Immigration Inquiry: The Importance of Francophone Immigration to Acadia and Minority Francophone Communities | Senator René Cormier

On June 3, 2021 Senator Cormier spoke in support of Senator Omidvar’s inquiry into immigration and its connection to Canada’s past, present and future prosperity. Watch his speech:

Hon. René Cormier: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Senator Omidvar’s inquiry, calling the attention of the Senate to the link between Canada’s past, present and future prosperity and its deep connection to immigration.

I would like extend my heartfelt thanks to Senator Omidvar for her unmatched commitment to defending immigrants’ rights and to matters of diversity and inclusion.

I would also like to sincerely thank our colleague, Senator Ravalia, who gave compelling testimony about how he found a rich and welcoming new homeland in Canada, particularly the wonderful province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

His work as a doctor in a rural area, his commitment to the less fortunate, his community involvement and the nationwide impact of his actions clearly demonstrate how Canada has benefited from his presence and speak to the invaluable contributions made by all those who choose Canada as their new home.

Although our cities and towns are undeniably attractive, people like Senator Ravalia who dare to settle outside the major centres, in rural regions, find communities that are less crowded, of course, but just as vibrant and rewarding.

Anyone who settles in those areas can thrive and realize their greatest aspirations, if they keep an open mind and are curious to learn more about those who came before them and who shaped this place.

Senator Ravalia moved to the small town of Twillingate, which was actually originally known as Toulinguet. This place got its name from deep-sea fishermen who had come over from Brittany to fish for cod and whale. The coastline reminded them of Toulinguet Point in Brittany.

This just goes to show that francophones from around the world have long been attracted and fascinated by our vast territory, which has been inhabited for millennia by indigenous peoples, who have so generously welcomed us and to whom we owe so much.

Quebec is a welcoming place for francophones, and francophone and Acadian communities across Canada are no different.

That is why I would like to talk to you about the importance of francophone immigration to Canada and, in particular, to Acadia and minority francophone communities across Canada.

First, I want to point out that the objective of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is to, and I quote:

(b) to enrich and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of Canadian society, while respecting the federal, bilingual and multicultural character of Canada;

(b.1) to support and assist the development of minority official languages communities in Canada;

In addition, and I quote:

(3) This Act is to be construed and applied in a manner that . . .

(e) supports the commitment of the Government of Canada to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada.

Over the years, the federal government has undertaken many initiatives to encourage francophone immigration.

Numerous initiatives, such as the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec; the Action Plan for Official Languages — 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future, which set the target of increasing the proportion of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec to 4.4%; the 2019 Francophone Immigration Strategy; and, just recently, the Official Languages Act reform document, English and French: Towards a substantive equality of official languages in Canada, are clear signs of a growing awareness of the importance of francophone immigration for official language minority communities. These initiatives also underscore the challenges involved in developing truly effective immigration strategies that take into account all the challenges these communities face and their economic, cultural and social realities.

The Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages’ reform document proposes to include a provision in the Official Languages Act requiring the Minister of Immigration to present an action plan for francophone immigration with a view to making it a permanent practice.

The government therefore proposes that the new act provide a framework for a francophone immigration policy and support the francization of newcomers, and I quote:

 . . . in a manner adapted to the realities of—and in collaboration with—provincial and territorial governments.

Combined with the most recent announcements regarding points awarded to French-speaking immigration candidates and the absence of a cap on the number of candidates, this commitment bodes well, I think, but we’ll have to wait and see the concrete results of these strategies before we can claim victory.

What does francophone immigration look like in Canada today, colleagues? Without overwhelming you with numbers, here is some enlightening information. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s annual report to Parliament, in 2019, francophone immigration outside of Quebec represented 2.82% of all permanent residents admitted to Canada, whereas the target is 4.4%. The 2.82% represents 8,465 new francophones immigrants in the country in 2019.

We learned recently that that percentage had increased, rising above 3% in 2020. However, that data must be put into perspective, considering the decrease in immigration observed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, this percentage represents 5,755 francophone immigrants outside of Quebec out of a total of 184,000 new immigrants, so that is not a real increase. We’ll have to wait a few years to be able to confirm whether this growth represents a real trend and whether we are indeed approaching the targets, which are clearly insufficient to counteract the demographic decline.

With roughly 300 million francophones in the world, if we recognize that many potential immigrants want to settle in Canada, then our country must do much more and much better to boost francophone immigration. It is essential for the entire country, but also for the vitality of francophone minority communities.

Communities across the country are making impressive efforts to attract newcomers. Organizations have become professional resources with valuable expertise in providing immigrants with considerable assistance when they arrive in our regions.

That being said, although they are vibrant and active in promoting immigration, francophone minority communities face many challenges. The first and not the least important is the decline in their demographic weight. Statistics Canada has projected that the proportion of the Canadian population who use French as their first official language spoken will reach 3% by 2036 unless something is done. Considering that figure was 6.6% in 1971, that gives us food for thought.

In addition to the demographic decline, many of these communities are located in rural areas. As we know, almost every rural region in Canada is dealing with an exodus to the big cities, where job prospects are sometimes more diverse. It is therefore imperative to prioritize concrete immigration measures that take these realities into account.

In that regard, I concur with Senator Omidvar when she says, and I quote:

 . . . we would do well to scope out a multi-dimensional look and accept that any economy needs workers and talent at all ends of the scale.

I would add: across the country, in both urban and rural areas, in both anglophone and francophone communities.

Francophone immigration strategies that consider all these realities would make it possible to truly diversify the distribution of immigration across the country and shift it away from the Montreal-Toronto-Vancouver hubs, as much as we love those cities.

Some studies have clearly explained the specific nature of minority francophone communities as host communities. The Atlantic region, for example, has rural areas where multiculturalism is far less prevalent than elsewhere in the country and where francophone communities are large and have a strong cultural identity despite their minority status. Acadians represent almost the entire francophone population of this region.

A French-speaking immigrant who wants to settle there, because they are attracted by this vibrant culture, sometimes winds up in an English-majority context, where socio-economic integration can be more difficult without a good knowledge of English. Aspiring immigrants must be aware of this reality before moving to these communities.

Prospective immigrants to francophone regions face a number of other challenges. The information on job opportunities that is provided before they make the decision to immigrate must reflect local realities. Since integration into the workplace is a key part of the immigration process, this is essential information that must be provided before the immigrants arrive. For example, when representatives travel to promote these regions abroad, they must give prospective immigrants clear information about how to get their degrees recognized in order to get the kind of job they want.

This means that important discussions must be had with professional associations about how to get degrees recognized and with post-secondary institutions to ensure that as much of a newcomer’s experience as possible will be recognized and credited.

Lastly, information on the cultural, economic and social context of these communities, as well as on the settlement process, must be understandable and culturally appropriate.

These are some of the challenges facing francophone and Acadian communities in Canada that the federal, provincial and territorial governments must take into account when developing and implementing their immigration strategies.

In conclusion, the main reason I wanted to detail the challenges relating to francophone immigration to minority communities today is that I want everyone to be aware of this reality. I would be remiss, however, if I ended without mentioning francophone minority communities’ countless successes in welcoming newcomers. Despite the barriers they face, these communities are working tirelessly to welcome newcomers, and they are deeply grateful when immigrants and their families make the momentous decision to build their new lives there.

During the recent municipal elections in New Brunswick, the municipality of Shippagan elected its first black mayor of African origin, and we are all so proud. Kassim Doumbia is originally from the Ivory Coast and came to New Brunswick in 2007. He is very active in his community, having served as a Shippagan town councillor since 2010 and as vice-president of the Société nationale de l’Acadie, a group that represents the Acadian people nationally and internationally. I felt it was important to highlight his community involvement and his inspiring journey.

Esteemed colleagues, the people who immigrate here are restaurant operators, business people, fishers and farmers. They are elected representatives, academics, educators, artists and managers. These people practice all kinds of trades and professions, but they are first and foremost human beings with a deep desire to live their best lives, to build a new life in a new country, to integrate into our communities and to make a contribution to our country.

I sincerely believe that we can successfully connect our communities and immigrants. This is about the future of our country, but most of all, it is about the future of those who make the courageous decision to build a new life in our country, Canada.

Thank you for your attention.

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.