ARCHIVED – 2009–2010 Report on Results: Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act

To increase awareness of employees regarding official languages obligations, CIC continued to implement an integrated communications strategy (Parts IV, V, VI and VII of the OLA).

An official languages awareness campaign took place from April to November 2009 during which numerous pop-ups were sent regarding Parts IV, V, VI and VII of the OLA. A flipper was created on the intranet site, an official languages quiz contest was distributed to all employees in October 2009, and a kiosk providing information on the Official Languages Act was held in November 2009 at NHQ.

A questionnaire for a survey of CIC employees was developed in order to evaluate the degree to which staff and managers understand their responsibilities related to section 41 of the OLA. The plan is to conduct an initial survey in 2010–2011 and analyse the results to establish baseline data.

CIC distributed information on FMCs and celebrated the Semaine de la francophonie.

In March 2010, a message from the CIC Champion and Co-Champion for Official Languages launching the Rendez-vous de la francophonie was distributed to all employees. Many activities took place across the country to celebrate the event, including a quiz about Francophone communities around the world, which was distributed to staff at NHQ; in the Ontario Region, a Lunch and Learn session was held on March 18; in the B.C. and Yukon Region, CIC hosted an information booth on its programs and services. To mark the 40th anniversary of the OLA and the Rendez-vous de la francophonie, an internal quiz was sent to CIC employees from the B.C./Yukon Region. Prizes were given to the Region’s top three ranking participants.

A working group on Francophone immigration made up of employees from headquarters and the regional offices was reactivated in order to improve communications and address current priorities.

The working group held two meetings and three teleconferences to discuss implementation of the Strategic Plan. A definition of community networks for Francophone immigration and of one-stop service outlets is almost completed. The networks will enable CIC to better identify the needs for settlement services in order to make those services more accessible and facilitate the integration of newcomers into FMCs. One-stop service outlets consolidate services provided in French in order to give Francophone immigrants access to better service tailored to their needs.

Better communications and harmonization of understanding of the participants’ responsibilities through the development of tools and mechanisms.

A new internal official languages steering committee was created and is chaired by CIC’s Champion for Official Languages. The committee’s mandate is to establish a strategic vision for official languages and policies that will guide the Steering Committee and the Implementation Committee in their work.

Issues about obligations under Part VII of the OLA, such as the establishment of community networks and priorities for the Strategic Plan, for the CIC-FMC Steering Committee and for CIC, have been raised in monthly meetings held since the fall of 2009.

CIC changed its temporary and permanent residence application forms (adding a question about use of the official languages) and informed all staff accordingly.

An operational bulletin was posted on CIC’s intranet and Internet sites and distributed to all staff informing them that a question about use of the official languages had been added to the temporary and permanent residence application forms.

In 2009, a message from the Champion for Official Languages announcing the release of the 2008–2009 Report on Results: Implementation of Section 41 of the OLA and the 2009–2013 Results-Based Action Plan: Implementation of Section 41 of the OLA was sent to all employees.

Articles on topics such as the OLA’s 40th anniversary, and participation in a kiosk during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and in the Rendez-vous de la francophonie were published in the internal newsletter of the Department’s B.C. and Yukon Region.

In March 2010, CIC representatives met with employees in the local offices (CIC Victoria and Whitehorse) to discuss issues pertaining to official languages and Francophone immigration.

Increased awareness among CIC employees regarding Francophone communities and linguistic duality in Canada.

CIC managers and staff took part in the CIC-FMC Steering Committee, the Implementation Committee, various regional and provincial committees, and conferences attended by public servants and other stakeholders.

CIC managers and regional coordinators whose portfolio deals with Francophone minority immigration regularly attended meetings of the Steering Committee, the Implementation Committee, regional subcommittees and working groups.

The Director General of the Quebec Region took part in the Metropolis conference as a panelist in a workshop regarding English-speaking communities in Quebec.

CIC participated in meetings of the Federal Pacific Council’s Official Languages Committee, which is made up of Programs and Human Resources staff from federal government departments throughout British Columbia. Best practices and activities are shared among members at these meetings.

The Acting Program Director of the Atlantic Region gave a presentation on the foreign student orientation initiative at the University of Moncton during the June 1, 2009, meeting of the CIC-FMC Steering Committee. The Program Director and the Director of Operations of New Brunswick are members of the New Brunswick advisory committee (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)) on implementation of the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality. A mandate was developed as a result of the meetings of this committee.

CIC employees at NHQ and in the regions have been made aware of priorities related to Francophone minority immigration, such as recruitment of Francophone immigrants abroad, creation of partnerships based on economic and social projects, and delivery of online French courses.

In 2009–2010, CIC attended four meetings of the regional steering committee of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle‑Écosse. The provincial government, Francophone post-secondary educational institutions, the women’s federation and the Nova Scotia Economic Development Council are all members of the committee.

CIC attended a conference hosted by the Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies, which aimed to bring together representatives from settlement organizations throughout the Atlantic, including Francophone organizations, to discuss challenges, successes and new approaches. The theme was “Welcome Home: Settling Immigrants in Atlantic Canada Communities.”

CIC representatives participating in various committees understand the importance of their obligations under section 41 of the OLA, and are aware of regional priorities.

CIC continued its consultations with OLMCs and stakeholders by holding regular meetings of the CIC-FMC Steering Committee, the Implementation Committee and its three working groups to ensure continuity in the implementation of the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities.

The CIC-FMC Steering Committee held a meeting on June 1, 2009, where four annual priorities were introduced. The participation rate for the Steering Committee was 83%.

A preliminary self-evaluation questionnaire was developed for the CIC-FMC Steering Committee to determine the quality of relations between the two entities and assess understanding of their respective needs and mandates. The questionnaire was tested on May 10, 2010. Plans for data collection are being developed.

The Steering Committee approved the four priorities for 2009–2010.  The two co-chairs of the Steering Committee agreed to hold two bilateral meetings a year to take stock and discuss issues.

The social working group met on November 30, 2009, to discuss community networks, language training, community awareness and research.

Regular meetings with the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) and the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE) were held to rank the importance of FMC issues and address priorities.

Regional and provincial committees and subcommittees made up of other federal departments, provinces and Francophone organizations implemented action plans taking into account the goals and objectives of the CIC-FMC Strategic Plan and regional priorities.

CIC representatives attended the meeting of the Comité tripartite des conseils scolaires francophones du Canada, which comprises representatives of the provinces and territories, the federal government, French-language school boards and community organizations. CIC supports the committee’s work, particularly in the areas of promotion and immigration.

CIC has adopted regional targets to achieve the goals identified, and the targets are implemented by regional subcommittees in partnership with Francophone communities.

In Ontario, the Sub-Committee on Francophone immigration held four meetings in 2009–2010 and developed an action plan that supports the implementation of the priorities underlying the Strategic Plan. Regional action plans have also been developed and implemented in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.

The Atlantic Region of CIC continued to support the Nova Scotia Steering Committee, the Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, the Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador and the Société acadienne du Nouveau-Brunswick in coordinating the committees already in place in each province in order to take the objectives of the Strategic Plan into account.

In March 2010, CIC signed a contribution agreement with the Société nationale de l’Acadie to put in place a pan-Atlantic cooperation mechanism (regional network).

Implementation of the priorities of the Strategic Plan for Francophone minority communities.

CIC consulted OLMCs on policy and program development and planning of immigration levels. CIC also took part in several forums on official languages. In some regions, post-secondary and other institutions were consulted with a view to developing strategies to encourage Francophone foreign students to become permanent residents.

As a result of consultations with representatives of English-speaking communities in Quebec, CIC established a relationship with those communities, and research on Quebec’s English-speaking communities is being conducted.

The B.C. and Yukon Region is an active member of the British Columbia Francophone Immigration Steering Committee – an operational committee led by the Province of B.C., with the participation of other federal government departments and Francophone community organizations. CIC also renewed the Regional Steering Committee with the Fédération francophone de la Colombie‑Britannique (FFCB) to work with the Francophone community and pursue the regional action plan to encourage Francophone immigration to B.C.

Community networks for Francophone immigration were established in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in order to better meet the needs of Francophone immigrant communities outside Quebec. In Ontario, the three networks (for the north, east and centre south-west of Ontario) continued to work in order to meet the needs of the Francophone communities. The Francophone networks developed a number of activities to support the economic, social and cultural integration of Francophone immigrants.

Online consultations on immigration levels took place in June 2009; Francophone and other community organizations were asked for their comments. More than 20 Francophone organizations were asked to comment on immigration levels for 2010.

The Director General of the Quebec Region is in regular contact with representatives of English-speaking Quebec communities (Quebec Community Groups Network [QCGN] and the Community Table). In other regions, the implementation of various mechanisms has fostered the establishment of lasting relationships and collaboration.

CIC used communications messages strategically to highlight how the Department’s activities support the vitality of FMCs (for example, combining messages on FMCs with announcements of settlement funding).

In 2009, CIC issued a news release regarding funding to help resettle Francophone refugees in Winnipeg. As well, CIC contributed to a news release issued by the ACOA regarding funding provided by New Brunswick under the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality.

On June 2–3, 2009, CIC made a presentation on job mobility opportunities in Canada for Tunisian nationals at an Agence nationale pour l’emploi et le travail indépendant seminar on immigrant workers held in Monastir, Tunisia.

CIC posted its 2009–2013 Results-Based Action Plan: Implementation of Section 41 of the OLA on its website and distributed it to organizations representing OLMCs.

Awareness among federal and provincial employees and the members of the FMC of initiatives funded by the two levels of government.

Improvements were made to the section on Francophone immigration of CIC’s website to consolidate the information on Francophone immigration and make it more visible.

A new tool was made available on the website to direct newcomers to free settlement services: http://servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca. The page on Francophone immigration outside Quebec includes a link to that tool. A Web page (http://www.cic.gc.ca/francophone) was created to identify this link in relevant communications materials and create greater visibility for this section of the website.

Marketing campaign to raise the profile of the Francophone immigration section of CIC’s website.

A Google AdWords campaign was implemented to raise the profile of CIC’s Francophone immigration website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/francophone) and provide prospective immigrants with information about Francophone communities outside Quebec.

This initiative raised the profile of CIC programs and services in a medium read by and distributed to Francophones all over Canada.

CIC developed promotional material and tools to further promote the Multiculturalism Program in Francophone and Anglophone minority communities and make the program more accessible; briefing sessions were held with representatives of those communities.

A presentation on the Multiculturalism Program was made at a meeting of the Ontario Sub-Committee on Francophone Immigration.

Specific multiculturalism initiatives aimed at youths, namely the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge and the National Video Contest, were promoted in a number of Francophone schools outside Quebec.

The promotional activities on the Multiculturalism Program have raised awareness of its priorities.

CIC provided technical assistance to help organizations in FMCs identify issues, prepare project proposals for the Multiculturalism Program in the regions and put together budgets and cash flow statements, and gave advice at key stages of project implementation.

Workshops were organized by the Multiculturalism Program in Ontario to provide technical assistance to help OLMCs identify issues, prepare project proposals and put together budgets and cash flow statements.

Development of performance measurement tools to determine the impact of the technical support on OLMCs.

CIC participated in a number of national, provincial, regional and international educational events to provide information to educational institutions on the entry of international students into Canada and other immigration programs and services for international students after arrival.

Events with CIC participation included the 2009 Canadian Bureau of International Education Conference (university and community college level), the 2009 Canadian Association of Public Schools (CAPS-I) Conference (secondary and primary school boards), and the 2009 Summer Seminar of the British Columbia Council for International Education (universities and community college level – British Columbia).

CIC, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, offered information sessions to Francophone foreign workers and students to assist them with their applications for permanent residence.

Indirectly, this supports the recruitment of international students.

An agreement was signed between CIC, Campus Saint-Jean in Edmonton and the Province of Alberta to support the Francophone foreign student recruitment program. The project will continue in 2010–2011.

The compilation of experiences of foreign students at the University of Moncton produced as part of the foreign student orientation project has been incorporated into the university’s promotional and recruitment material.

The positive experience of foreign students is helping increase the number of French-speaking foreign students.

In Ontario, a number of Francophone colleges and universities participated in the recruitment of Francophone students in Paris at the Salon des études et des carrières internationales.

The Ontario booth was visited by more than 700 participants.

CIC continued to participate in symposiums and committees related to official languages.

CIC’s Metropolis Project organized the fourth national pre‑conference on Francophone immigration in Canada, which took place in Montreal on March 18, 2010. The Metropolis Project also coordinated the production of two publications dealing with the recruitment, integration and retention of Francophone minority immigrants: Best Practices Manual on Francophone Immigration in Canada, and Current Research Compendium on Francophone Immigration in Canada. As well, CIC’s Official Languages Champion participated in the pre-conference as a panelist and presented the Department’s mechanisms that can be used for Francophone immigration. 

During the Metropolis conference, CIC gave a workshop on how networks can foster the economic integration of immigrants into medium-sized rural FMCs.

In 2009–2010, CIC’s Official Languages Champion attended meetings of the Network of Official Languages Champions.

CIC attended the meetings of the coordinators responsible for implementation of section 41 of the OLA organized by Canadian Heritage and the December 2009 Forum on Official Languages Good Practices, and made a presentation on the Strategic Plan at the meeting of the Canadian Heritage coordinators’ network.

In the Quebec Region, CIC attended four meetings of the Quebec Federal Council–Official Languages Committee, which works with Anglophone community organizations to find ways of supporting those communities.

In November 2009, CIC participated in the Pacific Federal Council’s Official Languages Committee meeting at which the 40th anniversary of the OLA was celebrated, and information was presented on the challenges of the francization of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The National Metropolis pre-conference was a good opportunity for CIC, the FCFA and members of the ministerial conference to share information. The two publications dealing with the recruitment, integration and retention of Francophone minority immigrants were distributed to the 200 delegates at the conference and are posted on the Metropolis website.

In Ontario, the community networks for Francophone immigration participated in the organization of bilingual job fairs, supported a community garden project and an arts project and partnered with Hire Immigrants Ottawa in order to create employment opportunities for Francophone immigrants.

In 2009, CIC attended a meeting with members of the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada National Committee and representatives of FMCs to discuss economic integration and held consultations with regional economic development agencies on programs that support the creation of micro-businesses.

CIC held a meeting in Quebec City to consult stakeholders in the province regarding Canadian language proficiency levels.

More than 10 Francophone immigrants have received temporary employment and acquired work experience through these economic projects. Eighty-five companies and 1,458 job candidates participated in the job fair in Toronto, as well as 650 students from Francophone and French immersion schools. Ninety-three percent of the participants were interviewed and 82% were hired.

CIC organized promotional events abroad to boost the recruitment of French-speaking students and skilled immigrants.

“Destination Canada” was held in November 2009 in Paris and Brussels. Ten provinces and two territories took part in the event. Six missions (Abidjan, Cairo, Bucharest, Damascus, Rabat and Tunis) participated in this activity for the first time, which will help increase the pool of Francophone immigrants in the next several years. Two thousand two hundred participants were selected for 1,500 available jobs.

CIC works with DFAIT, which is responsible for the recruitment of foreign students. CIC held more than 45 general information sessions in France and Belgium. It also participated in fairs and provided information on study permit requirements.

In 2009, CIC’s matching centre for relocation to an OLMC (referrals made in cooperation with the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society) placed a family of Sudanese refugees (five people) in the community of Saint-Léonard, New Brunswick.

CIC partnered with the Province of B.C. and the Agence francophone pour l’accueil des immigrants to host an “Immigration Francophone” kiosk at the Place de la francophonie during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. CIC and the FFCB also partnered in a smaller forum during the Festival francophone de Victoria in early March 2010. The goal in both events was to attract French-speaking visitors who might be interested in immigrating, studying or working in B.C.

Destination Canada reported an increase in the number of employers: 57, compared with 26 in 2008; 225 position profiles covering more than 1,500 openings were created. Very good media coverage.

The increase rate for French-speaking immigrants was 0.83% (1,677) in 2009, compared to 0.75% (1,523) in 2008.

Funding of projects for the promotion and recruitment of prospective French-speaking immigrants.

CIC implemented a pilot project with RDÉE Canada, and promotional documents were produced for prospective French-speaking immigrants, including socio-economic profiles of Francophone communities prepared by RDÉE, and distributed to participants at Destination Canada 2009 events. In Ontario, the employers who participated in Destination Canada also attended an information session on the Provincial Nominee Program.

Funding for promotion of the Canadian Experience Class.

A bilingual brochure promoting the CEC was produced in the spring of 2009. It is available upon request or at CIC points of service and Service Canada offices. 

Two promotional videos targeting foreign students and temporary foreign workers are available in French on the CIC website.

CIC initiated projects that target employers in Francophone communities. The projects are intended to focus on the economic potential of Francophone immigrants.

CIC funds the RDÉE Canada project to help small and medium-sized businesses fill vacant positions and recruit skilled Francophone immigrants. RDÉE has compiled a database of candidates in order to establish the profile of job opportunities in various sectors of activity of Francophone and Acadian small and medium-sized businesses.

In some regions, Francophone networks have undertaken specific projects to mobilize employers.

CIC collaborated with the Province of B.C. in order to promote the Provincial Nominee Program at Destination Canada events. In 2009, the B.C. government presented the Public School Employers’ Association “Make a Future” website to recruit Francophone teachers through Destination Canada events.

St. Mary’s University held a symposium on economics and labour market integration for the Atlantic Metropolis Centre. The objective was to generate public debate on the impact of the recession on attracting and retaining skilled immigrants in the smaller regions of Canada. OLMCs were invited to participate in the symposium.

The temporary workers unit in the Atlantic Region made presentations in the Francophone community and to employers in the Miramichi region of New Brunswick. Presentations were also made to the Francophone community in Newfoundland and Labrador and a team of European journalists who stopped in St. John’s as part of their Canadian tour. During this tour, the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY), a CIC settlement service provider, also coordinated a two-day visit that demonstrated the extent of the existing services for Francophone immigrants in Whitehorse and the environs. The visit was followed by a meeting organized by CIC, the Yukon government and the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, where the journalists were told about the need for skilled and unskilled foreign workers in the Yukon.

Increased awareness of recent policy issues related to North America, in particular smaller regions and Atlantic Canada.

The Ontario Region funded the following economic projects: two bilingual job fairs; the production and distribution of the guide Who Hires Francophone Immigrants; workshops on cultural competencies facilitating economic integration; an economic consortium in Toronto; and a project with the RDÉE aimed at creating employment in existing businesses and through private enterprise.

CIC funded a project with the Conseil de la coopération de la Saskatchewan aimed at working with employers to create a better work environment for Francophone immigrants in Regina and Saskatoon.

Five workshops on cultural competencies were organized and attended by more than 70 participants.

The project Arrimage Emploi (Cité collégiale) provides information to professionals on labour market requirements and job placements.

To date, Arrimage Emploi has had 66 applicants, 29 participants in courses and 8 participants who will be eligible for a job placement.

CIC continued to fund service provider organizations to deliver new and enhanced settlement and integration services, such as language training in French, newcomer information, and community transition and employment assistance services to Francophone clients across Canada. Service providers will be reporting on their obligations under the official languages clauses in their agreements.

In 2009–2010, CIC concluded more than one hundred contribution agreements in support of the integration of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec. These agreements are managed through the following programs: Host, the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) and Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada. Agreements that were signed with Francophone organizations represent approximately $17 million for 2009–2010.

CIC has signed a contribution agreement with the FFCB to put existing networks to good use and help build the capacity of the Francophone community to provide reception services to Francophone immigrants as a means of strengthening the community. CIC also signed a new agreement with the AFY to pursue similar goals and develop an action plan for the Yukon.

CIC signed a small contribution agreement with the Société francophone de Victoria to help fund its annual Francophone festival. During the festival, CIC and the FFCB worked together to host an information booth on Francophone immigration.

CIC is currently implementing a data collection mechanism regarding services provided in French by service provider organizations to Francophone immigrants outside Québec, and will be able to provide such data for future years.

The contribution agreement with the Carrefour d’immigration rurale de Saint-Léonard covers a reception, adjustment and French-language training program in a rural community in northern New Brunswick. Also, in the Greater Moncton Area, the Centre d’accueil des immigrants et immigrantes du Moncton métropolitain provides French reception and adjustment services.

CIC continues to provide funding to help the FCFA facilitate implementation of the Strategic Plan, recruitment, settlement, integration and retention of newcomers in FMCs. The FCFA oversees training for network coordinators to ensure consistency.

In December 2009, CIC launched its first call for proposals to Francophone communities in British Columbia (approximately 50 organizations) to finance small short-term projects focusing on cultural and social integration. Six new Francophone organizations received funding for projects.
 
CIC funded diversity training in FMCs in Saskatchewan, upgrades to the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise website and two meetings of the provincial committee.

CIC funded settlement services provided by Francophone organizations throughout the regions: Calgary (reception centre), Edmonton (reception centre), Saskatoon and Regina (Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise), Yellowknife (Fédération franco-ténoise) and Winnipeg (Société franco-manitobaine).

In the Ontario Region, the Online Tracking Information System for the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program and 211 call centre information and referral services are now available in French.

CIC continued funding for the SWIS program in Edmonton and Saskatoon.

Immigrant services offered by COSTI are funded for the support and training provided in the context of the Job Search Workshop (JSW) program. The delivery component of the JSW program was enhanced through the development of a curriculum in French; training provided in French to JSW facilitators; a website, brochures and a newsletter in French; 1-800 responses in French to clients’ inquiries; and a French-language component of the annual JSW and internationally educated professional conferences.

Funding was provided to the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants for two projects: Journey to Mental Health, a project focusing on training sessions with front‑line staff dealing with mental health issues; and the development of a curriculum for a project for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newcomers. The French content of these projects can be found on http://www.settlement.org. In Ontario, CIC funded eight programs managed by Francophone organizations since 2007 and 12 new projects managed by Francophone organizations.

CIC funded positions for Francophone provincial coordinators for the SWIS, Host and Library Settlement Partnerships programs.

Better access to services provided in French to Francophone immigrants.

CIC continued to create French-language resources for post-secondary educational institutions to meet the needs of Francophone immigrants.

LINC guidelines in French for levels 1 to 7 were released in May 2009.

The new French placement tests were finalized and are now being made available to service providers in the regions. Evaluator training has started and will continue throughout the year.

All the required tools for providing French-language training to newcomers are now available.

CIC continued to fund cultural awareness initiatives, such as interactive workshops in communities and educational videos in schools, and produced videos aimed at Francophone immigrants.

In the Ontario Region, CIC funded a culturally adapted manual for cognitive-behavioural therapy, and a project aimed at the reduction of juvenile delinquency through teaching poetry.

CIC funded the production of a video regarding life in Ontario in both English and French; it introduces newcomers to life in Ontario. 

CIC is funding a project jointly with Service Canada to provide life skills training for Francophone immigrants in Regina and Saskatoon.

CIC continued its funding for the Caravane de la tolérance: interactive workshops against racism and discrimination given in French schools throughout Alberta.

Francophone immigrants have improved access to information in French that facilitates their social and cultural integration.

An agreement was established with Statistics Canada to conduct research on the statistical profile of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec (2001–2006).

Statistics Canada, in cooperation with CIC, produced a statistical profile of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec covering the period from 1991 to 2006. The profile contains information on the demographic, linguistic, social and economic characteristics of Francophone immigration in FMCs (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-641-x/89-641-x2010001-eng.htm). [Funding: $82,000]

The study raises important issues regarding the vitality of communities and points for CIC to consider in its support for Francophone communities outside Quebec.

CIC allocated funds for research on immigration in OLMCs.

The CIC-QCGN research project “Les communautés anglophones et le capital d’attraction et de rétention des populations immigrantes dans quatre collectivités régionales du Québec” complements research conducted in three regions of Quebec on the dimensions involved in attracting and retaining immigrants. [Funding: $46,000 (2009–2011)]

CIC, in cooperation with the FCFA, funded a study on the integration of immigrant students in Francophone minority schools. [Funding: $26,000]

The Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law is preparing a national study on information and orientation needs, priorities and possible initiatives relating to justice and law for Francophone newcomers in minority communities (funded jointly by Justice Canada).

CIC funded a study on housing challenges faced by Francophone immigrants in St. Boniface, Manitoba.

The aim of this project is to analyse the role and potential of Anglophone communities in relation to the dimensions involved in attracting and retaining immigrants.

CIC continued to organize citizenship ceremonies that recognize the two official languages and promote Canada’s linguistic duality.

CIC conducted two citizenship ceremonies in French in the Vancouver area in 2009 and continues to hold two ceremonies a year in French in Winnipeg. In the Atlantic Region, two bilingual citizenship ceremonies were held in FMCs. 

A total of 2,224 citizenship ceremonies took place across the country in 2009. During all these ceremonies, the citizenship oath and the national anthem were conducted in both official languages.

Production of reports on implementation of section 41 of the Official Languages Act. These reports are submitted to Canadian Heritage in order to meet CIC’s accountability requirements.

In 2009–2010, CIC developed a 2009–2013 action plan and a 2008–2009 report on results regarding implementation of section 41 of the Official Languages Act.

In Ontario, accountability reports include specific objectives related to Part VII of the OLA.

Evaluation of CIC’s results for 2009–2010 regarding section 41 of the OLA by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) will be part of the report card to be released in the fall of 2010, in the annual report of the OCOL.

Through grants, CIC works with communities to set up programs and networks to help retain newcomers.

Every new program is systematically analysed for its impact on immigration programs.

CIC undertook a process to modify its existing data collection systems in order to capture information on service outlets, the preferred language of service and the number of contribution agreements in FMCs so that it could get a more accurate reading of the number of French-speaking immigrants settling in Canada and improve newcomer services.

Temporary and permanent residence application forms and manuals were modified to include a question on the use of official languages.

Work was undertaken to update the Global Case Management System (GCMS) to capture information on the use of official languages.

The information will be entered in the GCMS when it is implemented in visa offices starting in June 2010.

Using the citizenship application form, CIC compiled statistics on the language used by applicants at the time they submitted their citizenship application. These statistics were forwarded to FMC representatives.

Between 2006 and 2009, the proportion of new Canadians who reported French as the language they use most increased by more than 8% (from 9% to 17.2%).