At the Federal Level

| Immigration |

Positive progress

Over the last few years,

the FFCB has been actively
involved in immigration
issues, which have national
implications. Given the
growing importance of
Francophone immigration

to the future of our communi-
ties, the FFCB believes that
knowing more about new-
comers’ needs and improving
the services they receive are
of paramount importance.
Phases | and II of its project
focus on these two aspects.

Phase | research has con-
cluded and the final report
will be submitted in April
2004 at a press conference.
The report is entitled
L’Accueil, I’établissement et
l'intégration des personnes
immigrantes francophones
dans la région du Vancouver
métropolitain and it provides
relevant information on what
French-speaking immigrants
experience when they arrive
in the Lower Mainland. It
also provides a profile

of newcomers and the

Day of consultation

On September 24, 2004,

as part of Phase | of the
immigration initiative, the
FFCB held a day-long consul-
tation on Francophone immi-
gration. During the meeting,

reception, settlement and
integration services offered
to them. The report makes a
number of recommendations
that serve as a starting point
for the next stage—establish-
ment of an action plan—that
has already begun.

A number of steps were
necessary before the FFCB-
initiated project arrived at

a final report. The researcher
went through the documen-
tation, developed a question-
naire for agencies that help
new immigrants, conducted
interviews with French-
speaking community stake-
holders and facilitated a
day-long consultation on
Francophone immigration.

As the findings from

Phase | became known, the
FFCB hired a project coordi-
nator in February 2004, who
will implement Phase II.
This next step requires the
development of an action
plan to provide better
support to French-speaking

various immigration stake-
holders, representatives from
Francophone organizations,
federal departments and
provincial ministries, as well
as newcomers, deliberated

From I. to r.: Yves Trudel, Coordinator for Phase II of the immigration project,
Yseult Friolet, FFCB Executive Director and Marylin Viger from Citizenship and
Immigration Canada at the end of a working session on immigration.

people who immigrate to
this province. The plan will
be provided to the federal
and provincial governments.
Citizenship and Immigration
Canada, which is the primary
source of funding for the
project, has said it is very
pleased with the steps

taken so far.

To date, Phase II has raised
awareness amongst and
provided information to
several key partners in the
area of immigration, specifi-
cally, agencies and the
Francophone community.

over strategies to support
Francophone immigrants.
Fifty people took part in this
consultative process.

Before this project, there was
limited knowledge about the
Francophone community and
its challenges. The FFCB has
therefore developed strong
partnerships with agencies
and federal departments
and provincial ministries
responsible for immigration.
The FFCB will continue to
work toward ensuring
significant developments
and will eventually secure
service delivery at a level
that meets the expectations
of Francophone newcomers.

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