LANG – Committee & Appearance Overview – March 28, 2022

About the Committee

Mandate

The Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) studies matters related to Canada’s official languages.

The committee has oversight of Heritage Canada and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. However, they oversee many departments and agencies given the government’s commitment to bilingualism.

Studies

The committee started the session with their study on Government Measures to Protect and Promote French in Quebec and in Canada.

Legislation

On March 1st, the government introduced Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

This legislation is a reintroduction of Bill C-32, an Act for the Substantive Equality of French and English and the Strengthening of the Official Languages Act, which was introduced in the 43rd Parliament but did not receive Royal Assent.

The Bill was intended to promote substantive equality between French and English, and to take into account the evolution of Canadian society since the initial adoption of the Official Languages Act in order to make it more relevant in the modern context.

Appearance background

Background

The Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) has invited the Minister to appear on Francophone Immigration in Canada and Quebecon March 28, 2022. This appearance is intended to take place at the end of the committee’s study. As part of this study, the committee is expected to:

• Examine the target of 4.4% of total immigration set in 2003 in the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities;
• Look at language transfers among francophone immigrants;
• Review applications from foreign francophone students that were rejected; and
• Make recommendations to address the shortage of French-language teachers in Canada, in particular outside of Quebec.

During the appearance, officials will be invited to deliver a 10-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning as follows:

• First round (6 minutes for CPC, LPC, BQ and NDP respectively),
• Second and subsequent rounds (CPC 5 minutes, LPC 5 minutes, BQ 2.5 minutes, NDP 2.5 minutes, CPC 5 minutes, LPC 5 minutes).

Appearing Officials:

• Caroline Xavier, DMA
• Corinne Prince, DG, Afghanistan Settlement
• Alexandra Hiles, DG, Domestic Network

Environmental Scan

IRCC officials appeared on February 28, 2022 at LANG to commence this study. Discussions focused on the 4.4% francophone immigration target, the causes for differential outcomes, IRCC processing times and service standards, and settlement and integration programs for Francophone newcomers.

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) recently concluded their study on the Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Students, which heavily focused on Francophone international students, particularly those from Francophone Africa. Key topics of interest included: acceptance and refusal rates of foreign students, both within Quebec and outside of Quebec, the Chinook tool, as well as other forms of Artificial Intelligence, dual intent in applications, and the appointment of an IRCC Ombudsman.

Committee Membership

• René Arsenault (Madawaska—Restigouche)
  • Chair
• Mario Beaulieu (La Pointe-de-l'Île)
  • Vice-Chair
• Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski)
• Alain Rayes (Richmond—Arthabaska)
• Jacques Gourde (Lévis—Lotbinière)
• Patricia Lattanzio (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel)
• Joel Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)
  • Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Official Languages
  • Vice-Chair
• Marc Dalton (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge)
• Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell)
• Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan)
• Marc G. Serré (NickelBelt)
• Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)

Conservative Party of Canada

Top Party Issues

The Conservative Party of Canada encourages the government to continue working with the provinces and territories to enhance opportunities for Canadians to learn and use both official languages.

The party have voiced concerns over the allegations of racism and discrimination at IRCC, including against Francophone immigrants, and are particularly focused on the Chinook Tool.

Recent Party Activity

• Mar 2 – LANG: Suggested that alleged disparities in francophone student acceptance rates are rooted in racism, probed witnesses on Bill C-13 (Godin).
• Feb 28 – Debates: Characterized the “Liberal immigration system” as racist, pointed to allegations IRCCuse the term “dirty thirty,” to francophone African student rejection rates and to the Pollarareportas evidence (Hallan).
• Feb 17 – CIMM: Claimed there was an “undertone” of racism and discrimination at IRCC, pointed to francophone student acceptance rates as evidence (Hallan).
• Feb 11 – Statements by Members: Inquired about federal government support for Campus Saint-Jean, noting the campus is the only “French language post-secondary institution west of Winnipeg” (Goodridge).
• Feb 7 – Q-315: Chinook Tool rates of acceptance and criteria for acceptance, including official language criteria (Redekopp).
• Dec 3 – Oral Questions: Called on the government to protect the French language by increasing the number of French speaking citizens through immigration (Godin).

LANG Members

• Joël Godin
  • Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Official Languages
  • Vice-Chair (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC)
  • Topics of Interest
    • Protecting and promoting the French language
    • Increasing Francophone Immigration to Canada
    • Affordability including cost of housing
• Marc Dalton
  • (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC)
• Jacques Gourde
  • (Lévis—Lotbinière, QC)
• Alain Rayes
  • (Richmond—Arthabaska,QC)

Other Active Members

• Kyle Seeback (Dufferin—Caledon, ON)
  • Vice-Chair of CIMM
• Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK)
  • CIMM member
• Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, SK)
  • CIMM member

New Democratic Party

Top Party Issues

The NDP propose working with the provinces and territories to improve minority language education and attract more French-speaking immigrants to communities across Canada.

They have been less vocal about Francophone immigration but have taken great interest in the Chinook tool, alleging that the tool contributes to racism and discrimination within the department, including against Francophone applicants.

The party also calls for the appointment of an immigration Ombudsperson to provide independent oversight over IRCC in response to reports of a security breaches and racism within the department.

Recent Party Activity

• Feb 16 – Debate on Bill C-11: noted that francophone communities outside Quebec receive little coverage from Radio-Canada (Boulerice)
• Feb 8 – CIMM: Discussed racism at IRCC, AI and discrimination (including against African Francophone students), and third party oversight at IRCC. Asked a witness to submit a copy their ATIP request regarding discrimination and foreign student acceptance rates to the committee so that the Chair may convey it to officials (Kwan).
• Feb 2 – LANG: Asked witnesses if they believed immigration was helping promote the French language outside of Quebec(Ashton).
• Feb 2 – LANG: suggested the government has failed to make francophone immigration a priority and that this failure constitutes a barrier to learning French for the next generation(Ashton).
• Dec 21 – Letter to Minister Petitpas-Taylor: Called on the government to modernize the Official Languages Act, argued the government has failed to increase francophone immigration in linguistic minority communities outside Quebec (Ashton).

LANG Member

• Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB)
  • Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; recently appointed as Critic for Housing
  • Topics of Interest
    • Modernizing the Official Languages Act
    • Supporting Indigenous and Northern communities
    • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
    • Climate Change
    • Human rights
    • Adequate housing availability and affordability
    • Measures for Afghanistan and Hong Kong

Other Active Members

• Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Griesbach, AB)
  • Deputy Critic Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic Diversity and inclusion; Deputy Critic 2SLGBTQI+ rights

Bloc Québécois

Top Party Issues

Given that Quebec’s interests and the protection of the French language are at the forefront of party interventions, francophone immigration is a primary interest.

The party has been accusing IRCC of systemic discrimination in regards to the high rejection rate of international students from African countries, with particular attention focused on the Chinook tool.

The BQ supports the appointment of an IRCC Ombudsman to oversee departmental decision making.

Recent Party Activity

• Mar 1 – Debates: Took issue with the suggestion that Bill C-13 would increase francophone immigration to Canada (Therrien).
• Feb 28 – Debates: Alleged that IRCCis discriminating against francophone international students (Beaulieu).
• Feb 28 – LANG: Claimed to have experienced racism through IRCC Montreal offices hiring unilingual English positions (Beaulieu).
• Feb 23 – Qub.ca: Suggested francophones were discriminated against through Canadian immigration practices (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• Feb 19 – Twitter: Retweeted a Tweet alleging that CÉGEP régionalde Lanaudière has experienced a high refusal rates of French-speaking international students because of IRCCpolicy (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• Feb 11 – Twitter: accused IRCCof neglecting the French, and of discriminating against French-speaking immigrants (BQ party account).
• Feb 9 – Twitter: Shared a Journal of Montreal article about Francophone Immigration,criticized the Minister (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• Feb 8 – CIMM: Suggested racism and discrimination was at play in acceptance rates of Francophone international students,(Brunelle-Duceppe).
• Feb 2 – LANG: Suggested the French language would be protected if Quebec adopted a territorial model of immigration. (Beaulieu).

LANG Member

• Mario Beaulieu (La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC)
  • Critic for Official Languages
  • Topics of Interest
    • Quebec interests and protection of the French language
    • Francophone immigration, including international students from French-speaking countries in Africa
    • Taking a stand against China in relation to the Uyghur genocide, including a boycott of Olympics in Beijing
    • Suspending the Safe Third Country Agreement and irregular migration at Roxham Road
    • Human rights conflicts.

Other Active Members

• Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean)
  • Newly appointed Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Human Rights;
  • Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Vice-Chair of AFGH
• Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, QC)
  • Former Critic Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; BQ Deputy House Leader
• Yves-François Blanchet (Beloil-Chambly, QC)
  • BQ Party Leader

Liberal Party of Canada

Top Party Issues

The Liberal Party of Canada aims to support the future of the French language in Canada by implementing measures outlined in the White Paper ,English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada.

They promise to increase funding for post-secondary institutions in official language minority communities and support the vitality of the French language in minority communities.

On French immersion and French second-language programs, they plan to improve funding and access.

Recent Party Activity

• Mar 3 – CIMM: Expressed interest in the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot and asked what proportion were francophone (Kayabaga).
• Feb 17 – CIMM: Asked the Ministerif racism was at play in the rejection rates of francophone African students (Kayabaga).
• Feb 16 – Debate on C-11: Assured the House that Bill C-11 would ensure more funding for francophone broadcasters (Hon. Pablo Rodriguez).
• Feb 15 – Oral Questions: Asked the government how it was ensuring more children have the opportunity to learn French (Noormohamed).
• Jan 28 – Radio-Canada: Defended IRCC stating that case agents are highly qualified and evaluate cases based on the same criteria
• Dec 16 – Mandate Letter: Outlining planned supports for Francophones across Canada.
• Nov 23 – Speech from the Throne: Commitment to supporting official language minority communities across Canada.
• Sept 1 – Platform (p.35): Support francophone immigration outside of Quebec.

LANG Members

• Marc G. Serré (NickelBelt, ON)
  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages
• René Arsenault (Madawaska—Restigouche, MB)
  • Chair
• Francis Drewin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON)
• Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan, QC)
• Patricia Lattanzio (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michelle,QC)
• Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)