Pathways to Prosperity: Canada

In our last eBulletin, we interviewed Caroline Duvieusart-Dery of Citizenship and Immigration Canada about Local Immigration Partnerships. In this issue, we discuss the Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs) with Marjie Brown of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada. Marjie has worked at the FCFA since May 2013, taking on the role of Manager, Immigration in April 2014. In this capacity, she oversees the planning, application and assessment of all FCFA Francophone immigration initiatives. She also supervises the agent responsible for coordinating RIFs at the national level.

Victoria Esses: Thank you for taking time to
speak with us today, Marjie. To start, can you give
us an overview of why the RIFs were created?

Marjie Brown: Of course. The Réseaux en immi-
gration francophone (RIFs) form part of a national
strategy to foster immigration to Francophone
minority communities (FMC). This strategy came
into being in the early 2000s with the recognition
of immigration as a development priority for
Francophone and Acadian communities, the crea-
tion of a CIC-FMC steering committee, and the
2006 publication of the Strategic Framework to
Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority
Communities. In order to meet the communities’
needs when it comes to recruiting, welcoming,
integrating and retaining French-speaking
immigrants, the first RIFs were set up in 2003-2004 in Saskatchewan and British Colombia. The newest RIFs date from 2011.

In this sense, the RIFs represent mechanisms adapted to the reality of the Francophone and Acadian communities, to ensure, among other things, that there is consensus among the different stakeholders and that French language services in each province and territory are coordinated. They also do an enormous work raising awareness and identifying the needs of both the welcoming community and the new Francophone arrivals. The RIFs are financed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and coordinated by the FCFA at the national level. Some RIFs also receive occasional support from provincial and territorial governments.

Victoria: How many RIFs are there and where are they located?

Marjie: There are currently 13 RIFs in nine provinces and two territories. Only Quebec and Nunavut don’t have a RIF. In the vast majority of cases, RIFs operate on a provincial or territorial level. It is only in Ontario that three RIFs are structured on a regional basis: East, Centre/South/West and North.

Victoria: My understanding is that one of the RIFs’ main focuses is employer engagement. Can you tell us more about this? In addition, how do RIFs collaborate with Destination Canada and how effective has this been?

Marjie: The RIFs’ mandate touches the entire immigration spectrum. However, more recently, and in line with CIC’s emphasis on economic migration, RIFs have indeed undertaken more activities relating to employer engagement. For example, since 2013, the FCFA and the RIFs have coordinated liaison tours and forums for mobilizing and recruiting Francophone immigrants. In collaboration with Canadian embassies overseas and numerous partners on the ground, RIFs organise information sessions for Francophone and Anglophone employers about recruiting a qualified, French-speaking workforce. In part, these sessions aim to improve employer involvement in Destination Canada. With provincial and territorial government support, some RIF members are also able to become involved in Destination Canada.

Victoria: Are there other RIF successes you’d like to talk about?

Marjie: Although many are still very new, the RIFs have already demonstrated innovative practices in respect of welcoming and settling immigrants, raising awareness and mobilising support, and developing strategic plans. A recent example of this can be seen in the statement by the Mayor of Hay River after taking part in a strategic planning session mounted by the Northwest Territories RIF: “If it’s the Francophones who are acting to promote immigration, then I will work with them.” The fact that RIFs can stimulate involvement in Francophone immigration by members of the majority community is certainly a big leap forward.

You’ll also, no doubt, be aware of the successful Semaine nationale de l’immigration francophone. Inspired by the Semaine atlantique en immigration francophone, the FCFA and RIFs launched this event to raise awareness and celebrate Francophone immigration in November 2013, with more than 100 activities taking place across the country. We’re already planning a second edition from November 2-8, 2014.

Victoria: What challenges and opportunities are there for the RIFs in the years ahead?

Marjie: With their knowledge of the realities and specific needs of each province and territory when it comes to Francophone immigration, the RIFs will certainly have an important role to play in identifying future priorities for the Settlement Program and at the CIC and settlement sector summits planned for the fall of 2014.

Even if the question of creating new RIFs does not come up at this time, reinforcing their capacity to rise to emerging challenges and to seize the opportunities that lie ahead is more important than ever. The FCFA and CIC have already planned a series of measures and the CIC-FMC committee has recently committed to strengthening the role of RIFs as mechanisms for planning and coordination.

Victoria: Thank you very much, Marjie.