The kingdom of Saguenay opens its arms a little more to newcomers. The municipality announced on Tuesday the opening of a reception service for new arrivals (SANA) on its territory, a gateway for the thousands of people who will settle in the region in the coming years.
During the election campaign, the mayor, Julie Dufour, said she wanted to attract 1,000 people per year over 10 years to stabilize the Saguenay population. The objective has been achieved for 2023. In the future, there could be 2000 who choose to live near the fjord each year, and the City will be ready to welcome them, she assures in an interview on the sidelines of the press conference inaugurating SANA. “In terms of capacity, we are capable. »
This SANA — like the other SANAs present in all regions of Quebec — will serve as a “gateway” to establish roots in the region. “We are very attractive. As for reception and integration, it is more difficult. We are working on it. »
The organization will hire general management within a few weeks; integration agents will follow. Their task will mainly consist of directing newcomers to services, cultural activities and resources in the region. “This applies as much to a Quebecer who chooses Saguenay as to someone from abroad,” adds Priscilla Nemey, general director of Promotion Saguenay, which is participating in the initiative.
This SANA will offer its services to newcomers, but also to entrepreneurs who are increasingly recruiting outside Quebec. “Turnkey packages” which sometimes require payment will be offered by SANA de Saguenay.
“We are going to have a system,” rejoices Gabriel Savard, prefect of the MRC du Fjord-du-Saguenay, also a partner. “It’s like for fires or for forest management. We are going to have a system. »
Its funding reaches $900,000 over three years and it will also be responsible for raising awareness among the local population of issues relating to diversity.
Organisms multiply
Other organizations in the region already offer similar services. The Inclusia Group, based in Saguenay, has been supporting newcomers since 1998. “Creating a new structure is a bit questionable,” says its coordinator, Sylvie Pedneault. “It’s a duplication of service, because there is already a structure in the territory which provides referrals to host organizations and it’s called Accompagnement Québec. » This “intermediary” that is SANA will also swallow part of the already tight budget granted by Quebec to this type of organization, she deplores.
“We don’t want to play in what we do well,” reassures Priscilla Nemey, of Promotion Saguenay. SANA is an “umbrella organization” which will facilitate access to services.
“We don’t have a challenge finding immigrants. They come knocking on our door,” retorts Sylvie Pedneault, who nevertheless says she is open to collaboration. “We have to prioritize the requests we receive because the budgets are not enough. »
The municipality also started, in 2021, the “welcome house for new arrivals in Saguenay” project. The City finally abandoned the idea, because it required more than a “physical location”, and rather an organization, according to Mme Nemey. Companies that hire hundreds of foreign workers were demanding this SANA, finally affirms the mayor. “There is room in Saguenay for development. We are an open community. We have everything. »
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.