(Montreal) While many people and organizations perceive the labor shortage and the decline of the French language as two issues posing a “dilemma”, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, Christine Fréchette sees it as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
In addition to reviewing the various immigration policies, which will allow companies to recruit candidates who must be sufficiently proficient in French, the Minister and her colleague responsible for the French language, Jean-François Roberge, will launch Francisation Québec on Monday, a new platform that will act as a “one-stop shop” for all French learning services.
“Next week will mark a major turning point for francization in Quebec, with the launch of a single access point for all francization services from now on. Francisation Québec will coordinate all of the government’s action for learning French,” announced the minister, who was addressing several hundred guests on Friday at a dinner-conference organized by the Conseil des relations Montreal International (CORIM).
The creation of Francization Québec within the ministry headed by Mr.me Fréchette was made official on 1er last June with the sanction of the Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec.
The government had one year after this date to launch this office responsible for coordinating the offer of francization services, whether in the classroom, in the workplace and online.
In concert with the Office québécois de la langue française, Francisation Québec will have to develop francization services in companies, but also develop programs and educational tools for various clienteles, all in order to promote the integration of learners into Quebec society. .
Francisation Québec will also have to follow up on the services provided both “to adults living in Québec and to people who are considering immigrating to the province, as well as to workers in Québec companies”.
“We are expanding our public, we will no longer work only with immigrants in terms of francization, but with all the public who fit in with this definition, which emanates from Bill 96, which ensures that there is a right to learn French that has been created. It is with Francisation Québec that we embody it,” said Ms.me Frechette.
More flexible criteria for selecting immigrants
The latter made a point of recalling that “immigration is a solution to improve the situation of French in Quebec and to alleviate the shortage of manpower”.
To support his statements, Mr.me Fréchette uses the image of a Y-shaped tree where the first branch represents the economy and labor needs and where the second embodies Quebec’s ability to francize.
“These two branches must converge, says the minister. Where they meet is the trunk on which our immigration policy must rest. A trunk that must take root in all regions of Quebec. »
This will materialize with more flexible immigration programs, while Quebec abandons its scorecard to select the candidates who will be welcomed.
“We are completely changing the approach for the selection of skilled workers,” indicated the Minister, adding that the new criteria will allow a greater number of professions to be subject to the program.
François Legault makes it his duty
The speech by M.me Fréchette echoed the words of Prime Minister François Legault who, during a press briefing held earlier Friday in his riding of L’Assomption, reiterated the importance of protecting French.
“Unfortunately, for 10, 20 years, we have seen a decline in the percentage of French-speaking people in Quebec. It is my first responsibility as Prime Minister to ensure that we protect our identity and that we start with our language. I think it’s a good move,” he said, referring to the previous day’s announcement about changes to immigration policies that would favor applicants who are fluent in the French language.
“I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror and not act. I have a duty. We have to make sure that the newcomers speak French,” he added.
This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.