Francophone immigration in Canada: Minister announcement

As part of National Francophone Immigration Week, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a number of key initiatives to improve and grow services for Francophone immigrants.

This video is also available in HD on YouTube where you can leave a comment, share it on your social network or embed it into your site.

Transcript: “Francophone immigration in Canada: Minister announcement”

Video length: 4:39 minutes

The entrance of a 3-storey building is shown. Light, upbeat music plays.

Text displays: “National Francophone Immigration Week 2018 – La Cité – Ottawa, Ontario”.

Groups of people mingle inside the building.

Text displays: “Strengthening our francophone communities”.

Minister Hussen is shown at a podium, in front of 2 pull-ups with 2 people to his right and 3 to his left.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): I am happy to announce that our government is investing up to $11 million over 5 years in Francophone pre-arrival services.

Text displays: “The Honourable Ahmed Hussen – Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship”.

The audience applauds.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): Thank you, thank you.

Text displays: “Investment of $11 million over 5 years in pre-arrival services for french-speaking newcomers”.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): Under the leadership of La Cité, 4 regional organizations will cooperate to offer these services. This collaboration will include la Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, la Société de la francophonie manitobaine, Actions interculturelles de développement et d’éducation and la Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

The audience applauds.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): Now I have related news.

Minister Hussen: For some time, many of you have told us that we need more independent testing centres for French-speaking immigrants and applicants to our economic immigration programs.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): So I am pleased to announce that the Centre international d’études pédagogiques has been designated as the second French language tester for economic immigration applicants.

Text displays: “Second designated french testing centre for newcomers”.

The audience applauds.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): I want to note that the average cost of the new French test will be comparable to the average cost for an English test.

Text displays: “Similar cost for english and french tests”.

Minister Hussen: And I should add that we expect greater access to French testing starting on December 1, 2018, and that it will include cities where designated tests are not even currently available at the moment.

Text displays: “Making french language tests more accessible and affordable”.

The audience applauds.

Minister Hussen: Thank you. We’ve also heard very clearly, loud and clearly, about the need for services in French for newcomers arriving in Canada’s largest airport, Pearson International Airport, to be provided by a Francophone organization with knowledge and ties to Francophone communities.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): “By and for Francophone communities”

Minister Hussen: is the main guiding principle for our government.

Text displays: “Services offered by and for francophone communities”.

The audience applauds.

Minister Hussen: So as a result of that,

Minister Hussen (speaking French): Pearson airport is the main point of entry for French-speaking newcomers who arrive in Canada outside of Quebec. So I am delighted to announce that the Centre francophone de Toronto has been selected to provide these orientation services, and other services, to French-speaking newcomers who arrive at Pearson airport.

Text displays: “Improving arrival services for french-speaking newcomers”.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): I would like to mark this week with one last piece of news.

The audience is shown.

Minister Hussen: As announced in Budget 2018, a Francophone Integration Pathway, that my colleague Minister Joly just spoke about, will receive $36.6 million in funding over the next 5 years to support newcomers and communities for initiatives.

Text displays: “$36.6 Million over 5 years for francophone integration pathway to support newcomer communities”.

Minister Hussen: On November 19, IRCC will launch an expression of interest process seeking proposals from organizations to deliver official language training adapted to the needs of French-speaking immigrants, and allophone newcomers who have declared French as their official language of preference, in Francophone communities. This initiative will benefit the integration of Francophone newcomers.

Minister Hussen (speaking French): Thank you again for joining me today. Thank you very much.

Outdoor walkways are shown. Light, upbeat music plays.

Narrator: For more information, Canada.ca/francoimmigration

Text displays: “canada.ca/francoimmigration”.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature along with the copyright message: “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2018” is shown.

Canada wordmark is displayed.