THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 27, 2025
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 11:29 a.m. [ET] to consider Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.
Senator Rosemary Moodie (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Senators, I call to order this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
My name is Rosemary Moodie. I am a senator from Ontario and the chair of this committee.
Before we begin, I would like to do a roundtable and have senators introduce themselves.
Senator Osler: Senator Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler, representing Manitoba.
Senator McPhedran: Senator Marilou McPhedran, representing Manitoba.
Senator Senior: Senator Paulette Senior, representing Ontario.
Senator Burey: Sharon Burey, senator for Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Boudreau: Victor Boudreau from New Brunswick.
Senator Arnold: Dawn Arnold, also from New Brunswick.
Senator Petitclerc: Chantal Petitclerc from Quebec.
Senator Audette: [Innu-aimun spoken], Michèle Audette from Quebec. I salute all the beautiful award-winning women who are here with us today.
[English]
Senator Greenwood: Welcome and good morning. Margo Greenwood, British Columbia.
Senator Muggli: Tracy Muggli, Treaty 6 territory, Saskatchewan.
The Chair: Thank you, senators.
Today, we welcome in our committee room representatives from the Diaspo-interaction and Diversité Québec. These women have been presented awards from Femina. Welcome. We are pleased to have you participating in our meeting. Senator Gerba, we gave you a night’s notice, and look what you have produced. Thank you.
Today, we are starting our study on Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.
Joining us today, we welcome the Honourable Senator Amina Gerba, sponsor of the bill, accompanied by Cheickh Tidjane Bangoura, President of the Africa Study Group. We thank you for joining us today.
Each of you will have five minutes for your opening statements, followed by questions from committee members. Senator Gerba, the floor is yours.
[Translation]
Hon. Amina Gerba, Sponsor of the bill: Honourable senators, I am speaking from the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe nation. Indeed, we must remind ourselves repeatedly and acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have been present in what is now Canada since time immemorial.
As a proud Quebecer and Canadian from an immigrant background, I am honoured to appear before you as the sponsor of Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.
Above all, it is important to remember a fundamental truth: apart from the Indigenous peoples, almost all of us are descended from immigrants, past or present. This shared identity, forged by the mobility and courage of those who chose to settle here, is the common thread that binds our country. It is precisely because of this shared history that Bill S-215 seeks to recognize and celebrate those who chose Canada, the country we love so dearly.
Why a national immigration month? Because immigration is not only a demographic or economic phenomenon. It is a human, cultural and social process that has been building Canada for generations. Yet, it is often reduced to numbers or polarizing debates.
Bill S-215 is also a response to the voices that are becoming dangerously close to a philosophy of rejection and exclusion that has no place in our country. This bill proposes an alternative: a national moment of recognition and reflection on the contributions to Canada by our immigrants.
Although the bill is quite short, it will have a concrete impact. First, it will allow us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of immigrants from all sectors of Canadian society, including the economic, cultural, scientific and community service sectors. Second, it will create space for dialogue and education to better understand newcomers’ realities, challenges and successes and reflect on the means to facilitate their integration. Third, the bill will reinforce immigrants’ sense of belonging by giving immigrants national visibility and recognition.
[English]
This national immigration month will give communities the chance to share their stories, from small rural municipalities to large cities, from First Nations welcoming newcomers to second-generation families redefining Canadian identity. Each experience adds to our country’s story and makes this initiative truly human.
Honourable members of the committee, in conclusion, the national immigration month proposed by Bill S-215 is not only symbolic; it helps recognize, celebrate and bring people together. It reminds us that immigration has always been and will continue to be one of the essential drivers of our society.
[Translation]
Thank you for your attention and I am now prepared to answer your questions.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Senator Gerba. Mr. Bangoura, the floor is yours.
[Translation]
Cheickh Tidjane Bangoura, President, Africa Study Group: Madam Chair, honourable senators, I thank you for inviting me to participate in your work on Bill S-215. I am deeply touched by this.
Allow me to add a few thoughts as an international lawyer who has served Canada for many years at the United Nations, as president of the Africa Study Group, and above all as a person of African descent whose family history is part of the many trajectories of immigration. I hope that these few thoughts will contribute to the honourable work you are doing, which I commend in many ways.
My name is Cheickh Tidjane Bangoura, and I am the president of the Africa Study Group. My career has led me to teaching, academic research in Germany, and positions with the United Nations and several Canadian and international organizations, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
All of this motivated me and led me to become involved in this cause, which I consider to be very honourable. I worked with CIDA and the Peacekeeping Girl Center. I carried out more than twenty missions for Canada, including in Haiti, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
In a global context where xenophobia and intolerance are on the rise, this bill represents a unique opportunity for Canada that should be seized. Recognizing and valuing the contributions of immigrants who enrich our society economically, culturally and socially is one of the values of this initiative. The other value is essentially to strengthen social position and a sense of belonging by sharing the success stories and inspiring journeys of our immigrant communities.
This is essentially the Canadian coexistence we so desperately need today. Strengthening Canada’s international image as an open, inclusive country that respects human rights is crucial to our global influence and diplomatic relations. We must also combat prejudice and misinformation by creating space for dialogue and education on diversity and the realities of immigration.
I strongly recommend the government support this bill through national awareness campaigns involving the media and local communities. I encourage the active participation of diasporas, particularly the multisectoral and multidimensional diaspora we have here, because right now, it is difficult to tell who is who in Canada. We are all mixed together. We have only one Canada. I associate these initiatives with educational measures to promote respect, tolerance and intercultural understanding from an early age. Immigration, as experienced by many communities from the African continent and its global diaspora, as you can see here in this room, is often marked by stories of resilience, forced or chosen mobility, and deep aspirations to contribute fully to the host society.
In Canada, this journey is now reflected in fields as diverse as research, entrepreneurship, community engagement and public service. Yet these contributions sometimes remain invisible and underappreciated. This is unfortunate and a shame. That is why a country like Canada, whose diversity is often cited as an example internationally, has everything to gain by making these voices visible.
Thank you for allowing me to share my views with you.
I strongly recommend the passage of this bill.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. Bangoura.
We will now proceed to questions from committee members. For this panel, senators will have four minutes for your question. That includes your answers.
[Translation]
Senator Osler: Welcome, everyone.
Dear Senator Gerba, congratulations on this important bill.
My question is for both witnesses.
[English]
How would a national immigration month highlight the diversity of immigrant experiences rather than consolidating immigrants into a single, uniform group? In particular, how might the month highlight the distinct stories and contributions of permanent immigrants, refugees and temporary immigrants like temporary foreign workers?
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: Thank you for your question, Senator Osler.
This is precisely the aim of the bill: for all departments to encourage diasporas to showcase their culture, to support diasporas and to accompany diasporas in all the initiatives they undertake in their various communities. This is precisely why we must spread the word by passing this bill. As Mr. Bangoura said, we have a diverse country with multiple diasporas, and we already have initiatives in other bills that recognize the heritage of these different cultures. However, these initiatives were put forward by us as senators or MPs. Not all of our country’s diversity is represented here in the Senate, even though we are very diverse. That is why this bill will open up somewhat the ethnocultural diversity of newcomers and others who have been here for hundreds of years.
Senator Osler: Thank you.
[English]
Senator McPhedran: I am struck by what we heard this morning and what we have heard from you about the diaspora, and the way in which this bill seems to allow for more opportunities for diaspora communities to not only come together, but also to offer expertise to the wider population.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey reaching the point where you tabled this bill?
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: Thank you for this excellent question, Senator McPhedran.
Indeed, this bill is the result of my own journey. No one would have imagined that a little girl born in a small village without running water or electricity in Cameroon called Bafia would find herself in the Senate of Canada speaking to you here today. No one would have thought it possible.
I was born in this village. It would take me all day to tell you the whole story. I’ll just summarize by saying that I came to Canada to study with my husband. We were in a store in Laval and a cashier asked my husband . . . This happened several times. This time it was at the checkout, but I’ll tell you about when we were at a gala in Montreal instead. We were talking. My husband was talking to one of the people there. The person said to him, “I see you speak excellent French. Where are you from?” My husband pretended not to understand the question. She insisted. He said, “I’m from Laval.” She said, “No, where are you really from?” He knew she wanted to know where he was born. He said, “I’m from Cameroon. And where are you from?” She was confused. She said, “What do you mean?” He said, “As far as I know, apart from the Indigenous peoples, almost all of us came from somewhere else. Ask your ancestors and your parents where they come from, because you certainly didn’t come from here.”
This question made me truly understand that there was a problem with our children who are born here. Only one of my children was born in Cameroon; the other three were born here in Canada, and people will continue to ask them questions. My grandchildren — I have four — were born here. People will always ask them questions. They ask questions because they are not white. It seems that anyone who is not white is considered an immigrant. But even those who are white mostly come from somewhere else. The message I want this bill to send is that we can educate our children, all our children, so that they understand that our histories are diverse, but that we are all Canadians who came from somewhere else. We are proud of our origins. I am proud of my Cameroonian origins.
Senator Boudreau: Thank you for your passion regarding this issue. I support you on this very important bill.
Unfortunately, in the Western world, we are seeing that immigration is increasingly being used as a tool to cause conflict and cultural wars. So far, we have been fortunate in Canada. We are not there yet, but we do see tensions from time to time. With what is happening in the United States, it will probably slowly make its way to Canada as well, unfortunately.
The bill is an excellent idea, but I think it will take more than an immigration month to really address the points you mentioned and the whole issue of belonging, not just integration where each culture has its own corner in the country, but that we are together in a multicultural country.
I would like to hear about any other ideas you may have for emphasizing the important contribution that immigration makes to Canada’s economic, cultural and social well-being.
Senator Gerba: Thank you. It is an excellent question. There is an international threat from our neighbours who are suggesting that immigration is dangerous.
We need to do something. This bill is a first step to allow us to affirm that Canada is a country of immigrants.
We must not fall into the trap of xenophobic rhetoric that immigration is the source of all the problems we are experiencing, which are everywhere in the world but have diverse origins.
What can I add to respond to your question? What can we add as an action item to prevent this?
This is really the question we must all ask ourselves here: what else do we need to do to ensure this does not happen?
I think this bill is a first step. It will send a clear signal that we do not accept that rhetoric, that we recognize our peoples have different origins and that we are and remain a welcoming society.
With regard to the implementation of this bill, we expect the government to add it to the list of officially recognized national months, that there will be national activities from the different departments of education, even if they are provincial, in order to educate children.
There are many things we can do, but let’s start by passing this bill.
Senator Petitclerc: Thank you, Senator Gerba, for being here today. Thank you, Dr. Bangoura. Senator Boudreau, you had the same idea as I did. Senator Gerba, you gave a great answer. This will be more of a comment than a question.
It is true that it is worrying to see, even today, the comments made by US Vice President JD Vance, the polls in Canada, in our province of Quebec, an identitarian closure. This is part of your idea of not just highlighting and celebrating immigration. Will we be able to use this to set the record straight and restore some sense of truth? You have already answered this, but it bears repeating.
Senator Gerba: Yes, I can repeat and even expand on this, because I ran out of time earlier.
Yes, we can and must do more. What does doing more mean? It means that we can help people understand the achievements and contributions being made. We can organize exhibits. Perhaps one day I will let the diaspora itself determine what immigrant diasporas need, determine what needs to be done in their different communities.
It is important to listen to them. We need to bring them to the table. They are not all at our table. There are 105 senators, nine of whom are of African descent. We need more diversity so that we can talk about it. If we don’t all have a voice at the table, let’s give them a voice and the opportunity to express themselves.
Senator Petitclerc: Dr. Bangoura, do you believe this bill could set the record straight?
Mr. Bangoura: Yes, absolutely, with everything going on in the world. When I arrived in this country over 50 years ago, I thought that Canada and the United States were one and the same. That is not true. We are two different countries in many respects.
We must recognize this, and it is not just because of what is happening now that we are two different countries. This project is all the more important because, for me, immigration is the backbone of what I referred to earlier as Canadian coexistence. It is something that transcends the pillars of Canadian identity, multiculturalism, the values of bilingualism and many other things.
We need a month to remind people. Canada is a country based on multiculturalism, which means that we have many cultures, none superior or inferior to any other. There are different cultures. Diversity is our strength. Immigration Month is the backbone that reminds us of who we are as Canadians. I think that’s important.
[English]
Senator Muggli: Thank you to my colleague Senator Gerba for this excellent idea to put forward a month to recognize immigration. I certainly appreciate the importance of celebrating immigration and especially that which enriches us so deeply culturally and economically. But, in Canada, immigration also has a colonial history.
I am thinking about addressing potential criticism regarding immigration policies over the decades, and maybe even current policies, which perpetuate colonialism or which were not always timely and friendly to opening our doors to those who need us the most. How do we think about that in relation to this bill? The bill can open us up to that criticism. “Oh, sure. You’re so good at immigration, right? What about all of these examples?” I am interested in your thoughts about that.
[Translation]
Mr. Bangoura: I will give it a try.
When you have lived outside Canada for a long time as a Canadian, you get a different sense of immigration. I might remind you that many countries, including France, have used Canada as an example. They have adopted many aspects of Canada’s immigration policies and approaches.
There is no such thing as a perfect immigration system in this world.
The reunification policy is extremely complex. I can reassure you that from my perspective, we have one of the best immigration systems, and not just because of our concept of immigration. As I told you earlier, the value we put on immigration is particular to Canada. It is a country of immigration. Not every country in the world is a country of immigration. However, Canada is. In terms of immigration, the example we give to the world is indisputable. As we often hear, there is the colonial aspect. That is one of the reasons why this legislation is necessary, and I would even say imperative. We need to set the record straight and correct the disinformation. We need to focus on the positive and always move forward without being revisionists. I think this legislation is a step in that direction.
[English]
Senator Muggli: Senator Gerba, did you do any consultation in the development of the bill with Indigenous Peoples about their impressions or feelings about this bill?
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: That’s a great question. We held consultations and organized a round table. It was our intention to expand the round tables to include Indigenous peoples. I spoke with my colleague Senator Audette. There are a number of things that need to be done precisely because most of the countries where we come from have experienced colonialism. We understand and respect Indigenous peoples. Nothing can be done without recognizing that we are on their land. As a result, we are continuing the discussion.
[English]
Senator Muggli: As a reminder, some immigrants come from historically colonized countries.
Senator Gerba: Exactly, and many of them lived with Indigenous Peoples, so they choose to go there because they know how to live with them.
Senator Senior: Thank you to my colleague Senator Gerba and to you, Dr. Bangoura, for being here.
I want to build on some of the questions already asked. I don’t think we need to look south to see the winds of negativity around immigration now. There is a bill we have here in Canada that will be cutting back significantly on immigration. When asked about it, the minister responsible basically says there is so much negativity, but the bill is really taking on the myths and misnomers around immigration being the cause of many things we are seeing now and that people think are going wrong — that they can’t get jobs and housing, et cetera, because of immigration. I think this is timely to help counteract what has been happening.
I also agree with you, Dr. Bangoura, because I think it’s important to find ways to get the facts out. Clearly, the government is not doing it. Instead, we are going full force ahead with cutting back on immigration because it’s the cause of so many things because that is what the public thinks, not because it’s factual. It’s important that we figure out ways to get the facts about immigration out.
Also, with the whole piece around immigration, sometimes we think about it from the perspective of immigrants coming here and they are going to celebrate. There is also a piece around many immigrants not understanding how to honour the Indigenous Peoples of this land and learn about it as part of the responsibility of being an immigrant. I would like to see some of that activity as well.
Senator Gerba: You raise a very good point.
[Translation]
You’re right, there is a need for education. When I arrived almost 40 years ago today, I found out what actually happens here. It’s all very well to read and get information, but when you get here, you see the realities. That has to be part of the process of implementing the legislation so that people are kept up to speed. They need to know and understand that we have a reconciliation process under way. We need to build bridges with Indigenous peoples to better understand why we are in a process of reconciliation.
You’re right that it is important for education be a part of the process of implementing the act. I agree.
[English]
Mr. Bangoura: Thank you for your question. I want to mention that I worked as a settlement adviser for the region of Peel from 1999 to 2003. For me, that was the best time of my life and of my career, despite all of the positions I held at the United Nations.
There is one thing I observed there. Back then, we had a program called the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, or ISAP. I don’t know why they don’t have it anymore, the same way they were doing it, but it’s necessary. When you are a newcomer here, it’s a difficult time. One of our biggest problems in Canada for our values is integration.
Senator Burey: Thank you, Senator Gerba and Mr. Bangoura, and to all of the invited guests. Thank you so much. It’s an honour.
I am an immigrant from Jamaica. I moved here with my family almost 50 years ago. All of my kids were born in Canada. Like you, I have stories to share about my kids who were born in Canada being asked where they come from. I think sharing our stories is very important because most people don’t realize it unless we share. I often say, and I have used it in some of my speeches, when we cast off the shackles of caste and class, we liberate our minds and experience what it means to be Canadian and what it means to unleash the promise and potential of this great country that we have here. I salute you on this bill.
As usual, I want to go back to the topic of schools. I’m a pediatrician, as you know. Can you be more specific on what you think this bill could do for education in schools for our children?
Mr. Bangoura: I will take the question.
[Translation]
Your question is even more—
[English]
Senator Burey: The question is, what will this bill do for the education of children in schools?
[Translation]
Mr. Bangoura: I’ll try to explain. Our children’s education is the foundation of Canada’s future. Not only that, it needs to be expanded. We often talk about educating children in school, but at the same time, we have to educate our media. Today, schools are dominated by the Internet and devices. When something is taught at school and then children leave the classroom, they are confronted with what is on the Internet or CBC or Radio-Canada. There are contradictions. The kids get confused. We need to improve our children’s education about immigration to show them that all Canadians have equal rights and freedoms. We have a charter. There isn’t one that applies to white people and another to Black people. We have one charter. Education is absolutely necessary. It’s in all of the UN conventions on immigration.
We have conventions that require us to respect and strengthen the protection of immigrant families. Canada has signed on to these conventions. Schools have to take that into account.
Canadians need to know what Canadians from East Africa, Canadians from Colombia and Canadians from Gaza are about, because we are all Canadians and Canadians come from all over. When I’m overseas, people ask me if I’m Canadian, because they don’t realize that there are Black Canadians. Our children here need to understand that too. The time to do it is now. This legislation will allow for that, because over the month, we will be increasing—
[English]
Senator Burey: This is not a money bill; it’s not asking for anything. Would we be looking at broadly developing a curriculum for schools where we gather people together? It’s not going to be the same in every province, but in terms of what the federal government could do, perhaps a curriculum?
[Translation]
Senator Audette: Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for giving us speaking time as visitors. I’m really honoured to be here.
Briefly, I can confirm that every time Canada passes a law or the Governor General makes a statement that designates a day or a month, people start feeling the effect within 12 months, but several years later, everyone sees a positive impact in terms of major tragedies. I’m referring here to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Red Dress Day and so on. You have my full support.
Senator Greenwood needs to prepare for an important day today in the House. She had a question for you that is mine as well.
[English]
My question is to ask your advice on what newcomers should know about Canada as a country when they are coming when we talk about Indigenous Peoples.
[Translation]
I have another question. I also work as a part-time academic. I am sometimes told that if there is no framework legislation, regulation or policy that tells me to celebrate or honour a particular nation or group, I have no obligation to do so. Do you think your bill will lead to some positive accountability in the academic community?
Senator Gerba: I’ll start with your last question first. Thank you, Senator Audette, for your contribution to my first speech at second reading.
The purpose of the bill is precisely to put in place a framework for national recognition so that universities, communities, parliamentarians and all of us can advance the same idea and pass on the same message.
In answer to Senator Greenwood’s question, I would say that we instead need to wait for our Indigenous peoples to teach us what we need to know.
I would ask her instead: How do we get this into the bill? It is important. It really must be recognized and stated.
There are people who are asking why we still give recognition. I have had to answer that question. Recognition is key, because settlers came to these unceded lands. We live on these lands. We need to learn and educate. I would love to work with both of you to develop something along those lines.
Thank you.
Senator Audette: My pleasure. Thank you.
Mr. Bangoura: Thank you very much for that excellent question.
You know, among African immigrants in particular, but also from other countries, people are unaware that Indigenous people exist. Not only in Canada. A lot of people who come here and who are immigrants are also Indigenous in many cases. You know that there is the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that includes us all. In a way, we need to say that we are all Indigenous people. I am glad that Canada’s Indigenous peoples always return to reality to remind Canadians who have come here of the human values that we often forget.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. Bangoura.
Senator Cardozo: Thank you, colleagues, for allowing me a question as I’m not a member of the committee. I’m really interested in this bill.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba, thank you for your ambition on this bill.
[English]
I think November is a good month to do it in because, as we know, under the immigration act, the minister is required to table the immigration levels for the next year by October 31. So there is always a debate in November. It’s a good time to participate in this debate.
[Translation]
My question is this: Do you think that this would be the ideal month to take a closer look at the issue of immigration, not only to celebrate, but to consider and discuss? Maybe in collaboration with academics, economists, social scientists and groups representing businesses and unions. There could be a debate, a very strong discussion on this.
Senator Gerba: Thank you, Senator Cardozo, for your excellent question.
Why the month of November? You have answered in part. It is an ideal month for two main reasons. One you mentioned is that the anniversary of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is November 1. It is a core act of our immigration system. It was adopted on November 1, 2001.
The second reason is that November is already the National Francophone Immigration Week. That’s what we drew inspiration from. In fact, the people who were at the table pushed for November because it will ensure that the issue will get national coverage this time.
I will conclude with a third reason: There are a number of laws that govern the legacy of various communities. This month is going to open the door, as I said in my opening remarks, for other communities that are not yet recognized, whose heritage is not yet recognized. We will be voting shortly on Bill S-220, An Act to designate the month of March as Hellenic heritage month, but is there a month dedicated to Haitian heritage in Canada or a month dedicated to Colombian or Bolivian heritage? My assistant is from Bolivia. We cannot enact all of these laws. So, in November, we will all come together to celebrate Canadian immigration.
Senator Cardozo: Thank you.
Senator Boudreau: My question is for Mr. Bangoura.
When we talk about immigration policy in Canada, it seems we always want to take a national approach and treat all regions, provinces and territories in the same way. I would argue that a province like New Brunswick does not face the same realities or challenges as perhaps our more populous provinces. We need more international students; we have a skilled labour shortage. In addition, we need more new Canadians to grow our small communities. Do you think that a regional approach to navigate national immigration policies would be the right approach to take for the government?
There seems to be a desire to treat everybody the same, but Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have a different reality to New Brunswick. We need to increase our population and we need more immigrants. However, we are being penalized because of national policies currently in place.
Mr. Bangoura: Thank you for your question. It is an important one, and above all, a very topical one.
When it comes to immigration, Canada is a country that is guided by what is known as best practice. In fact, I would say that New Brunswick is already doing this, as are Manitoba and Nunavut. As I speak to you now, my son is working in Nunavut. He is there and he is happy.
We need this to avoid the concentration of immigrants in large cities. Rural exodus is not the solution to immigration, and our immigration law is designed to disperse immigrants throughout Canada. I am very happy to see today that immigrants are avoiding Toronto, not only because people are being killed, but also because there is potential for immigration everywhere.
I am not the Prime Minister of Canada, but I strongly encourage the government to move in this direction and give some freedom in immigration matters to disperse immigrants throughout Canada. I encourage the choice of Nunavut in particular. If you go to Nunavut today — I’ve been there — it’s a bit cold, but I can tell you that it’s an immigration zone. There are a lot of Africans there. I encourage diversity in the distribution of immigrants across Canada.
Why hasn’t this been done? It’s because of a lack of information. This lack of information can be addressed internationally in our Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada immigration offices in other countries. They need to be informed. When you go to these countries and talk about immigration, all you hear about is Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. Canada isn’t there. When I tell them I’m from Ottawa, they say Ottawa is a village. That’s not right, is it? That’s why I think we need to keep going. It’s the lack of information that creates confusion. Information is needed to understand that New Brunswick is a wonderful province for immigration.
[English]
The Chair: There are obviously some people who agree with you.
Senator Muggli: I will say I certainly agree with what I think I have heard our witnesses say today: The intention of this bill is to be celebratory in nature and raise the profile of the goodness of immigration.
That’s why I wanted to just have a reflection on one of the sentences in the preamble. It says:
Whereas it is very important to educate children and future generations about the role played by immigration in building Canada;
That wasn’t always so good. If this is meant to be a celebratory bill, I wonder about the language or if the intention of the bill is also to educate children and future generations about the original kinds of negative aspects of building Canada and immigration. I wonder about that language. If we want this to be a celebratory bill, I think we need to reflect on that particular sentence.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: That’s a good point. Indeed, the bill is based on the fact that there is a lack of awareness of the contribution made by immigrants. When I talk about immigrants, that can go a long way. How the wording . . .
[English]
Senator Muggli: It’s a reflection point that maybe all of us can have around how that language is worded. Is it that we want to educate children and future generations about the — this isn’t the right word — but the “value-add” to our culture and our economy. I don’t know what the language is, but that’s kind of what I’m getting it at: I don’t want it to be criticized, like I said earlier. We’re reflecting on earlier immigration that was, at times, very problematic and colonizing.
For now, it’s a reflection point; I’m not looking for a response, but it is something for us to reflect on. I know we probably won’t be revisiting this bill again for a little while.
Senator Gerba: I think I give this to the committee because . . .
[Translation]
Mr. Bangoura: I think that as a solicitor, I have already been involved in drafting several files. No legal case is static. I believe that once this bill is passed, in the years following its adoption, immigration will change and the content of this text in its application will evolve. The points you mention are an extraordinary reflection which, in my opinion, proves the necessity and even the imperative nature of this document. That is why it is imperative that it be adopted as soon as possible to enable us to have things such as the ones you mention, to have action plans for the application of these files according to the provinces, and so on.
This file is so rich that, once again, madam, I strongly recommend it.
[English]
The Chair: Mr. Bangoura, we have time for one last question from a senator. Apologies, senators, but we have run out of time.
Senator Senior: Thank you.
I’m going to pick up on that point. I’m actually quite comfortable with the wording. The reason I’m comfortable with the wording is because many immigrants have given their life and blood to building Canada, despite the colonial reality of it, whether they were Japanese, Black folks and the railroads — all of that. They have given their life and blood to build this country. That’s never recognized. I think it’s important, despite the colonial history, that, absolutely, immigrants have built this country.
The Chair: Is there a question there, Senator Senior?
Senator Senior: No.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: If I may just add to what Senator Senior said, if our colleague Senator Bernard had been with us around this table, I think she would have responded in exactly the same way.
Thank you.
[English]
The Chair: Senators, this brings us to the end of the panel. I would like to thank Senator Gerba and Mr. Bangoura for their testimonies today.
(The committee adjourned.)