ARCHIVED – Results-Based Status Report, 2005-2006: Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act based on the Action Plan for 2004-05 and 2005-06

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Table of Content

General Information

Department

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Address

365 Laurier Avenue West, 14th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

Web site

www.cic.gc.ca

Minister responsible

The Honourable Monte Solberg

Senior officials responsible for the implementation of Part VII of the Official Languages Act (OLA)
Deputy Minister
Janice Charette
Champion
Daniel Jean
Assistant Deputy Minister
Operations

Departmental mandate

Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s mandate is to build a stronger Canada by deriving maximum benefit from the global movement of people; protecting refugees at home and abroad; supporting the settlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers; and managing access to Canada.

National Coordinator
responsible for the implementation of Section 41 of the OLA
Name
Christiane Desautels
Title
Manager, Performance Reporting
Address
365 Laurier Avenue West
14th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
E-mail
christiane.desautels@cic.gc.ca

Assistant National Coordinator
Name
Denis Parent
Title
Analyst, Performance Reporting
Address
365 Laurier Avenue West
14th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
E-mail
denis.parent@cic.gc.ca

Regional Coordinators
  • Maryse O’Neill
    Atlantic Region
    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    1741 Brunswick Street, Suite 220
    Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3X8
  • Kathleen Greenway
    Ontario Region
    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    25 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 200
    Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
  • Lissette Bonilla
    Quebec Region
    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    1010 St. Antoine Street West, 2nd Floor
    Montreal, Quebec H3C 4H6
  • Thérèse Vermette
    British Columbia/Yukon Region
    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    641-800 Burrard Street
    Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2V8
  • Lynne Belding
    Prairies and Northern Territories Region
    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    25 Forks Market Road, Suite 400
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4S9

Summary of Main Achievements

This status report presents Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) progress in implementing section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA) during the 2005-06 fiscal year. Progress is assessed against the principal measures that were identified in the Department’s action plan for 2004-05 and 2005-06.

CIC has made significant progress during the past year in meeting the objectives set out in the OLA. Many activities relating to awareness, communication, consultation, coordination and liaison have taken place. The highlights follow.

In order to promote Francophone immigration to Francophone minority communities (FMCs), it is essential to promote immigration in other countries. These awareness raising and communication activities make it possible to provide potential Francophone immigrants with relevant and current information. Promotional tours to Francophone communities have been arranged, with FMC participation, in Europe and Africa.

In this connection, French-speaking foreign students are a prime target of efforts to increase the number of Francophone immigrants. Such immigration achieves high success rates, since the integration process begins while the immigrants are studying, and they graduate with Canadian qualifications. Initiatives have been undertaken to facilitate their intake and settlement, particularly, the opportunity to work off campus. Employers are also being encouraged to hire such students.

As always, Canada is pursuing its humanitarian tradition of protecting refugees and persons at risk. To encourage FMCs to get involved in this area, CIC has organized briefings to raise the awareness of those active in FMCs and to promote Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Research has also been conducted to assess the ability of six universities to support French speaking refugees.

To facilitate the inflow of potential French-speaking immigrants, the new selection grid under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) assigns more points to skilled workers who speak both official languages. Following a series of consultations, language clauses have been added to new and renewed federal provincial/territorial agreements under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Agreements with language clauses have been signed or renewed with Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.

The issues involved in immigration to Francophone communities are complex, and research, studies and evaluations are required to improve our understanding of them. CIC has accordingly funded studies on the requirements and absorption capacity of various FMCs and has worked with a number of partners on the post census survey by Statistics Canada.

The establishment of reception and integration structures must reflect the specific characteristics of the communities involved. Such structures have been created or improved in various cities, notably Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Ottawa. Regional committees that include representatives of partner organizations are also active in various regions to promote immigration to Francophone communities by endeavouring to get a clearer picture of the integration services they need.

To facilitate the establishment of reception structures, a number of tools have been developed, and others will follow in the coming months. Examples are the development of a strategy to find suitable housing for immigrants in Saint-Boniface and the distribution of a guide to services in French in six Ontario cities.

Given the issues and the local needs, and in conjunction with the establishment of reception structures, each community must make its members aware of the rich social, economic and cultural resource that Francophone immigration represents. A number of initiatives have been undertaken, such as the Caravane de la tolerance, to combat racism in Alberta, and an awareness campaign in French language newspapers across Canada promoting the benefits of immigration in French speaking communities.

Matching the know-how of Francophone immigrants to Canada’s labour requirements is one area for improvement. In Toronto, an economic consortium for Francophone immigrants has been set up to develop strategies to facilitate their economic integration.

In order to integrate fully into the social and cultural fabric of FMCs, Francophone immigrants need access to basic services. An example of an initiative to achieve this objective is the development by the Ontario Region of an intervention tool to facilitate access to various services for immigrant women who are war survivors.

The CIC FMC Steering Committee, in collaboration with its partners and the regional committees, has developed national and regional two year action plans. A summary of these initiatives was made public in 2004-05. The Committee is now working to finalize a five year strategic plan, which will be launched soon.

Detailed Report Of 2005-06 Achievements

Main Results Targeted in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Action Plan Main Activities Carried Out in 2005-06 Progress Made (Results Achieved) in 2005-06

1. Harmonization of CIC policy with the goals and objectives of the OLA; sharing of best practices with OLA stakeholders.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Accountability
  • Participation by CIC in meetings of the Committee of Deputy Ministers of Official Languages organized by the Privy Council Office and the Support Committee, in accordance with the Official Languages Action Plan.
  • The CIC Working Group on Francophone Immigration shares information regularly in support of the CIC-FMC Steering Committee.
  • Increased sharing of best practices internally and externally, with various partners.

2. Senior management delivers consistent messages with respect to official language policies and programs, and meets with FMC representatives to discuss priorities and objectives.

  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Meeting of the community co-chair of the CIC-FMC Steering Committee, representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (representing Francophone and Acadian communities), the DM and the ADM to discuss priorities and the next steps in relation to Francophone immigration.
  • Message from the DM to all staff concerning the government’s Action Plan for Official Languages.
  • Senior management is better equipped to respond to FMCs’ needs and concerns.

3. FMCs are more aware of the richness of cultural diversity and the importance of receiving newcomers.

  • Consultations
  • Program delivery and funding
  • Awareness workshops and a media campaign to highlight successes and the contribution of immigrants in Saint-Boniface.
  • Caravane de la tolérance to combat racism among young Albertans.
  • Awareness session on diversity for key partners, designed to improve the integration of Francophone women from ethnocultural communities in New Brunswick.
  • Development of an action plan to attract, retain and integrate French-speaking students and immigrants in Sudbury, Ontario.
  • FMCs are better informed about the benefits of immigration and related issues.
  • In Ontario, intersectoral community meetings have made it possible to develop an action plan.
  • Production of an interim report on achievements.
  • Development of an FMC integration model in the context of a regionalization policy (under way).

4. French-speaking immigrants use support services offered in French.

  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Program delivery and funding
  • CIC’s regional office in British Columbia is working with the province to determine the need for services in French in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
  • CIC has encouraged service providers to take action to improve their ability to serve French-speaking immigrants in the Atlantic Region.
  • Expansion of the range of documents available to assist in the settlement of immigrants in FMCs in the Atlantic Region.
  • In the Ontario Region, development and distribution of a guide to services in French in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Sudbury and London.
  • In the Ontario Region, three analyses of Francophone immigrants’ needs have been developed in partnership with community agencies providing services in French in London, Hamilton and Ottawa.
  • Service providers have demonstrated an increased capacity to deliver services to Francophone immigrants.
  • The guide has been developed and distributed to key partners in FMCs in Ontario.
  • Needs analyses have been completed, giving a clearer picture of the characteristics of newcomers in the three cities.

5. The documents for citizenship ceremonies are available in both official languages and are used during the ceremonies.

  • Awareness
  • Publish and provide handbooks, promotional materials and speech modules for CIC staff and citizenship judges in both official languages.
  • Offer citizenship ceremonies to future Canadian citizens in both official languages.
  • Encourage citizenship judges and volunteer chairs to use both official languages.
  • Publish information in both official languages on special ceremonies, such as those held during Citizenship Week and Celebrate Citizenship.
  • Publications, handbooks, promotional materials and speech modules are supplied in both official languages.
  • Citizenship ceremonies are offered to new Canadian citizens in both official languages.
  • Citizenship judges and volunteer chairs are encouraged to use both official languages.
  • Each year, information on special ceremonies is posted in both official languages.
  • The Francophone community in British Columbia participated in three high-profile citizenship ceremonies, and the Société franco-manitobaine in two ceremonies for Francophone immigrants in Winnipeg.

6. The Provincial Nominee Program is promoted in French-speaking countries.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Program delivery and funding
  • A number of promotional activities were arranged, one on a large scale (Destination Canada: Paris, Nice, Brussels) and one on a smaller scale (Promotion Canada: Rabat) in March 2006, in which provincial officials and association representatives took part, in order to attract French-speaking temporary and permanent residents to FMCs in Canada.
  • This year, we reached more potential candidates-1,171-than last year.
  • About the same number of participants appeared in Paris (521, compared with 528).
  • We received more than seven times as many participants in Brussels (300, compared with 42).
  • There were 350 participants in Nice, which was added to the tour this year.
  • A fair in Lausanne, Switzerland, from September 21 to 25, 2005, drew 400 people.
  • Representatives from British Columbia joined the other provinces in Destination Canada.
  • Newfoundland asked to join the Steering Committee.

7. Pilot projects are implemented to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers and business people who want to settle in FMCs.

  • Consultations
  • Program delivery and funding
  • In the Ontario Region, an economic consortium for French-speaking immigrants was formed in Toronto.
  • Meetings have been held that were attended by more than 15 community groups working specifically on economic integration.
  • A status report on the economic integration of immigrants in Toronto was drafted.
  • A strategy for cooperation in the implementation of entrepreneurship projects in FMCs was developed.

8. CIC and community representatives give presentations in African countries to provide information on FMCs.

  • Awareness
  • Communications
  • Program delivery and funding
  • CIC funded promotional trips to African countries in March 2006, organized by a Francophone association and a post-secondary institution to provide information on FMCs.
  • CIC also organized and funded an initial trip by Francophone provincial and association representatives to Rabat, Morocco, in March 2006 to brief the consultants most potential immigrants rely on in applying to immigrate and to establish a dialogue with the Moroccan authorities.
  • CIC collaborated in organizing and managing the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne trip to Tunis in March 2006.
  • The countries visited were Cameroon, Niger, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal.
  • 13 provincial representatives from New Brunswick, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan, and Francophone associations took part in this activity.

9. FMCs are more aware of the private sponsorship of refugees.

  • Communications
  • Promotion of the private sponsorship of refugees in order to increase the capacity of Francophone institutions to sponsor French-speaking student refugees.
  • FMCs are better informed about the private sponsorship of refugees.

10. Communication products are more effective and reach the target audience.

  • Awareness
  • Communications
  • Program delivery and funding
  • CIC organized and funded media tours to Canada (September and November 2005) and newspaper advertisements in Mauritius (February and March 2006) to promote FMCs abroad.
  • CIC funded the creation or improvement of a number of promotional tools (Web sites, brochures, posters, presentations) to brief potential Francophone immigrants on the appeal of FMCs in Canada.
  • In September and November 2005, the Press Office and the Communications/Promotion Section of Immigration Services at the Canadian Embassy in Paris invited French and Belgian media representatives to visit FMCs in Canada.
  • These activities were highly successful and resulted in a number of newspaper articles in Paris (Le Figaro, Le Monde, La Tribune) and Nice, and in Belgium (Le Soir), about the appeal of FMCs in Canada.
  • In terms of press coverage, 2005-06 was a bumper year for Canada in France.

11. A Metropolis representative is assigned to act as liaison between the Atlantic Centre and the Metropolis Project and to participate actively in the Centre’s management board meetings.

  • Coordination and liaison
  • A Metropolis representative provides liaison between the Atlantic Centre and Metropolis, and Metropolis representatives have attended Centre meetings since it was established.
  • Liaison between the Atlantic Centre and Metropolis is well managed.

12. New members are recruited. The working group also examines the need to organize an event for all researchers from the Réseau de la Francophonie.

  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Program delivery and funding
  • Three French-language workshops were held in conjunction with the last two conferences. These addressed such subjects as immigrants’ experiences in rural Francophone communities: previous experiences and future prospects for a coordinated approach; diversity and speaking French; and lessons learned from the 2005 urban riots in France.
  • Metropolis continues to work on the development of the Réseau de la Francophonie in Canada and abroad.

13. Information on the PNP is made available in French through cooperation with provincial partners.

  • Communications
  • Provincial governments have provided information on the PNP in French to FMCs.
  • FMCs are better informed about the PNP.

14. The process for recruiting French-speaking immigrants is further developed.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Program delivery and funding
  • CIC has given priority to processing cases in Rabat and Paris.
  • Since 2005, the volume of immigration issues has led the Canadian Embassy in Paris to hold regular briefings to encourage the recruitment of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec.
  • The Communications/Promotion Section of Immigration Services at the Canadian Embassy in Paris has stepped up its participation in fairs to promote Francophone immigration and mobility for young students and temporary workers.
  • More applications for permanent residence have been filed in Rabat since the full-service office was opened there in 2004.
  • Officers have been assigned on temporary duty to Paris and Rabat to speed up the processing of applications for permanent residence which are, of course, essentially Francophone.

15. Mechanisms are in place to facilitate the integration of French-speaking immigrants into the labour market.

  • Consultations
  • Program delivery and funding
  • In the Ontario regional office, English courses for French-speaking immigrants that stress employability have been developed and delivered to newcomers in London and Hamilton.
  • A committee of partners in economic development has been formed by CIC, the province of Manitoba, the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, Canadian Heritage and Western Economic Diversification Canada.
  • A model focused on communication in the workplace has been developed and includes the delivery of on-line and classroom modules.

16. The project to promote Francophone immigration is completed. Federal departments consider the findings within their mandated areas.

  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Program delivery and funding
  • Promotional tour of various Acadian communities in Nova Scotia, using an information kit to present the concept and immigration issues to them.
  • Communities are better informed about immigration issues.

17. Francophone international students access off-campus employment.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • In 2005-06, CIC negotiated 11 memorandums of understanding with the provinces and one territory to expand access to the Off-Campus Work Program across Canada. To date, the program has been available only in provinces with a pilot project: Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick.
  • In 2005-06, seven memorandums of understanding were signed.
  • CIC launched the program on April 27, 2006.

18. Private sponsorships are promoted.

  • Communications
  • See No. 9.
  

19. CIC employees are more aware of the importance of Francophone communities for Canada’s bilingual identity.

  • Awareness
  • Communications
  • Participation of the Immigration Section in Paris and Rabat in briefings and promotional travel organized by their missions.
  • Publication of articles on FMCs in the in-house newsletter of CIC’s B.C./Yukon Region.
  • Presentation to the CIC management committee in the Atlantic Region in the fall of 2005, and presentation and discussion on the region’s action plan.
  • Regular communication between the regional OL coordinator and local offices in the Atlantic Region.
  • Establishment of an internal working group in the Settlement and Intergovernmental Affairs Directorate at Ontario regional headquarters.
  • This year, for the second time, CIC organized an event in conjunction with Rendez-vous de la Francophonie in March 2006 to highlight the contribution of the Francophone community to Canada’s linguistic duality.
  • Some 50% of the designated immigration officers rotated through the promotional events of Promotion Canada (Rabat) and Destination Canada (Paris, Nice and Brussels ) in March 2006.
  • Better awareness of initiatives. Employees are better informed about our obligations to FMCs.
  • More efficient internal communication network in the Atlantic Region.
  • Review of the official languages action plan (specific to the Ontario initiative).
  • Analysis of the availability of settlement services in French in all the target cities in the Ontario Region.
  • This year, the event (Rendez-vous de la Francophonie) was on a larger scale and included the participation of CIC singers and musicians. More than 200 employees took part. A number of employees from various branches helped to organize it.
  • Review of narrative and statistical reports on settlement programs to ensure effective follow-up on services offered in French (specific to Ontario initiative).
  • In 2005, A CIC employee in the B.C./Yukon regional office received the Cornouiller d’or or “golden dogwood award,” which is given to a public servant who has contributed to the development of the French-speaking community of British Columbia.
  • Four employees from the Prairies/N.T. Region and the B.C./Yukon Region received the Deputy Minister’s Achievement Award for their contribution, particularly for their efforts with regard to Francophone immigration.

20. Immigrants and potential immigrants are aware of the presence of FMCs in Canada.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • Program delivery and funding
  • See No. 6.
  

21. Language clauses are incorporated into agreements with the provinces and territories.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • Communications
  • Coordination and liaison
  • All new agreements, or renewals of agreements, with the provinces and territories will have language clauses to encourage them to promote Canada’s linguistic duality.
  • In 2005-06, three agreements containing language clauses were signed or renewed with Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.

22. Bilingual tools are used for citizenship promotion.

  • Awareness
  • Consultations
  • See No. 5.
  

Summary of Achievements by Category of Activity

Activities Carried Out

  1. Harmonization of CIC policy with the goals and objectives of the OLA; sharing of best practices with OLA stakeholders
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Accountability
  2. Senior management delivers consistent messages with respect to official language policies and programs, and meets with FMC representatives to discuss priorities and objectives
    • Consultations
    • Communications
  3. FMCs are more aware of the richness of cultural diversity and the importance of receiving newcomers
    • Consultations
    • Program delivery and funding
  4. French-speaking immigrants use support services offered in French
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Program delivery and funding
  5. The documents for citizenship ceremonies are available in both official languages and are used during the ceremonies
    • Awareness
  6. The Provincial Nominee Program is promoted in French-speaking countries
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Program delivery and funding
  7. Pilot projects are implemented to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers and business people who want to settle in FMCs
    • Consultations
    • Program delivery and funding
  8. CIC and community representatives give presentations in African countries to provide information on FMCs
    • Awareness
    • Communications
    • Program delivery and funding
  9. FMCs are more aware of the private sponsorship of refugees
    • Communications
  10. Communication products are more effective and reach the target audience
    • Awareness
    • Communications
    • Program delivery and funding
  11. A Metropolis representative is assigned to act as liaison between the Atlantic Centre and the Metropolis Project and to participate actively in the Centre’s management board meetings
    • Coordination and liaison
  12. New members are recruited. The working group also examines the need to organize an event for all researchers from the Réseau de la Francophonie
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Program delivery and funding
  13. Information on the PNP is made available in French through cooperation with provincial partners
    • Communications
  14. The process for recruiting French-speaking immigrants is further developed
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Program delivery and funding
  15. Mechanisms are in place to facilitate the integration of French-speaking immigrants into the labour market
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Program delivery and funding
  16. The project to promote Francophone immigration is completed. Federal departments consider the findings within their mandated areas
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Program delivery and funding
  17. Francophone international students access off-campus employment
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
  18. Private sponsorships are promoted
    • Communications
  19. CIC employees are more aware of the importance of Francophone communities for Canada’s bilingual identity
    • Awareness
  20. Immigrants and potential immigrants are aware of the presence of FMCs in Canada
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
    • Program delivery and funding
  21. Language clauses are incorporated into agreements with the provinces and territories
    • Awareness
    • Consultations
    • Communications
    • Coordination and liaison
  22. Bilingual tools are used for citizenship promotion
    • Awareness
    • Consultations

Communications Plan

Distribution list

  • Janice Charette, Deputy Minister, CIC
  • Daniel Jean, Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, and Official Languages Champion
  • Malcolm Brown, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy
  • Liliane Binette, Assistant Deputy Minister, Client Service Modernization
  • John McWhinnie, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services
  • Janet Siddall, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations
  • Directors General, CIC
  • CIC coordinators responsible for the implementation of Section 41 of the OLA
  • Members, House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages
  • Members, Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages
  • Commissioner of Official Languages
  • Groups and organizations in Francophone minority communities
  • Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne