Committee & Appearance Overview

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

This appearance is part of a study on Increased Francophone Immigration to Canada. There have been five previous meetings for this study.

The LANG Committee concluded a study in April 2022 on Francophone Immigration to Canada and Quebec.

An overview of all the committee’s studies in the 44th Parliament can be found here.

Reports

On June 8, 2023, the LANG Committee tabled a report entitled: Government Measures to Protect and Promote French in Quebec and in Canada. This report included several sections on francophone immigration.

On April 18, 2023, the LANG Committee tabled a report entitled: 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.

On December 14, 2016, the LANG Committee tabled a report entitled: Toward a New Action Plan for Official Languages and Building New Momentum for Immigration in Francophone Minority Communities. The government tabled a response on April 13, 2017.

An overview of all the Committee’s reports in the 44th Parliament can be found here.

Appearance Background

Background

The Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG) adopted a motion on April 21, 2023, to undertake a study on the challenges and opportunities associated with increasing francophone immigration as well as settlement services needs across Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials previously appeared three times on this study in May and June 2023.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship will appear before committee on this study on October 4, 2023 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and provide five-minute opening remarks followed by rounds of questioning from committee members.

The following officials will appear to support the Minister:

• Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister
• Catherine Scott, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement and Integration

Environmental Scan

On June 20, 2023, Bill C-13, an Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada's Official Languages, received royal assent. Francophone immigration is discussed in this bill as a factor contributing to maintaining or increasing the demographic weight of francophone minority communities.

Key topics and possible lines of questioning include:

• Francophone immigration targets
• Destination Canada Mobility Forum
• Settlement of Francophones in Canada
• Support of Francophones abroad (e.g., visa offices)
• Processing of international francophone students
• IRCC’s processing and inventories
• Francophone Minority Communities

Committee Membership

There is no recent correspondence received from committee members on the topic of Francophone Immigration.

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 has voiced concerns over the allegations of racism and discrimination at IRCC, including against francophone immigrants.

Recent Party Activity

• June 9 – LANG: Called it bizarre that a reason for international student refusals is that they do not intend to return home after their studies (Dalton).
• June 9 – LANG: Expressed support for increasing the francophone immigration target outside Quebec to as high as 20% (Gladu).
• May 9 – LANG: Stated the need to provide immigration services closer to international pools of potential French-speaking immigrants (Généreux).
• April 26 – Debates: Claimed francophone communities and immigration lost ground during the pandemic and that the federal government has provided no support (Dalton).
• March 21 – LANG: Called francophone immigration results “abysmal” in the past (Godin).
• December 6 – LANG: Expressed concerns about the long wait times for application processing for francophone immigration (Dalton).
• September 26, 2022 – Debates: Argued that the French language is in decline in Canada, and pointed to Bill C-13 and intergovernmental cooperation between Quebec and Canada on immigration as a potential remedy (Deltell).

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)

Laila Goodridge
(Fort McMurray – Cold Lake)

Bernard Généreux
(Montmagny - L'Islet – Kamouraska - Rivière-du-Loup)

Other Active Members

Kyle Seeback
(Dufferin - Caledon, ON)

Rosemarie Falk
(Battlefords - Lloydminster, SK)

Brad Redekopp
(Saskatoon West, SK)
CIMM member

New Democratic Party

Top Party Issues

The New Democratic Party (NDP) proposes 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 link to issues of racism and discrimination within IRCC.

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

Recent Party Activity

• June 16 – LANG: Said it is disappointing that the government hasn’t found a way to better support organizations who work to ensure francophone newcomers are properly welcomed to Canada (Ashton).
• May 12 – Debates: Spoke in support of Bill C-13, and stated there is a need to have ambitious francophone immigration targets, and to invest in consular and settlement services (Ashton).
• April 26 – Debates: Recognized there is a “huge need to welcome francophone immigrants from around the world” (Ashton).
• February 17 – LANG: Stated the importance of ensuring there are federal government support programs to promote cross-cultural sharing between francophone newcomers and French Canadians (Ashton).
• December 6 – LANG: Shared that communities want the government to adopt a francophone immigration program that is separate from other existing programs (Ashton).
• October 27 – LANG: Suggested the government’s francophone immigration policy has failed monumentally (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
• Access to French language early childhood education

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 in 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.

The Block Québécois (BQ) supports the appointment of an IRCC Ombudsman to oversee departmental decision making.

Recent Party Activity

• June 16 – LANG: Voiced concerns about competition between the federal government and the Quebec government when attracting francophone immigrants (Beaulieu).
• May 9 – LANG: Stated that anything that might harm francophone immigration to Quebec will accelerate the decline of French, not only in Quebec, but across Canada (Beaulieu).
• April 26 – Debates: Expressed clear support for increasing francophone immigration, but concerns that francophone immigrants who settle outside Quebec will be assimilated into English culture (Beaulieu).
• March 21 – LANG: Would like to see Quebec consulted more in francophone immigration decisions (Beaulieu).
• November 24 – LANG: Questioned the level of respect for French at IRCC due to the refusal rates of francophone African students (Beaulieu).
• November 1 – LANG: Pointed to the need for French learning programs for newcomers (Beaulieu).
• October 19 – Debates: Alleged the government of discriminating against francophone African students on the basis of race (Blanchet).
• October 6 – Debates: Raised issues with the high refusal rates of francophone students from Africa and accused the government of acting in bad faith in these cases (Brunelle-Duceppe).

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)
Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Human Rights; Second Vice-Chair of Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM); Vice-Chair of Afghanistan Committee

Christine Normandin
(Saint-Jean, QC)
Former Critic for 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.

They plan to improve funding and access on French immersion and French second-language programs.

Recent Party Activity

• June 9 – LANG: Questioned if the immigration application system, specifically the Chinook tool, puts francophone applicants at a disadvantage (Kayabaga).
• May 11 – Debates: Shared concerns that without a strong francophone immigration policy, the francophone population will disappear in Canada in the near future (Drouin).
• May 11 – Debates: Referred to immigration as a key factor to slow the decline of French and increase the demographic weight of official language minority communities (Drouin).
• April 26 – Debates: Noted that francophone immigration is helping to restore the demographic weight of francophone minorities (Serré).
• January 31 – LANG: Encouraged increasing francophone immigration and stated there is still a lot to do to ensure the vitality of francophone communities outside Quebec (Kayabaga).
• May 12, 2022 – Debates: Remarked that Bill C-13 alone would not be sufficient to remedy missed francophone immigration targets, and that broader administrative measures would be necessary (Kayabaga).

LANG members

Marc G. Serré
(Nickel Belt, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

René Arsenault
(Madawaska - Restigouche, MB)
Chair

Francis Drouin
(Glengarry – Prescott - Russell, ON)

Angelo Iacono
(Alfred-Pellan, QC)

Patricia Lattanzio
(Saint-Léonard - Saint-Michelle, QC)

Arielle Kayabaga
(London West, ON)
CIMM member