Statement
by Minister Jason Kenney on Immigration and Official Languages
Today, the Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP, Minister of Citizenship,
Immigration, and Multiculturalism issued the following statement:
"Yesterday I delivered a speech to the 11th Annual Metropolis
Conference. In it, I spoke about how the federal government can do
more to promote the social and economic integration of new Canadians.
My speech addressed a number of issues: improving foreign credentials
recognition, ensuring the federal multiculturalism program is more
closely aligned with the needs of newcomers, and increasing the uptake
of immigrant settlement services among new Canadians.
I explained how our government has invested an additional $1.4 billion
in immigrant settlement programs. This includes funding for free
English and French language training. I pointed out, however, that
only 25% of newcomers are using the free language training programs,
and that this is proof that the government needs to do more to
encourage newcomers to learn an official language.
Unfortunately, certain media outlets have mischaracterised my remarks,
accusing the government of planning to "overhaul" the immigration
system to require immigrants to be fluent in an official language.
This is simply not true.
Let me be clear: Immigrants who are not conversant in an official
language can immigrate to Canada, although the ability to speak an
official language is obviously an advantage under the points system.
And the Citizenship Act already requires a basic ability to
communicate in an official language, and has done so for decades. I
did not propose, and am not proposing, any changes to this
requirement, nor to the exemption for applicants under the age of 18
or over the age of 55.
Put simply, the focus of my speech was to discuss how we need to do
more to empower newcomers to make greater use of the free language
training programs that our government is funding."
Here are some quotations from yesterday's speech and the news
conference that followed:
"Again I think we need to look at ways to encourage people to improve
their language skills before they even arrive here. That's the best
head start they can get in finding a good job and getting a bright
future in Canada."
"Government policy has recognized the importance of language. Programs
such as LINC as well as our enhanced language training and Bridge to
Work programs give newcomers in Canada access to programs that aim to
develop language skills. Only 25% of newcomers to Canada actually
enroll in the free LINC programs that we offer to permanent residents
prior to citizenship. Why is the response so low and what can we do to
address it? Are the language training programs we support responding
as much as possible to the needs of newcomers? We're working to
address these issues and I really look forward to input that you can
provide. In the first Speech from the Throne following the last
election, our government promised to work with the provinces to
increase uptake in settlement services. Since 2006 we've substantially
increased, more than tripling funding to settlement programs to the
tune of an additional $1.4 billion over five years in provinces and
territories outside Quebec to reach roughly the per capita funding for
Quebec. So the funding is there but I still have questions about the
actual response from newcomers. Are there new ways we should consider
to better encourage the use of settlement programs such as language
training?"
"Last January I was visiting our High Commission in New Delhi. I sat
in on a few immigration interviews. I encountered a woman who has
lived in Canada for nearly 15 years, been a Canadian citizen for
nearly 12 years who lives and works in Surrey. This lady was
sponsoring a spouse to come to Canada but she could not conduct the
immigration interview with the Canadian official in either of our
official languages. She had to conduct the interview through a Punjabi
translator, which made me wonder. Is this an isolated example?
Regrettably I don't believe it's isolated enough. Regrettably it's too
typical I believe of our failure to give people an opportunity to
integrate. "
