OLLO Committee briefing binder: Appearance by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, and officials from Employment and Social Development Canada – November 4, 2024
Official title: Appearance by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, and officials from Employment and Social Development Canada, Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages (OLLO), Study: Minority-language health services, date: November 4, 2024, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
On this page
1. Opening remarks
Speaking Notes for the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages for an Appearance Before the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages. Study on Health Care Services in the Minority Language Theme: Foreign Credential Recognition for Health Care Professionals
Check against delivery
Good evening, Mr. Chair and honourable Senators,
I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People.
Thank you for inviting me here today to talk about foreign credential recognition for health care professionals.
We have an incredible talent pool here in Canada. And it's our responsibility to create the conditions necessary so that skilled newcomers, who have the required training and experience, can contribute to the economy.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program enables the Government to collaborate with the provinces, territories, and regulatory bodies. Through the Program, the Government helps develop and strengthen the assessment process and improve the labour market integration of skilled newcomers.
It's a complex system in which the provinces and territories regulate occupations, while the federal government funds key initiatives to accelerate these processes.
Working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Health Canada, we've already reduced multiple barriers for internationally educated professionals.
I have raised foreign credential recognition at the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM). My FLMM counterparts and I discussed key labour market issues unique to our jurisdictions and shared solutions for critical sectors like health care and supporting official language minority communities.
Since 2015, we have invested more than $270 million in 115 projects across the country to support skilled newcomers through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, including nearly $114 million in 36 projects in the health sector since 2020.
Budget 2024 provided an additional $50 million over 2 years starting in 2024 to 2025 for the Program, with a focus on residential construction and health care. This is in addition to the $115 million over 5 years announced in Budget 2022.Footnote 1 In short, we are transforming the system. The National Nursing Assessment Service's Expedited Service—made possible with support by the Foreign Credential Recognition Program—has reduced assessment times for internationally educated nurses from 12 months to 6 weeks, while also reducing fees by 40 percent.
Between 2018 and 2022, we issued almost $17 million in loans to nearly 1,900 newcomers—2 thirds of whom work in health care. While these results continue to increase overtime as borrowers continue to repay these loans, about half have completed their credential recognition process, and almost 60 percent are working in their field of expertise. New loan agreements were put in place last year and we are continuing to issue new loans of up to $30,000 across the country.
Despite this progress, delays in the credential recognition process continue to make it difficult for qualified professionals to enter our labour market, threatening to drive this talent to other countries.
Some provinces are taking promising steps. Alberta has made significant progress on recognizing foreign-earned nursing qualifications. Saskatchewan has launched an accelerated pathway for internationally educated nurses. Similarly, Atlantic Canada has launched a number of initiatives to attract health care professionals.
But we need to do more, and we need to do it faster. It's a message I heard loud and clear at the Workforce Summit: the mechanisms are in place, but more needs to be done.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program also plays a critical role in improving access to bilingual health services.
For example, Société Économique de l'Ontario received $2.5 million from 2021 to 2024 to provide mentoring and support to internationally trained Francophone professionals in various sectors, including health, engineering, and social services, to build capacity within official language minority communities.
The Program is currently supporting another $2.5 million project with the same organization to help Francophone Internationally Trained Health Professionals in Ontario and British Columbia gain their first Canadian work experience by providing structured, supervised internships.
With increasing labour shortages, especially in health care, now is the time to act, and everyone needs to do their part.
We need to work together to help newcomers, strengthen our health care system and ensure that all communities, including official language minority communities, have access to the care they need, in their language of choice.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and honourable Senators. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
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2. Foreign Credential Recognition
2.a. Foreign Credential Recognition for Healthcare Professionals
Issue
Despite significant labour shortages in Canada's health care sector, internationally trained professionals continue to face barriers to entering the labour market, such as a lack of Canadian work experience and the foreign credential recognition (FCR) process for regulated occupations.
Background
FCR and licensure are largely a provincial and territorial responsibilities that are often delegated through legislation to regulatory authorities. There are approximately 600 regulatory authorities in Canada and 65 to 275 regulated occupations, depending on the jurisdiction.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program helps to develop and strengthen Canada's foreign credential assessment and recognition capacity, contribute to improving the labour market integration outcomes of skilled newcomers, and support interprovincial labour mobility. The Program does this by:
- convening provinces and territories to share information and best practices
- and by providing funding to provinces and territories, regulatory authorities, and other organizations to improve FCR processes making them faster and more efficient
- providing loans and support services to help skilled newcomers with FCR expenses
- and by providing employment supports to help skilled newcomers gain Canadian work experience in their field of study
Key facts
The total budget for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program in 2024 to 2025 is $57.3 million. Budget 2024 provided an additional $50 million over 2 years starting in 2024 to 2025 for the Program, with a focus on residential construction and health care.
Systems improvement projects make processes faster and more efficient:
- for example, the Program supported the National Nursing Assessment Service to create an Expedited Service. Launched in June 2023, this new service allows an internationally educated nurse to start the credentialing process for becoming a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse in one application for a single price. It has reduced the credential assessment process by 85% (from 12 months to 6 weeks) and the cost of assessment by 40% (from $1,250 to $750). Currently, 80% of Regulatory Bodies representing the nursing professions are part of the Expedited Service
Loans projects help newcomers cover FCR expenses. Since 2018, the Program has supported the issuance of over $24 million in FCR loans to more than 2,600 skilled newcomers.
- From 2018 to 2022, $16.9 million in loans were issued to 1,853 newcomers, two-thirds of whom were in the health care sector
- To date, 47% of borrowers completed the FCR process and 59% found employment in their field of expertise or related occupation. These results continue to increase during the current loan repayment phase (2022 to 2026)
- In 2022 to 2023, the Program launched 7 new 10-year agreements totaling $43 million that are now issuing new loans. To date, these projects have issued over $7M in loans to more than 800 skilled newcomers
Employment support projects help newcomers gain Canadian work experience.
- Since 2021, 7,741 participants were provided with employment supports. To date, 20.5% newcomers have found employment in their field of expertise and 17% have completed the FCR process
- For example, the Program is currently supporting a $2.5 million project with La Société Économique de l'Ontario to help 250 Francophone internationally educated health professionals in Ontario and British Columbia gain Canadian work experience by providing structured, supervised internships
Key messages
- Provincial and territorial governments are primarily responsible for credential recognition and licensure for regulated occupations and often delegate this authority through legislation to regulatory authorities
- The Government of Canada recognizes the challenges internationally trained professionals face. The Foreign Credential Recognition Program supports the labour market integration of internationally trained professionals by funding provinces and territories, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to improve foreign credential recognition systems, provide loans and support services to help skilled newcomers navigate foreign credential recognition processes, and employment supports to help internationally trained professionals gain Canadian work experience
- Budget 2024 provided an additional $50 million over 2 years starting in 2024 to 2025 for the Program, with a focus on residential construction and health care. This builds on Budget 2022 investments of $115 million over 5 years starting in 2022 to 2023 and $30 million ongoing for the Program, starting with a focus on supporting the labour market integration of internationally educated health professionals
- Since 2015, the Program has invested nearly $270 million in 115 projects to support internationally trained professionals, including nearly $114 million in 36 projects in the healthcare sector since 2020
- These projects help reduce the time, cost and complexity of foreign credential recognition processes and help skilled newcomers obtain employment in their fields of expertise
2.b. Questions and answers
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development appearance at Official Languages Official Languages Standing Committee, Senate of Canada
Q1.
What is holding back faster and easier access to credential recognition in Canada? Could a single, federal-level, entrance exam for different professions be an option?
A1.
- Foreign credential recognition (FCR) processes seek to protect the health and safety of Canadians and verify that the knowledge and skills are comparable to Canadian standards
- In Canada, outside of a few federally regulated occupations, FCR and licensure are provincial and territorial responsibilities that are often further delegated through legislation to regulatory authorities. There are approximately 600 regulatory authorities in Canada. The number of regulated occupations and compulsory trades varies significantly, ranging from around 65 to 275 per jurisdiction. FCR is complex given that each jurisdiction is responsible for establishing educational, training, and licensing standards
- The complexity and length of time required for FCR varies by occupation and jurisdiction. Implementing single, national-level exams would require full collaboration and support from provinces/territories and regulatory bodies
Q2.
Can you explain the role of the Federal vs Provincial/Territorial governments in FCR?
A2.
Provincial/Territorial governments are responsible for FCR and licensure, which is often further delegated through legislation to regulatory authorities. The federal government, through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP), convenes Provinces/Territories to share information and best practices and funds projects that support improvements to FCR systems that will help reduce cost, time, and complexity
Q3.
How does ESDC work with Provinces/Territories in simplifying and harmonizing credential recognition processes?
A3.
ESDC meets with Provincial/Territorial counterparts through various multilateral fora to promote simplification and harmonization of FCR processes. The Department also supports Provinces/Territories by funding projects through the FCRP that support improvements to FCR systems and processes to make them faster and more efficient, and ultimately to support the labour market integration of internationally trained professionals. Since 2015, the Program has invested $40 million in 12 projects with Provincial/Territorial governments
Q4.
Does ESDC target minority-language health field newcomers in providing loans and support services to help with the foreign credential recognition processes?
A4.
Loans and support services are available to skilled newcomers across Canada, including for minority-language internationally trained professionals. There is no data available on minority-language borrowers specifically. Since 2018, the FCRP has supported the issuance of over $24 million in FCR loans to more than 2,600 skilled newcomers.
- From 2018 to 2022, $16.9 million in loans were issued to 1,853 newcomers, two-thirds of whom were in the health care sector
- To date, 47% of borrowers completed the FCR process and 59% found employment in their field of expertise or related occupation. These results continue to increase during the current loan repayment phase (2022 to 2026)
- In 2022 to 2023, the FCRP launched 7 new 10-year agreements totaling $43 million that are now issuing new loans. To date, these projects have issued over $7M in loans to more than 800 newcomers
Q5.
How does ESDC help skilled newcomers gain their Canadian work experience? Is there work done for minority-language sectors?
A5.
- The FCRP funds employment supports projects that provide work placements, wage subsidies, training, mentoring, and coaching, to help internationally trained professionals gain Canadian work experience in their field of study. From 2021 to 2024, more than 7,700 skilled newcomers have received support from these projects
- The FCRP has recently provided funding for 2 projects specifically targeting Official Language Minority Communities. From 2021 to 2024, the FCRP supported a $2.5 million project with La Société Économique de l'Ontario, which helped 119 Francophone newcomers across Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia to gain Canadian work experience through a mentorship and wage subsidy program
- The FCRP is currently supporting another $2.5 million project with the same organization to help 250 Francophone Internationally Trained Health Professionals in Ontario and British Columbia gain their first Canadian work experience by providing structured, supervised internships
Q6.
How does ESDC support Foreign Credential Recognition Program joint initiatives among provinces and territories and other partners to improve the mobility of Canadian workers in regulated occupations, particularly for minority-language health services?
A6.
In addition to funding projects, the FCRP supports collaboration between Federal-Provincial/Territorial governments to advance shared labour market priorities. This includes collaboration through the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, which is responsible for advancing labour mobility, including the implementation of, and the ongoing adherence to, Chapter Seven of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
Q7.
How many projects have been funded through the FCRP? How many projects targeting internationally educated health professionals?
A7.
Since 2015, the Program has invested $270 million in 115 projects to support internationally trained professionals, including nearly $114 million in 36 projects in the health sector since 2020.
Q8.
What solution do you propose to improve foreign credential recognition and facilitate the mobility of health care workers into and across the country?
A8.
- In an area of Provincial/Territorial jurisdiction, full collaboration and support amongst Provinces/Territories and regulatory bodies to simplify and harmonize credential recognition processes is paramount to improve FCR and facilitate labour mobility of health care workers across Canada
- For example, the Government Newfoundland and Labrador and the College of Registered Nurses are collaborating on initiatives to expand the scope of practice for nurses, and to make it easier for Canadian and international registered nurses to become licensed in the province. They are doing this by exploring amendments to the Registered Nurses Act and Regulations to facilitate licensure of nurses currently practising in another province or territory to enable multijurisdictional licensure as well as streamlining education assessment processes and English requirements for internationally educated nurses
Q9.
Do you have an estimate of how many people's talent Canada is deprived of because of obstacles in foreign credential recognition?
A9.
It is difficult to determine the number of people who are unemployed or underemployed due to FCR obstacles, though it is likely significant. With regards to the health sector, it is estimated that 47% of immigrants with post-secondary education in a health-related field are either unemployed or working in non-health occupations that require only a high school diploma.
Q10.
How does ESDC support Health Canada's work on Foreign Credential Recognition and the health workforce?
A10.
ESDC coordinates and works closely with counterparts at Health Canada to advance the shared priority of advancing improvements to FCR and supporting the labour market integration of internationally educated health professionals.
3. Parliamentary environment
3.a. Scenario note
Overview
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages (OLLO) has invited you, accompanied by officials, to appear before the Committee on their ongoing study on minority-language health services.
Committee proceedings
The appearance is scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is scheduled to appear on the same day, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
You will have up to 5 minutes to deliver your opening remarks.
The following ESDC and IRCC officials will be on the panel with you:
- Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development
- Jacinthe Arsenault, Director General, Apprenticeship and Sectoral Initiatives Directorate, Skills and Employment Branch
- one IRCC official to be determined.
The Chair of the Committee, Senator René Cormier (ISG - New Brunswick), will preside over the meeting. Unlike Committees of the House of Commons, Senate Committees do not have pre-established rounds of questioning nor a limit on the number of minutes for each intervention, rather five minutes per Senator is to be expected. At OLLO, the Chair will generally turn to the Deputy Chair, Rose-May Poirier (C - New Brunswick), for the first question. Subsequently, Senators will be recognized by the Chair if they have indicated they have questions. The Chair may also use his privilege to ask questions at any time.
Parliamentary environment
Authorized by an order of reference on March 9, 2023, the study on minority-language health services at OLLO has examined a number of issues. The order of reference lists the following topics: the inclusion of language clauses in federal health transfers; aging population; access to minority-language health services for vulnerable communities; the shortage of health professionals in public and private facilities serving official language minority communities and the language skills of health care personnel in these facilities; the needs of francophone post-secondary institutions outside Quebec and anglophone post-secondary institutions in Quebec respecting recruitment, training and support for future graduates in health-related fields; telemedicine and the use of new technologies in the health sector, including the associated language challenges; and the needs for research, evidence and solutions to foster access to health care in the language of one's choice.
OLLO has received the former Minister of Health and Health Canada officials, and heard from other government departments, including other levels of government, academics, community groups, and professional associations.
3.b. Member biographies
Standing Senate Committee on official languages
Members profile
René Cormier - Chair
Independant Senators Group, New Brunswick
- Nominated in 2016 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Artist, artistic director
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since December 2016
Biography (from the Senate website)
The Honourable René Cormier joined the Senate of Canada on November 15, 2016, as an independent senator from New Brunswick. Senator Cormier is a man of action committed to a citizen-driven approach to the development of Acadia, New Brunswick, and La francophonie. He has extensive professional experience in arts and culture.
Educated in music at l'Université du Québec à Montréal and in theatre at l'École internationale Jacques LeCoq, in Paris, this multidisciplinary artist has held a number of positions within Canada's cultural ecosystem, including that of artistic director, director, actor, musician, composer, cultural manager, and announcer.
A renowned leader and accomplished artist, Senator Cormier has been working for nearly 40 years to ensure that arts and culture are better integrated in every aspect of Acadian and Canadian society. He has led countless cultural organizations and events, including providing direction for and presenting a number of variety shows on Radio-Canada television, providing artistic and general direction at the Théâtre populaire d'Acadie, artistic direction for the National Arts Centre biennial Zones Théâtrales, artistic direction for the 2009 Congrès mondial acadien, and management of the États généraux des arts et de la culture dans la société acadienne au Nouveau-Brunswick within the Association acadienne des artistes professionnel(le)s du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB). In that role, Senator Cormier worked tirelessly with his colleagues on bringing together various linguistic and cultural communities in his native province.
Honourable René Cormier is very involved in his community and has also chaired a number of national and international organizations, including the Commission internationale du théâtre francophone (CITF), the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF), the Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (ATFC), and the New Brunswick Arts Board. He has also sat on a number of boards of directors, including that of TV5 Québec-Canada, the Canadian Conference of the Arts, and the Atlantic Visual Arts Festival.
A lifelong Acadian activist, from June 2015 until his appointment to the Upper Chamber, Senator Cormier presided over the Société Nationale de l'Acadie (SNA), the representative organization for the Acadian people in Atlantic Canada, nationally, and internationally.
Senator Cormier is recognized for his integrity, his professionalism, his ability to bring people together, and his motivational skills. He has earned many recognitions throughout his career including an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Université de Moncton (2018), the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique (2008), the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de France (2003), the Éloize award for theatre artist of the year (2000), the Jean-Claude Marcus award for his contribution to francophone theatre in Canada, and the Economic Council of New Brunswick manager of the year award in 2000.
Since his arrival in the Upper Chamber, Senator Cormier has demonstrated a strong commitment to international diplomacy through his involvement in parliamentary associations, interparliamentary groups and friendship groups. In particular, he is Vice-President of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association and Director on the Executive Committee of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association.
Senator Cormier lives in Caraquet, New Brunswick, a vibrant Acadian municipality known as the cultural capital of Acadia.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
- (44-1) Canadian Heritage - Indigenous Languages
- (44-1) Diversity and Inclusion - Support for 2SLGBTQI+ Children
- (44-1) Prejudiced online content
- (44-1) Official Languages - Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments
- (44-1) Official Languages - Bilingualism of Deputy Ministers
- (44-1) Federal Court of Appeal decision on Official Languages
- (44-1) Action Plan for Official Languages
- (44-1) Official Languages - National Daycare Program
- (43-1) Mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada
- (43-1) Official language minority communities
- (42-1) Canadian content in digital - broadband access, artist skill development, copyright protection
- (42-1) Action Plan on Official Languages
- (42-1) Canadian Heritage - Netflix
- (42-1) Support for the media
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
- (42-1) DA-0546 Media Support
- (42-1) DA-0319 Cultural Policy
- (42-1) DA-0241 Canada: The Story of Us, Absence of reference to Acadians
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests (Not in original binder)
- Modernization of the Official Languages Act
- Inclusion of language clauses in federal-provincial agreements
- Francophone immigration
- Language training for senior officials
- Francophone minority communities
- National Daycare Program
- LGBTQ Communities
- Support for cultural workers during the pandemic
- Arts and culture sector
- Issues affecting New Brunswick
Rose-May Poirier - Vice-Chair
Conservative, New Brunswick
- Nominated in 2010 by Stephen Harper
- Profession: Member of Parliament and provincial minister, insurance agent, sales manager, businesswoman
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2011
- Conservative Caucus Chair
Biography (from the Senate website)
Her political career began at the municipality level where she served 2 terms on the Saint-Louis de Kent town council. In 1999, Rose-May Poirier made the jump to provincial politics, representing the people of Rogersville-Kouchibouguac for 3 terms. As a MLA of the Progressive - Conservative Party, Senator Rose-May Poirier was the 1st women to chair the P.C. caucus. Upon her re-election on June 9, 2003, she was appointed Minister of the Office of Human Resources and 2 years later, in February 2006, she was named Minister of Local Government and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.
Appointed to the Senate in 2010, Senator Poirier was previously the Senate Conservative Caucus Chair and the Vice Chair of the National Conservative Caucus. She was also previously a member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and currently sits on the Standing Committees for Fisheries & Oceans, Foreign Affairs & as Deputy Chair of Official Languages.
In her community, Senator Poirier has given a lot of her time to various causes: Child Find, Children's Wish Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, George L. Dumont Tree of Hope campaign and the Friends of the Moncton Hospital as well as economic development for the Kent region.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
- (44-1) Federal Court of Appeal decision on official languages
- (44-1) Modernization of the Official Languages Act
- (44-1) Appointment of a unilingual lieutenant-governor - Official Languages
- (42-1) Official Languages Commissioners
- (42-1) Support for the media
- (42-1) Linguistic duality
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
- (42-1) DA-0130 Services offered to official language minority communities
- (42-1) DA-0288 Bilingual status of Canadian cities
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Acadians of New Brunswick
- Post-Secondary Education
- Bilingualism and linguistic duality
- Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC)
- National daycare program
- Immigration
- Employment Insurance
- Fisheries Act
Réjean Aucoin
Canadian Senators Group, Nova Scotia
- Nominated in 2023 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession: Lawyer
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2024
Biography (from the Senate website)
Réjean Aucoin practised law for more than 30 years and is a recognized leader in the Acadian community of Chéticamp and in the province of Nova Scotia. Prior to practising law, he worked as a journalist, radio producer, writer, and community development officer. From 2004 to 2007, he also served as a part-time board member of the Parole Board of Canada.
His character-defining enthusiasm and convictions concerning the French-speaking Acadian community led him to establish the Association des juristes d'expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse in 1994, of which he is currently past president. Mr. Aucoin is also the founder and president of the Conseil économique de Chéticamp. Both organizations have fostered the development and vitality of the region's Acadian community. He has also served as vice-president of the Fédération des associations de juristes d'expression française de common law inc, vice-president of the Société nationale de l'Acadie, vice-president of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, vice-president of the Community Radio Fund of Canada, and president of the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada. He also published several books; he is the recipient of the Prix France-Acadie for the children's book Le tapis du Grand Pré, which was made into a movie and won the prix d'excellence at the Festival du film de l'Atlantique in 1986.
His work and his community engagement have won him numerous distinctions, including the 2017 Lawyer's Award of the Association des juristes d'expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse, the Community Development Award from the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and the community partner award of the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada. He was also named volunteer of the year by the Société Saint-Pierre de Chéticamp and recipient of the Léger Comeau certificate of merit from the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse.
Mr. Aucoin was appointed King's Counsel in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Moncton.
He lives in Chéticamp with his wife, has 2 daughters and 1 grand child. He enjoys reading, sports, cross country skiing and travelling.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
(44-1) Statement - International day of la Francophonie
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Acadian of Nova Scotia
- Official languages
- Official language minority communities Francophonie
- Francophonie
- French education
Michèle Audette
Progressive Senate Group, Quebec - De Salaberry
- Nominated in 2021 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Politician, activist
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2024
Biography (from the Senate website)
Michèle Audette is a recognized Indigenous leader.
The daughter of a Quebecer father and an Innu mother, Michèle Audette comes from the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam in Quebec. She has played a key role in transforming the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Quebec and Canadian society since the 1990s. At only 27 years old, she was elected president of the association Quebec Native Women. In 2004, she was appointed Associate Deputy Minister to the Secrétariat à la condition féminine of Quebec. From 2012 to 2015, she served as President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. In 2015, she helped created an innovative graduate program in Indigenous public administration for the École nationale d'administration publique.
Ms. Audette was appointed as one of the 5 commissioners responsible for conducting the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Since 2019, she has been Assistant to the Vice-Rector of Academic and Student Affairs, and Senior Advisor for reconciliation and Indigenous education at the Université Laval.
In recognition of her significant contributions, Ms. Audette received the 2018 Woman of Distinction Award in the Inspiration category from the Women's Y Foundation of Montréal. She was named Woman of the Year in 2014 by the Montreal Council of Women and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. She also received an honorary doctorate from the University de Montréal, in acknowledgement of the scope of her commitment to the cause of Indigenous women and her tireless work on reconciliation between peoples.
Ms. Audette studied visual arts at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and art education at Concordia University.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
None
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Indigenous languages
- Indigenous women
- Bill C-13, Act for the substantive equality of Canada's official languages
Marie-Françoise Mégie
Independant Senators Group, Québec
- Nominated in 2016 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Physician, teacher
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2016
Biography (from the Senate website)
Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie was appointed to the Senate on November 25, 2016, by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau. Senator Mégie represents the province of Québec and the Senatorial Division of Rougemont. Senator Mégie's professional career encompasses over 35 years as a family physician and nearly 30 years as a university professor. Born in Haiti, she arrived in Quebec in 1976, and rose through the ranks of the medical profession while also pursuing university teaching, becoming a clinical associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Montréal.
She helped establish the Maison de soins palliatifs de Laval in 2009, where she served as medical director until December 31, 2016.
Her medical practice focused on providing health care services for seniors, persons with severe disabilities and end-of-life patients. Senator Mégie served as President of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE) for 5 years,and chaired the organization Médecins francophones du Canada from 2014 to 2016. She was also the editor-in-chief of the Médecins francophones du Canada's newsletter. Dr. Mégie has received numerous awards for her professional, volunteer and personal contributions.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
None
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Fight against racism
- Violence against women
- Medical assistance in dying
- S-209, An Act respecting Pandemic Memorial Day
- Covid vaccines
- Bilingualism
- Refusal of French-speaking students from Africa
- Lack of access to bilingual staff at airports
Bernadette Clement
Independant Senators Group, Ontario
- Nominated in 2021 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Lawyer, mayor
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2021
Biography (from the Senate website)
Bernadette Clement is a lawyer and politician, who has served as Mayor of Cornwall, Ontario, since 2018. Ms. Clement was the first woman to be elected as Mayor of Cornwall and the first Black woman to serve as a mayor in Ontario. Prior to this, she served three terms as city councillor. She is very proud of the fact that her mother, who passed away in 2021, grew up in Manitoba as a Francophone and her father, who is a few months shy of 100 years young, grew up in Trinidad, and that she reflects both Canada's diversity as well as its linguistic duality.
In 1991, after being called to the Bar of Ontario, Senator Clement started her legal career with the non-profit corporation Roy McMurtry Legal Clinic, where she still works today. She worked as a lawyer, before serving as Deputy Director for 16 years. She has been the Executive Director since 2017 and, in this role, she continues to practise law focused on representing injured workers and has been an ardent advocate for those less privileged in society. She also taught Ethics and Legalities to health care students part-time at St. Lawrence College from 2001 to 2005. She is a member of the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario and the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Law Association.
Along with her participation on numerous Cornwall City Council committees, including the St. Lawrence River Institute, Senator Clement has been active in her community. She has been co-chairing the Race Equity Advisory Committee for the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario since 2020, and served as member and Chair of the Maison Baldwin House, a women's shelter, for approximately 15 years. She also volunteered with the Kinsmen Community Residence and the Cornwall and District Immigrant Services Agency, and was a member and the Chair, for over 20 years, of Inspire Community Support Services, a counselling agency providing support for families and persons with disabilities.
Senator Clement is a recipient of a Cornwall District and Labour Council award for outstanding service to injured workers and a Legal Aid Ontario GEM award for outstanding achievement.
Senator Clement holds degrees in Civil Law and Common Law from the University of Ottawa.
Order paper questions of interest to PCH
(44-1) Indigenous Languages – Official Languages
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Themes of interest
- Official Languages
- Minority language communities
- Francophones outside of Quebec
- Funding of Laurentian University
- Pandemic and the workplace
- Indigenous Languages
- Housing Crisis
Pierre J. Dalphond
Progressive Senate Group, Québec
- Nominated in 2018 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Lawyer
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2021
- Deputy Leader of the Progressive Senate Group
Biography (from the Senate website)
Pierre Dalphond joined the Senate to work on its modernization and help fulfill its responsibility as a chamber of sober second thought, examination and inquiry.
He is well aware of his duties to represent Quebec, protect minorities and defend the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Senator Dalphond strongly believes that political parties are essential to the functioning of democracy and that they belong in the House of Commons, but not in the Senate. A foundational principle of the Senate should be equality between all Senators, without any party or group dominance and a structure that respects independence.
Born in Joliette, Quebec, Senator Dalphond holds a law degree from the University of Montreal and a M. Phil. In Philosophy, Politics and Law from Oxford University, U.K.
He began his professional career in Ottawa (clerk to the Supreme Court of Canada, then legislative advisor to the Privy Council) before moving to Montreal to join a national firm, where he practised corporate and business law.
In 1995, he was appointed a Justice of the Quebec Superior Court. In 2002, he was elevated to the Quebec Court of Appeal. He wrote leading judgements on language rights, freedom of association, freedom of speech, treaty rights, separation of powers, class action, sharing of parental responsibilities and abuse of judicial process.
Throughout his career, he has written numerous legal articles, taught in faculties, given talks in Canada and abroad and organized training programs for judges (notably China, Brazil and Rwanda). He has been regularly involved with various social, cultural and political organizations.
In recognition of Senator Dalphond's contributions, he was made a graduate emeritus of the University of Montreal. He was also awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and the Governor General's Academic Medal and was made an honorary member for life of the Young Bar of Montreal.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
- (44-1) Appointment of Lieutenant Governors - Official Languages
- (44-1) Efforts to make the Constitution bilingual
- (43-2) The Constitutional Acts of 1867 and 1982
- (43-1) Systemic racism and the justice system
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Senate Motions of Interest to PCH
(44-1) Fully bilingual constitution
Main interests
- Human rights
- Genocide
- Unjust detention
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- C-4, Conversion Therapy
- A fully bilingual Constitution
- Recruitment and retention of international Francophone students
Yonah Martin
Conservative, British Columbia
- Nominated in 2009 by Stephen Harper
- Profession : Teacher
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2024
- Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition in the Senate of Canada.
Biography (from the Senate website)
The Honourable Yonah Martin (born April 11, 1965) is a Conservative Senator from British Columbia, appointed by The Right Hon. Stephen Harper in 2009. She is the first Canadian of Korean descent to serve in the Senate of Canada and the first Korean-Canadian parliamentarian in Canadian history.
Senator Martin is currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (since November 2015). She previously served as the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (2013 to 2015); and as the Deputy Whip of the Government (2011 to 2013). She has been Co-Chair of the Canada Korea Inter-Parliamentary Group since 2009; and Chairs or serves on the Executive of various interparliamentary groups. In November 2015, she co-founded International Parliamentary Coalition for Victims of Sexual Slavery (IPCVSS), and currently serves as Co-Chair of Canada.
Her notable achievements as a Senator to date include the enactment of her Senate Public Bill - Korean War Veterans Day Act (June 2013); the successful campaign to add TCM and Acupuncturists to the schedule of health professionals for GST/HST exemption (April 2014); and the conclusion of a multi-year negotiation process and implementation of the historic Canada Korea FTA (January 2016).
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yonah Martin immigrated to Canada in 1972, and resided in Metro-Vancouver ever since. She earned a Bachelor of Education in 1987 from University of British Columbia and had a 21-year teaching career (1987 to 2008) until her appointment to the Senate. She earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996. She later co-founded C3 Korean Canadian Society, a non-profit organization that aims to "bridge communities". Currently, she serves as Honorary Patron of C3, in addition to serving on several regional, national and international Boards and Advisory Councils.
In recognition of her community service in the Tri-Cities region, Yonah Martin was awarded the 2004 Spirit of Community Award for Cultural Harmony. In 2009, she was awarded the Order of Civil Merit Moran Medal by the president of the Republic of Korea for outstanding leadership and work in advancing the rights of overseas Koreans; and in 2012, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Governor General David Johnston. In 2014, as part of UBC's centennial campaign, she was recognized as one of UBC's top Education 100 Alumni; and in February 2016, she was honoured with the King Clancy Award from the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP). Most recently, Yonah Martin was among 100 Canadians to be featured (for 1965, her birth year) in MacLean's special Canada Day issue of "Canada's Stories", to mark the magazine's 100th anniversary.
She has been married to Doug Martin for over 25 years, and they are proud parents of a daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
- (44-1) Ministry of Canadian Heritage - Processing Times for Francophone Veterans' Benefits
- (44-1) Ministry of Canadian Heritage - Review of Procurement
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Korean communities
- Commemorative days
- Asian Heritage Month
- Arab Heritage Month
- Hellenic Heritage Month
- Filipino Heritage Month
Lucie Moncion
Independant Senators Group, Ontario
- Nominated in 2016 by Justin Trudeau
- Profession : Banker
- Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages since 2016
- Chair of the Standing Committee Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Biography (from the Senate website)
After a distinguished career of more than 38 years in the co-operative financial institutions sector, the last 16 as President and CEO, Lucie Moncion was appointed to the Senate in November 2016. As a representative of Ontario's francophone community and as part of her parliamentary duties, she works in official languages and the cooperative sector. She is the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
A native of Ottawa, Senator Moncion holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Cooperative Administration from Laurentian University, a Master of Business Administration from the Université de Moncton, and a Corporate Director designation from Laval and McMaster Universities.
She has extensive knowledge of Ontario's Francophone minority communities, as well as an in-depth understanding of the economy, business climate and Francophone communities in Ontario. She has recognized expertise in the areas of cooperatives and social entrepreneurship.
In addition, she has served on numerous boards of directors. She has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Cooperatives and Mutuals Canada, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committees of TFO Media Group, Chair of the Circuit Champlain Working Group and Chair of the Coalition of Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires. She has also served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Nipissing University, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Collège Boréal.
She is the mother of 3 children and grandmother of four grandchildren and lives with her husband Yvon in North Bay, Northern Ontario.
Question period and interventions of interest to PCH
(44-1) Statement - Franco-Ontarian Day
Senate Delayed Answers of interest to PCH
None
Senate Public Bills of interest to PCH
None
Main interests
- Acadians of Nova Scotia
- Official Languages
- Minority language communities
- Francophone immigration
- Francophone women
- Post-Secondary Education in French
- Bill C-13, Act for the substantive equality of Canada's official languages
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