OLLO – Committee & Appearance Overview – November 4, 2024

About the Committee

Mandate

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages has the mandate to study all matters relating to official languages generally. It studies matters relating to the application of the Official Languages Act (OLA) and of the regulations and directives made under it.

The committee investigates the respect of Canadians’ language rights and the principle of equality of the two official languages. It examines questions pertaining to the OLA and pays particular attention to the federal government’s role and its commitment to advancing English and French in Canadian society and enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities.

Studies

The committee undertook a study on Francophone immigration to minority communities beginning on February 28, 2022. On March 9, 2023, they began a study on minority-language health services.

The committee published a report in March 2023 titled Francophone immigration to minority communities: towards a bold, strong and coordinated approach.

Legislation

On June 20, 2023, Royal Assent was granted to 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.

Appearance Background

Background

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages (OLLO) has invited the Minister and officials to appear on November 4, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the following subjects:

• A follow-up on the government response (PDF, 1.2 MB) to the committee report on Francophone immigration (PDF, 1.6 MB).
• The impact of the study permit cap on French-language post-secondary institutions outside Quebec

The full motion of the study is as follows:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine and report on Francophone immigration to minority communities;

That, given that the federal government plans to develop an ambitious national Francophone immigration strategy, the committee be authorized to:

• review the progress on the target for French-speaking immigrants settling outside of Quebec;
• study the factors that support or undermine the ability of French-speaking immigrants to settle in Francophone minority communities;
• study the factors that support or undermine the ability of Canada’s current immigration programs and measures to maintain the demographic weight of the French-speaking population;
• study the measures and programs implemented by the Government of Canada to recruit, welcome and integrate French-speaking immigrants, refugees and foreign students;
• study the impact of these measures and programs on the development and vitality of English-speaking communities in Quebec; and
• identify ways to increase support for this sector and to ensure that the Government of Canada’s objectives can be met.

The Minister will deliver a five-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. A senior official is invited to remain for a second hour to support the appearance of Minister Boissonnault.

The following officials will accompany the Minister:

• Scott Harris, Associate Deputy Minister
• Catherine Scott, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement, Integration and Francophone Affairs
• Julie Spattz, Senior Director, Temporary Economic Immigration

Environmental Scan

Anticipated lines of questioning pertain to the following topics:

• Francophone immigration targets
• International students and the study permit cap
• International Francophone students
• Bill C-13
• Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
• International students claiming asylum
• Francisation of the International Mobility Program Plus

Committee Membership

René Cormier - ISG – (New Brunswick)
Chair

Rose-May Poirier - CPC – (New Brunswick - Saint-Louis-de-Kent)
Deputy Chair

Bernadette Clement - ISG – (Ontario)

Réjean Aucoin - CSG – (Nova Scotia)

Lucie Moncion - ISG – (Ontario)

Michèle Audette - PSG (Quebec - De Salaberry)

Marie-Françoise Mégie - ISG (Quebec - Rougemont)

Pierre J. Dalphond - PSG (Quebec - De Lorimier)

Yonah Martin - CPC (British Columbia)

Conservative Party of Canada

Top Party Issues

The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) 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 3 – OLLO: Asked what main challenges are faced by immigrants when coming to Francophone minority language communities (Poirier).
• May 6 – OLLO: Asked what barriers are faced by internationally trained health professionals in terms of credential recognition and how to improve this for bilingual health practitioners (Poirier).
• December 4, 2023 – OLLO: Posed questions to witnesses regarding challenges seniors may face in receiving healthcare in their language of choice, federal policy options (Poirier).
• November 6, 2023 – OLLO: Speculated on whether increasing the Francophone immigration target from 4 to 12% would reduce labour shortages in healthcare, and asked how Canada could attract more bilingual healthcare professionals (Poirier).
• June 1, 2023 – Debates: Argued it is important that the “Francophone immigration policy take into account the various needs of Francophone minority communities, such as labour in the health sector,” with a focus on New Brunswick (Poirier).
• May 29, 2023 – OLLO: Asked about funding allocated through Health Canada’s Official Languages Health Program (Poirier).
• March 28, 2022 – OLLO: Commented on the government not meeting its 4.4% commitment for Francophone immigration (Poirier).

OLLO Members

Rose-May Poirier
(New Brunswick - Saint-Louis-de-Kent)
Deputy Chair

Topics of Interest

• Protecting and promoting the French language
• Increasing Francophone Immigration to Canada
• Affordability including cost of housing

Yonah Martin - CPC (British Columbia)

Independent Senators Group

ISG Profile

The Independent Senators Group (ISG) does not function as a conventional political party. Rather, it governs itself through a set of guiding principles and invites like-minded senators to join under its banner.

The ISG’s purpose is to: share information and expertise, engage in dialogue, take collective action on bills or issues that the ISG as a whole has designated as priorities, and build on their Modernization Agenda, through which they promote changes in Senate rules and practices.

Members of the ISG generally approach issues independently, and without whipped votes (with the exception of agenda items designated as ISG priorities).

Recent Group Activity

• September 24 – Debates: Called immigration a “critical necessity” for the economy to survive (Mégie).
• September 23 – OLLO: Raised the issue of Francophone newcomers being required to write healthcare credentialling exams in English (Mégie).
• September 23 – OLLO: Asked if an accelerated immigration pathway should be developed for skilled international healthcare professionals who are bilingual or Francophone (Cormier.).
• May 6 – OLLO: Asked what the federal government can do to ensure culturally appropriate services for Francophone newcomers (Cormier).
• April 29 – OLLO: Asked if there are expedited bridge programs for Francophone professionals trained abroad to work in Canada and where the barriers for foreign credential recognition occur (Cormier).
• April 8 – OLLO: Asked if the government studied the impact of international student caps before introducing them (Mégie).
• April 8 – OLLO: Stated that the January 22 announcement triggered a tsunami and noted the impact on Francophone minorities and the financial impact (Moncion).
• April 8 – OLLO: Asked if the study permit caps affected the ability of schools to recruit candidates for health care staff training programs (Moncion).

OLLO Members

René Cormier (New Brunswick)
Chair

Topics of Interest

• Official bilingualism
• Increasing Francophone immigration to Canada
• Affordability including cost of housing

Bernadette Clement (Ontario)

Lucie Moncion (Ontario)

Marie-Françoise Mégie (Quebec - Rougemont)

Progressive Senators Group

PSG Profile

The Progressive Senators Group (PSG) does not function as a conventional political party.

Rather, it governs itself through a set of guiding principles and invites like-minded senators to join under its banner.

The PSG formed in 2019 as a more progressive, unstructured offshoot of the ISG. The group does not whip votes.

The PSG believes that Canadians share a responsibility to advance the public good, including advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. They view government as a positive force in advancing the public interest.

The PSG have stated that one of the areas they will give primary consideration to is equality of both official languages.

Recent Party Activity

• April 8 – OLLO: Asked if international student study permits are more successful for English-speaking applicants than French-speaking (Dalphond).
• Nov 28, 2022 – OLLO: Inquired about the lack of services accessible to Francophone immigrants in Saskatchewan (Dalphond).
• Nov 21, 2022 – OLLO: Highlighted public criticism on the lack of study permits awarded to African students and the path to permanent residency after graduation (Dalphond).
• May 17, 2022 – X: Called for action on meeting Francophone immigration targets, appointing Francophone workers to upper echelon of civil services, and introduce a bilingual constitution (Dalphond).
• April 4, 2022 – OLLO: Criticized the government in not reaching the 4.4% French immigration target, and questioned their current capacity to provide education and services to retain the French language (Dalphond).
• Mar 30, 2022 – X: Highlighted his introduction of a motion in the Senate that would call upon the government to introduce a fully bilingual constitution, and report regularly on its status. Asked for this to be part of Bill C-13 (Dalphond).
• Mar 28, 2022 – X: Argued that true equality of official languages requires a bilingual constitution (Dalphond).
• Mar 28, 2022 – OLLO: Inquired about retention of French-Speaking international students (Dalphond).

OLLO Member

Pierre J. Dalphond (Quebec - De Lorimier)
Deputy Leader of the PSG

Topics of Interest

• Official bilingualism
• Francophone immigration

Michèle Audette - PSG (Quebec - De Salaberry)

Canadian Senators Group

CSG Profile

The Canadian Senators Group (CSG) was founded in November 2019 by 11 senators who share an interest in furthering the modernization and independence of the Senate, while actively representing regional interests in the Senate Chamber and in committees.

CSG members act and vote independently. There is no requirement or expectation for members to agree on all issues or to vote en bloc. Each member will continue to work with all senators on legislation and important issues to Canadians.

CSG senators are committed to maintaining openness and transparency, engaging in solid research and robust debate, and preserving the highest level of decorum in the Senate Chamber.

Recent Party Activity

• April 29 – OLLO: Asked what the federal government should do to address the shortage of bilingual healthcare professionals (Aucoin).
• April 8 – OLLO: Asked if Minister Miller was aware of Part VII of the Official Languages Act (Aucoin).
• Oct 3, 2022 – OLLO: Highlighted the lack of Francophone judges outside of Quebec, and for bilingualism of judges to be addressed in Bill C-13 (Dagenais).
• June 20, 2022 – OLLO: Commented on the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s statement that Bill C-13 does not contain funding to meet its bilingualism objectives (Dagenais).
• June 13, 2022 – OLLO: Commented on the decline of the French language, and questioned the role of immigration on stopping the erosion of Francophone groups (Dagenais).
• June 6, 2022 – OLLO: Criticized effectiveness of the federal Department of Immigration on accepting and integrating Francophone immigrants (Dagenais)

OLLO Members

Réjean Aucoin (Nova Scotia)

Topics Of Interest

• Official languages
• National security and defense
• Veterans affairs