francophonie of TomorrowSummary of Initiatives 2002-2006 to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities Table of ContentsMessage from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3 Objective 4 Objective 5 Appendix 1 ![]() AcknowledgementsDiane 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’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.
Message from the co-chairsWe’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.
BackgroundRecent 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
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Francophone communities promotion tour in Central Europe and South America in March 2004. |
Planned initiatives
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
Planned initiatives
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
Planned initiatives
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.
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
Planned initiatives
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
Planned initiatives
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
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Integration services. |
Planned initiatives
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
Planned initiatives
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Awareness campaign in Manitoba. |
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.
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
Planned initiatives
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
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Analysis of employment opportunities in New Brunswick. |
Planned initiatives
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.
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
Planned initiatives
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.
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Citizenship ceremony in British Columbia. |
Planned initiatives
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.
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
Planned initiatives
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CIC Web site: Discover Canada’s Francophone Communities. |
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC): Diane Vincent
Francophone minority communities: Marc C. Arnal
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
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
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
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
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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
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Date Published: 2005-03-30 | ![]() |
Important Notices |