OLLO Government Response Report & Letters

The Honourable René Cormier
Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
Senate of Canada
Ottawa ON K1A 0A4

Dear Senator Cormier:

According to subsection 12-23(3) of the Rules of the Senate, and on behalf of the Government of Canada, I have the pleasure of responding to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages Report titled Francophone immigration to minority communities: towards a bold, strong and coordinated approach.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to thank the Standing Senate Committee for its important work in assessing and preparing recommendations for the government on programs and policies intended to facilitate Francophone immigration outside of Quebec. The recommendations are far-reaching, highlighting the challenges associated with the governance of this file, and, above all, the importance of implementing the new Francophone Immigration Policy to contribute to progressively restoring and increasing the demographic weight of Francophone Minority Communities (FMC). The Government of Canada would also like to express its appreciation to the witnesses who offered their time and expertise on the many factors that could influence decisions related to Francophone immigration in support of the Committee’s study.

The government shares the Committee’s views and would like to assure the latter that its recommendations are instrumental to fully understand the challenges related to Canadian Francophonie, and that they will undoubtedly guide the government in the development of its future approaches to Francophone immigration. In general, the Government of Canada endorses in principle the recommendations, while adding necessary nuances to some aspects. The government recognises the need to act quickly on the demographic decline of FMCs in Canada and intends to exercise its leadership role, fostering inter-ministerial and Federal-Provincial-Territorial partnerships to encourage the synergies and collaborations needed to achieve its objectives. The government strongly believes that the Canadian Francophonie is the business of every Canadian and that it must be protected and developed to its full potential.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you and the members of the Standing Senate Committee for your hard work. You will find attached a copy of the government’s response to the Committee’s recommendations.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Marc Miller, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Enclosures