THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 26, 2026
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met with videoconference this day at 10:30 a.m. [ET] to study Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month; and, in camera, for consideration of a draft agenda (future business).
Senator Rosemary Moodie (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: I call to order this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. My name is Rosemary Moodie. I’m 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, starting with Senator Burey on my left.
Senator Burey: Senator Sharon Burey from Ontario. Welcome.
Senator Senior: Senator Paulette Senior from Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: Amina Gerba from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Hay: Katherine Hay from Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Arnold: Good morning. Dawn Arnold from New Brunswick.
Senator Boudreau: Good morning. Victor Boudreau from New Brunswick.
Senator Cuzner: Rodger Cuzner from Nova Scotia.
[English]
Senator Muggli: Tracy Muggli, Treaty 6 territory, Saskatchewan.
The Chair: Today the committee continues the study of Bill S-215, an Act respecting National Immigration Month. Joining us today for the first panel, we welcome by video conference, Thanh Phan, Board Member, Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association. With us in person, we welcome Thi Be Nguyen, President, UniAction; Marie-Laure Konan, Executive Director, INICI; and Henriette Mvondo, Founder President, Bienvenue à l’immigrant. Thank you for joining us today.
For your opening statement, you will each have five minutes followed by questions from committee members. Mr. Phan, the floor is yours.
Thanh Phan, Board Member, Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Thanh Phan, and I am a naturalized Canadian. Today I represent the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, or CILA, a national organization of more than 540 immigration lawyers across Canada. Our members help clients from around the world navigate the Canadian immigration system. We are here to express our strong support for Bill S-215.
Canada is a nation built by immigrants. Other than our Indigenous Peoples, we trace our roots to those who came from elsewhere seeking opportunity, safety and a better future in Canada. Immigration is not just part of our history; it is central to our identity.
As reflected in the preamble of this bill, Canada has greatly benefited from immigrants. Their contributions have shaped not only our economy, but also our society and culture.
It is also essential that we continue to teach future generations about the important role of immigration in shaping Canada. By establishing November as National Immigration Month, this bill acknowledges immigration as a foundational force in building this country.
Today, immigration remains vital to Canada. Newcomers help sustain our workforce, support our public services and ensure long-term prosperity.
At the same time, we should acknowledge that in recent years, our immigration system has faced increased public scrutiny. Concerns about housing, infrastructure and system integrity have led many Canadians to question how immigration is managed.
In response, the Government of Canada has taken steps to reduce immigration levels to what it considers more sustainable targets. This scrutiny reflects the public’s legitimate expectation that our immigration system is fair, efficient and aligned with Canada’s capacity.
However, it is a good time that we must reaffirm the value of immigration. This is why Bill S-215 is so important. Designating November as National Immigration Month would encourage meaningful discussion about the role it plays in our shared future.
We must be clear that striving for a better immigration system and championing immigration are not mutually exclusive goals. On the contrary, they are deeply interconnected. A stronger, more transparent and more responsive system will enhance public confidence and, in turn, reinforce the many benefits that immigration brings.
As practitioners, we see both the strengths and the shortcomings of the current system. We also see the resilience and talent of newcomers who contribute to our communities every single day. They are entrepreneurs, skilled workers, caregivers and innovators. Their success is Canada’s success.
In 2018, the Government of Canada launched the Immigration Matters campaign, which highlighted the positive impact of immigrants across the country. It shared real stories that helped Canadians better understand how immigration enriches our society.
Bill S-215 offers an opportunity to build on that spirit by creating a national moment each November to educate, reflect and celebrate. Such an initiative helps counter misinformation and strengthen social cohesion.
Honourable senators, Canada stands at an important crossroads. We face real challenges, but we also have a powerful opportunity to reaffirm who we are as a country. By supporting Bill S-215, you are not only endorsing a symbolic gesture, but you are reinforcing a national commitment to evidence-based policy, public engagement and the enduring value of immigration.
On behalf of CILA, I urge you to support this important legislation. Thank you.
Thi Be Nguyen, President, UniAction: Honourable senators, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as a witness on Bill S-215, an Act to recognize November as the National Immigration Month for Canada.
My name is Thi Be Nguyen. In 1980, 46 years ago, I immigrated with my parents and siblings to Canada as an immigrant refugee. My journey, like that of many immigrants and refugees, has been shaped by resilience and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to society. Canada offered me safety and the chance to rebuild, to be educated, to participate and to give back. It is from this lived experience that I speak today.
Bill S-215 is a legislative initiative to recognize and celebrate the contributions of immigrants to Canada. It is important to highlight that this bill includes all Canadians, reminding us that, apart from First Nations and Indigenous peoples, we are all descendants of immigrants whose histories shape who we are today. But beyond policy, this is about the story we tell as a nation. That story must continue to evolve. Even those born in Canada carry within them the journeys of their ancestors, resettlers or immigrants who shaped the families and communities we belong to. To honour our ancestors is to honour whom we have become today.
Throughout my career, I have focused on bridging communities and fostering inclusion. Through my organization UniAction, I promote cultural diplomacy, and I am currently producing my third documentary titled, Generations, to highlight shared Canadian identities.
As an Inclusion and Diversity Ambassador at the National Bank of Canada — I worked there for 22 years — I worked to embed inclusion in the workplace.
As Executive Director of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, I strengthened, and continue to strengthen, ties between Canada and Southeast Asia, promoting dialogue and collaboration.
These experiences show that inclusion does not happen by chance; it is built through intentional policies, sustained effort and meaningful representation.
Bill S-215 is important because it reinforces these structures and allows individuals and communities to be seen, heard and supported.
May I suggest that the success of this bill should include: One, accessibility — clear communication and outreach to all communities; two, representation — including voices from diverse backgrounds in decision making; three, long-term impact through education, awareness and community capacity building; fourth, not the least, evolving the national narrative — reminding Canadians of their ancestors who were resettlers or immigrants and honouring their legacy.
[Translation]
I fully support Bill S-215 because it reinforces Canadian identity by recognizing the contribution of all Canadians and paying tribute to the migratory journeys that have shaped this country. It also recognizes immigration as a significant driver of social and economic development, with cultural diversity serving as a concrete catalyst for growth and innovation, generating up to 30% in additional revenue, according to McKinsey & Company.
On the international stage, this bill celebrates Canada as an open and inclusive society that attracts foreign talent, investors and partners, while fostering stronger connections with immigrants’ countries of origin to facilitate trade and cooperation.
The immigration month also honours our ancestors and acknowledges history, beginning with the presence and contribution of First Nations and Indigenous communities.
In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to you, senators, for your time, open-mindedness and dedication to public service. I would also like to sincerely thank Senator Amina Gerba for introducing Bill S-215.
Together, by celebrating our diverse histories, recognizing the contribution of every Canadian and working side by side to promote equity and inclusion, we are building a stronger, more united and fairer Canada for future generations.
[English]
Because when we recognize every story that built this country, we do more than remember our past — we strengthen the future we choose to build together for a stronger Canada. I am proud to be Canadian.
[Translation]
Thank you very much for your attention.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Ms. Nguyen.
Ms. Konan, you have five minutes.
Marie-Laure Konan, Executive Director, INICI (Immigrate, Innovate, Integrate): Thank you.
[Translation]
Honourable senators, I want to sincerely thank you for welcoming me today. I am speaking to you as the Executive Director of INICI, or Immigrate, Integrate, Innovate, an organization that has been working towards the social, linguistic and economic integration of immigrants in Quebec for the past 40 years.
The financial support we receive from Quebec’s ministries of immigration and employment enables us to provide support to more than 20,000 immigrants and their families each year. INICI is also one of the largest francization centres in Quebec and delivers over 200 French language courses annually. Our job integration programs have a placement rate of between 70% and 80%.
However, our work is more than these numbers. What we really do is shape the trajectories of people’s lives, lives that over time become a part of Canada’s history. Allow me to highlight one example that we are especially proud of.
When Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the current mayor of Montreal, arrived here from Chile with her family over 30 years ago, she received support from our community organization, and we are very proud of that. She went on to serve as a federal member of Parliament and then as a minister, and of course, she is now a mayor. My team and I help write such stories every day. Some are quick and others are slightly more difficult, but all of them, without exception, help build this country.
However, despite these success stories, the fact is that through our work and in the public debate, we have observed a persistent disconnect, which is concerning to us. A persistent disconnect remains between immigrants’ actual contribution and the way they are sometimes portrayed. I’ve lived here for 23 years, and each election campaign across Canada is a moment of anguish and stress for these people, who are constantly targeted. All too often, immigrants are blamed for social challenges, such as the housing crisis, lack of child care spaces and breakdown in public services. We rarely hear about their accomplishments, even though there are many.
Immigrants help protect and promote the French language, strengthen institutions, support regional economies and innovate in a variety of key sectors. These contributions deserve to be recognized, documented, and shared with present and future generations. That is precisely why Bill S-215 is important. It acknowledges a fundamental fact that immigration is far more than a demographic phenomenon; it is a foundational force of Canada.
Establishing a National Immigration Month is therefore more than just a symbol; it is a meaningful, forward-looking gesture of recognition and collective memory. For INICI, celebrating immigration means successfully settling and integrating immigrants in a sustainable way. A National Immigration Month would provide a unique opportunity to highlight inspiring experiences and mobilize partners to identify concrete solutions. For example, our initiative En route vers ma région, which was hailed by the media as a societal initiative in 2025, is designed to promote the professional integration of asylum seekers in Quebec regions facing significant labour shortages and regional vitality challenges. This shows that with the right approaches, immigration can be a meaningful solution for the country’s future.
In closing, Bill S-215 sends a clear message: Canada welcomes people and recognizes their contribution to nation building. I therefore support the passage of this bill and remain available to discuss how civil society and organizations like INICI can help bring November, National Immigration Month, to life across Canada. Thank you.
[English]
The Chair: Ms. Mvondo, the floor is yours.
[Translation]
Henriette Mvondo, Founder President, Bienvenue à l’immigrant: Honourable senators, I am very honoured to appear before you today to convey my support for Bill S-215. I would like to sincerely thank the Honourable Amina Gerba for sponsoring this bill.
This bill, which seeks to highlight, celebrate and recognize immigrants as key players in the country’s development, is fully consistent with our mission and work at Bienvenue à l’immigrant, or BAI, of which I am the founder president.
We have had a clear vision for the past nine years: To honour the contribution made by immigrants from all walks of life in a way that respects their uniqueness, while providing them with the necessary tools for successful, dignified and sustainable integration. This vision is reflected in concrete action on the ground.
To date, BAI has supported the integration of more than 4,500 families from various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. Our work includes the distribution of more than 27,000 food baskets in two years and 1,438 school kits, and the provision of essential supplies for the basic settlement needs of 1,279 households.
Our work has shown that when immigrants receive adequate support, they quickly become vital contributors to Canada’s economic, social and cultural development.
It’s important to note that immigrant youth are facing an identity struggle, mainly owing to a lack of representation in decision-making positions. This lack of visible role models leads to a sense of not belonging, difficulty looking to the future and an imposter syndrome that impedes their full potential.
Bill S-215 provides a concrete opportunity to remedy that. It will expand the pool of successful, merit-based role models that reflect the diversity of all levels of society.
Young people who don’t see themselves in decision-making spaces lack the confidence and sense of belonging needed to help build a strong society. However, despite ongoing efforts, integration challenges persist.
Immigration is a key strategic driver of Canada’s economic development. However, although immigrants generally have high levels of education, workforce integration is still a significant hurdle, particularly in Quebec. Access to jobs that match individual skills is still the biggest barrier.
According to Statistics Canada, nearly 40% of immigrant workers in Quebec are overqualified, compared with about 25% of the Canadian-born population. The proportion of recent immigrants who are overqualified is 48%.
They also face higher unemployment rates, at 6.6% versus 3.7%, and this results in the underutilization of talent. This is further exacerbated by major housing challenges, which hinder integration right from arrival. We would like to make the following recommendations: Accelerate credential recognition; roll out first Canadian experience programs; strengthen on-the-job language training; support the provision of transitional housing through organizations; and provide increased, stable, multi-year funding for community organizations and recognize them as essential pillars.
National Immigration Month would be a first step in affirming pride in the distinctiveness of Canadian people, while respecting Indigenous peoples and First Nations.
Each year will be an opportunity to emphasize dialogue that celebrates the diverse cultures that make up our society. We recommend organizing countrywide activities that bring together stakeholders at all decision-making levels, along with various community groups, while respecting their unique characteristics.
I would also recommend introducing an award tied to this month, one that honours inspiring immigrant builders and their diverse origins, celebrating those who have chosen Canada as the place where they can contribute to their full potential. Thank you for your attention. I would be pleased to answer your questions.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Ms. Mvondo. We will now proceed to questions from committee members.
Senator Burey: Good morning everyone, and welcome. I am also an immigrant. This is my fiftieth year, so, of course, I came as a very tiny baby, clearly. Thank you for sharing those stories.
I wanted to start with you, Ms. Nguyen, but this question is for everyone. You said something very interesting and important: “Inclusion does not happen by chance; it has to be intentional.” I would like you and others to expand on the policies, sharing our stories and how we can teach Canadians about the importance of immigration and immigrants to Canada.
Ms. Nguyen: Yes, of course. Thank you for the question. As I mentioned, throughout my years in Canada — I’m 51 this year — I arrived here at five years old, and as I grew up and then at the National Bank, where I worked for 22 years, inclusion doesn’t come by chance. You need to put a structure in place in every sphere of society.
When I arrived at the National Bank 27 years ago, I was the first minority person in the marketing department. Because I was the first minority in a department with about 60 employees, the bank wasn’t there yet to understand inclusion or diversity or even immigration.
However, once you’re working for a company, you can collaborate with different departments, from marketing to human resources to the president, to put a structure in place that can bring awareness but also teach everyone how to work together.
When I say it needs to be intentional, there needs to be structure in every sphere of society. Bill S-215 brings that structure to a national level, and a month in November would really help organizations. An estimate of 500 to 700 organizations in Canada work in immigration. Those are organizations, but then we talk about all the businesses throughout Canada that also have employees who have immigrated. They can contribute to this month.
It’s huge. Canada, as we have all mentioned, is a country built by immigrants.
Senator Hay: Thank you all for being here. I love the comment that Canada is a country of immigrants that has shaped prosperity, communities, innovation and Canadian values. I really appreciated those comments. Thank you all for your work.
I want to talk a bit about youth and mental health, knowing in Canada it’s under real strain, a crisis level. Data actually shows that poor mental health has doubled in the last couple of years. I used to work at a national youth mental health organization, and we saw newcomers and immigrants more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression, facing barriers around access, and feeling more isolated. Stigma was high; language barriers were high; system navigation was hard. When this organization introduced multiple languages, the volume of activity in outreach was extraordinary.
How do you see this legislation playing a meaningful role in helping and supporting young people, feeling that sense of belonging and well-being when it comes to their mental health and well-being in Canada? I guess I open it up to everyone. You’re all dealing with families and young people.
Mr. Phan: Thank you for your interesting comments. I am an immigrant, and I have young kids. One was born in Japan, and one was born in Canada, and we all love Canada.
You addressed very important issues many immigrants have when they come to Canada, including mental health and the feeling of how they can grow in Canada. Thinking about a tree, when we bring a plant from one garden to a new garden, they need to be nurtured. They need water, soil and a good environment. Canada is helping immigrants with those conditions.
We can tell that Canada is very welcoming to immigrants, but this bill would create a month to help us to stop and look back at what we have done. We are doing well, but sometimes we don’t know that we are doing well. This month will help people see and also teach the next generation what we are doing and have done for immigrants. Canada is doing well with that.
We should also stop and discuss. This month is a good chance for us to discuss what we can do to have a better environment for immigrants, and helping immigrants with mental health is one of the discussions we should have. That’s why this bill is so important. Thank you.
Ms. Nguyen: First of all, many organizations that support immigrants do have programs to support mental health.
When I was at the National Bank of Canada, I led a $25‑million fund during COVID specifically to support initiatives of organizations on mental health and specifically also on youth.
One idea I could suggest is that through this bill, at some point in time if it gets adopted, Canadian Heritage, which has funding for different cultural initiatives, could set up some form of initiative for organizations that support the cultural side of immigration and integration where they could initiate a project that supports the mental health of the youth.
Senator McPhedran: Thank you to both our online and in‑person witnesses. Thank you all for the testimony.
I want to begin by acknowledging a colleague of mine from the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba. She actually had an exhibit here in the Senate called Hearts of Freedom. Professor Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe, who came as a small child fleeing from Laos during wartime. If you don’t know that exhibit, I recommend it. It is a very strong reinforcing of the points that all of you have made for us this morning.
My question is geared more to the future. I appreciate the acknowledgement that everyone is an immigrant, except someone who is a First Nations person, everyone. But now, more than half of Canadian women aged 20 to 49 have had no children in Canada, more than half. And that compares with 44.6% of landed immigrant women. This is a reflection of the increasing contribution of foreign-born mothers to Canadian births.
Canada has reached the lowest-ever point of its birth rate. We are now rated in the lowest possible category of the international ratings. I would really appreciate hearing from you as to where you think the future is going to bring your communities in relation to building and strengthening Canadian democracy. Does Mr. Phan want to start?
Mr. Phan: Thank you for your question and also your concern.
When you say “with your community,” you might think about the newcomers, new Canadians, versus the Canadians who have lower birth rates. When we have a harmonized Canada, so when the newcomers come in — I’m not a woman, excuse me — but I believe that the birth rate is now a problem not only in Canada, but also a problem of other countries outside of Canada, including the country where I came from. Women have more rights, so they were not staying at home and doing the housework, and they exposed their rights to society, and they were busier. So the birth rate is going down, not only in Canada.
In Canada, we should work together with other countries to think about that and solve that. And I don’t think that it’s a problem between new immigrants and Canadians who were born in Canada, but it is a common social problem. I don’t think that I have expertise in that, so excuse me, but I believe this is also a danger to our future. If the birth rate is low, then Canada — yes.
Senator McPhedran: Panellists, respond, please, if you will.
Ms. Nguyen: I would agree with Mr. Phan that the birth rate reduction is quite global. Korea is the country that I think is the lowest. I visited South Korea just recently. I learned that the government put in place incentives for families to have more children. I think immigration would support the increase in population in Canada. That’s one thing.
Regarding youth who are less favourable to having children, if it could bring a positive tone to this, I have a daughter that is 18, and all her friends are 18 as well. They all want to get married and have children.
The Chair: Thank you. I’m going to pass over to Senator Gerba, the bill’s sponsor.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: Thank you. I would like to sincerely thank all our witnesses today for sharing their valuable time with us. You have busy schedules, so we really appreciate your contribution.
We are parliamentarians, and if this bill is passed, it will have an impact on everyone. We want to understand how this bill could be viewed more favourably because, as all of you have noted, some people will see it as a way to encourage immigration. As Ms. Nguyen said, this issue is at the heart of the ongoing political debate. As you said, Ms. Mvondo, the issue comes up with each political campaign, and that is concerning.
What is your perception of this bill? How can the government make people understand the importance of this bill? What concrete action can reassure people and encourage them to accept this bill?
Ms. Konan: It was the same thing when Black History Month was introduced. Anything new raises a lot of questions, which is the case now. On the immigrant side, there are various celebrations to recognize people from different backgrounds. Establishing a month for all communities would bring together these multiple celebrations, because they all have the same purpose. The awareness-raising component is very important.
I’m going to share a personal story. We immigrated with my father in the 1980s. He was studying in Europe, and at the time, immigration in France was chaotic. We know why. As a student, my father made a spur-of-the-moment decision to leave France because he was not getting fair treatment. My immigration story is a continuation of my father’s story, which I am going to rewrite. It occurred to me that while my father may not have succeeded in one place, my children and I are going to succeed. For me, Quebec, and Canada more broadly, is a land of promise and a land of opportunity. I have told my children that if they are harassed because they are Black, the law is there to protect them. The key is to give our laws some teeth. Beyond that, we need to raise public awareness and do so by highlighting positive examples. We hear more than enough negative examples, but we know that there are positive ones as well.
I often illustrate this with one example. Since INICI can’t get involved in politics, we respond to critics through the L’immigration, ça nous construit! program. People say that immigrants are to blame for the housing shortage. We created a program so that immigrants who used to work in construction in their countries can help build homes here.
[English]
Ms. Nguyen: The Canadian media needs to be involved because we have heard a lot of negativity. Radio-Canada, for instance, can really come and support with positive messages in showcasing the histories and stories of immigrants that shape Canada.
Senator Senior: I want to dig a little bit further into that. Based on statistics from 2025, we see 56% of Canadians agreed there was too much immigration and 60% believed that too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values. I’m seeing that these statistics are driving public policy and legislation in Canada, and that worries me significantly. I would like to get your feedback on that. I welcome this bill, but I think the opportunity is there to go beyond celebration, to go beyond acknowledgement and to actually make this concrete in terms of being able to address that.
[Translation]
Ms. Mvondo: Thank you very much for the opportunity to elaborate on that.
Indeed, a lot has been said about immigration. I believe that Bill S-215 provides an opportunity for the government to send a strong signal that immigration is not the problem. We are not here to determine the percentage of people that should be allowed to come here. We are here to say that there are immigrants who are building Canada. There are immigrants who have chosen to participate to their fullest potential here, but we don’t hear about them. Immigration should not be stigmatized or seen as the problem.
As I said, this month will send a very strong signal of openness, dialogue, and celebration that can showcase people’s stories and help reduce the prejudices that many people would prefer to cling to. It would also provide an opportunity to look into the future.
When we speak about young people — and we spoke about mental health earlier — young immigrants are really searching for a sense of identity because they don’t see themselves here and they are stigmatized. This month would fully reflect that openness for dialogue, highlighting the effective, relevant and positive contributions made by the many immigrants who build Canada day and night.
[English]
Mr. Phan: Yes, I do agree with you on that point. Immigration and immigrants are not problems to Canada; they contribute. It’s not just words; immigrants can be our clients, the spouses of Canadian citizens, and they are employees, skilled workers who come here to help Canadian employers that desperately need to find employees or who may close their businesses if skilled workers are not coming in.
Immigrants are also entrepreneurs bringing capital to Canada. They create jobs and bring money and talent to Canada as well. If you look into immigration and refugee protections, there are many things that immigrants, permanent residents or naturalized Canadian citizens have to go through. They have to be screened for health conditions, a criminal background and security background to make sure that they come and bring positive things to Canada.
I agree that there are some pros and cons against immigrants, so that’s why this bill is important. It creates more opportunities for the positive information to be heard and when negatives should be reviewed to see if it’s correct or not and what we should do moving forward.
[Translation]
Senator Boudreau: We are in March now, which is Francophonie Month. I am French Acadian, and this is an excellent opportunity for me. Over the past month, I have had several opportunities to celebrate my language and my culture. It’s important to me as a francophone, and I think it’s also important to have an immigration month to give our immigrants an opportunity to celebrate. That is very important for our country.
Unfortunately, the federal government has a tendency to adopt a national approach as opposed to a regional approach. I’m from New Brunswick, which is a small province, and I can tell you that immigration is still very important here. We need to bring in more immigrants to our communities.
However, even though we want to celebrate, which I think is important, I also see this immigration month as an opportunity to debunk many falsehoods that are still going around. Where I’m from, people often say that immigrants are taking our jobs and our hospital spaces. We have heard all sorts of nonsense, to be honest with you, but we need to debunk and counter those narratives.
Would you agree that an immigration month would be the right time to create a campaign and try to debunk some of these falsehoods that keep circulating?
Ms. Konan: Yes, absolutely. I would agree with that. We need to raise awareness and provide positive information.
We spoke about young people because they are the ones who will carry this bill when we are gone. This information needs to be corrected, starting in school. Why is it so hard to find instructional material with positive stories of Black people who built Quebec or the rest of Canada? Why do the examples that our children with immigrant backgrounds see not reflect their reality and experience? This mental burden creates an inferiority complex that carries over to the home. Integration is already complex, and we see that this adds to the mental burden within immigrant households.
We need to start with the basics, with education. I am fully behind awareness campaigns, but above all, we need to strengthen Canada’s institutional memory and point out that openness and hospitality are some of the fundamental choices in our country. Very often, I think people forget that in moments of crisis because they’re looking for a scapegoat, even though we need to set an example within our institutions.
Ms. Mvondo: I couldn’t agree more, and that’s why we need to send that strong signal. The law will help recognize that we are all on the same stage as Canadians, and that will add a degree of credibility. Community organizations like ours have a lot of youth activities. They identify heroes and tell us inspiring stories, along with messages of success.
These messages would have an entirely different impact if, during immigration month, all decision-making levels across the country got involved in education and contributed to the positive stories. It would make such a difference if they participated in the approach to build together and to highlight all the existing contributions that people often prefer not to mention.
That would lend credibility, build a sense of belonging and motivate people to give more. They would feel they could participate as full citizens, not as separate citizens, in building the Canada that is so dear to all of us.
Senator Petitclerc: Thank you for joining us today. I will continue in the same vein.
I have two questions. My colleague Senator Senior shared some concerns about statistics, and I’m trying to understand what Canadians think and what we are seeing in our governments. This month could be a month of celebration, as we know, but also a month to make demands. I hope so.
You spoke about sharing stories, madam. How can we ensure that those stories are shared as widely as possible? Do you understand what I’m getting at?
Well, celebrating amongst ourselves is one thing, but how do we ensure that celebrations and information are shared as widely as possible?
Is this still a challenge? If so, what are the solutions?
Ms. Nguyen: As I said, there are some 500 to 700 organizations working in immigration. Add to that all the businesses with immigrant employees. When a bill like Bill S-215 is passed and the month of November is recognized as immigration month, the resulting initiatives will have an exponential impact. I believe that this will help not only to raise awareness, but also to involve all Canadians.
It’s important to see immigration not just in terms of what it is today or what it was 10 or 20 years ago. Immigration is about all of us, including our ancestors who moved here and built this country. It’s about focusing on stories that will inspire, provide a showcase and open the eyes of Canadians who might be opposed to immigration, to make them realize that immigrants were here a century ago and they made Canada what it is today.
It’s therefore important to go beyond immigration by defining it in terms of what it is today. We need to talk about our ancestors, because these stories are important too.
Ms. Mvondo: The initiative is part of an approach that brings positivity, dialogue and our unique characteristics together. It’s inclusive and meaningful, and can only bring people together. It creates a sense of building together. The whole idea is to celebrate together, talk to one another, get to know each other better and better understand our history. We need to respect First Nations. This is consistent with the movement towards reconciliation, and it’s the right thing to do. We are really coming from a place of openness, in the spirit of celebration and a desire to build together.
Ms. Konan: Adding to that, I want to pick up on the subject of the French language.
There is a French language strategy, so why not have a strategy on immigrant integration? We want to do things in a structural manner because we are talking about structure over and above celebration. We need meaningful measures with clear objectives, milestones and measurements. As such, we need a three-year or five-year strategy with different objectives and measures, and then we will take stock and make improvements along the way. Some interventions will be renewed to make them more meaningful. My recommendation would be to have a national strategy.
[English]
The Chair: We’re going to give Senator Gerba the final word.
[Translation]
Senator Gerba: Thank you for your input, which is truly appreciated. Our take-away is that it’s important to tell the stories of migration, that awareness raising is important, and that the government must play a key role on this front.
What key message would you like Canadians to remember if National Immigration Month is established?
Ms. Mvondo: I would want Canadians to remember that immigration embodies openness when someone chooses to move here. This willingness to build together and to celebrate, while respecting our history, First Nations, Indigenous communities, obviously... We are here to build, and we would like that recognition, so that we can build as united Canadians.
Ms. Nguyen: I would like to add to what Ms. Mvondo has said. The message is that we are all Canadian, regardless of our backgrounds. I would encourage all Canadians to seek out their roots. They will discover their own personal immigration story. I believe that will create tolerance towards immigration as it is today and help build the future.
Ms. Konan: Immigration builds us and builds the future of Canada. It’s as simple as that.
[English]
Mr. Phan: For me, celebration is not only champagne and cookies. At this moment, if it’s passed, it is a chance for us to hear the support, the fears, the concerns and find solutions for problems. I don’t want our meaningful dialogue today to be constrained in this room only. It will be expanded to all Canadians in our Canadian society, and we have these discussions every November of the year. Thank you.
Senator Gerba: Thank you so much.
The Chair: Senators, this brings us to the end of this portion of our meeting.
Thank you to our witnesses for your testimony today and, frankly, for turning up on such short notice. We appreciate that. We will briefly suspend and resume in camera to discuss future business of the committee.
At this time, I ask members of the public to please leave the room. Thank you very much.
(The committee continued in camera.)