THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 27, 2026
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met with videoconference this day at 4:16 p.m. [ET] to study Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.
Senator Rosemary Moodie (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Good afternoon, senators. I’d like to call to order this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. My name is Rosemary Moodie, senator from Ontario and chair of this committee.
Before we begin, I’d like to ask all senators to consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents. Please make sure to always keep your earpiece away from the microphones. Do not touch the microphones. Activation and deactivation will be managed by the console operator.
Finally, please avoid handling your earpiece while your microphone is on. Earpieces should either remain on the ear or placed on the designated sticker at each seat. Thank you all for your cooperation.
I’d like to do a round table to have senators introduce themselves, starting with Senator Burey on my left.
Senator Burey: Welcome, everyone. Sharon Burey, Ontario.
Senator Senior: Welcome, all. Paulette Senior, Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Arnold: Good afternoon. Dawn Arnold from New Brunswick.
Senator Petitclerc: Thank you for being here. Chantal Petitclerc from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Greenwood: Margo Greenwood from the beautiful province of British Columbia. Welcome.
Senator Osler: Welcome. I’m Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler from Manitoba.
Senator Cuzner: Rodger Cuzner from Nova Scotia.
Senator Muggli: Tracy Muggli, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 territory.
The Chair: Thank you, senators.
Today, the committee continues its consideration of Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.
Now I’ll introduce the witnesses for our first panel. From the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, by video conference, Russell Grosse, Chief Executive Officer. From Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne, Soukaina Boutiyeb, Executive Director. From the African Federation and Associations of Canada, Seynabou Amy Ka, Executive Director. Thank you all for joining us today.
For your opening statements, you will each have five minutes, followed by questions from committee members. Ms. Boutiyeb, the floor is yours.
[Translation]
Soukaina Boutiyeb, Executive Director, Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne: Thank you, Madam Chair and honourable senators. On behalf of the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne, or AFFC, I thank you for your invitation. My name is Soukaina Boutiyeb, and I am the Executive Director of AFFC.
The Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne is a national non-profit feminist organization. We are dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the role and contribution of more than 1.5 million francophone and Acadian women living in minority communities. We have a network of 17 member organizations across the country.
Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge Senator Gerba’s tremendous work on this bill and thank her for her leadership. The AFFC proudly took part in the consultations that led to the drafting of Bill S-215, which gave us a chance to highlight the importance of the role of francophone immigrant women in our communities.
Just over a year ago, the AFFC launched the first-ever pan‑Canadian strategy for francophone immigrant women in minority communities. The strategy is in response to a request from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It aims to take into account the needs of francophone immigrant women and to adapt services to ensure better integration.
Bill S-215 represents a major step forward and a significant opportunity to recognize the contribution of immigrants to Canadian society.
However, this recognition must be inclusive and reflect the diversity of our backgrounds and communities. The immigration pathway is not a single reality. It features diverse experiences and is marked by the intersection of gender, language, origin, socio-economic conditions and many other factors unique to each person.
In francophone and Acadian minority communities, francophone immigrant women play an essential role. They contribute every day to the vitality of our communities, their economic strength, their cultural richness and their social cohesion.
However, their contribution is not sufficiently recognized. Bill S-215 provides a concrete and ideal opportunity to change that, to recognize their place, celebrate their contributions and give them the visibility they deserve.
Recognizing immigration also means recognizing the women who experience it daily and who shape our communities. That involves making their journeys, their successes and their commitment visible in all spheres of society. Francophone immigrant women contribute not only to the economy, but also to the transmission of the French language, the development of community networks and the strengthening of the social fabric.
By showcasing their contribution, we promote a fairer and more inclusive understanding of immigration while sending a clear message about the importance of building policies and initiatives that truly reflect the diversity and richness of our communities.
That’s why the recommendations we are submitting to the committee propose specifically taking into account the needs of francophone immigrant women while promoting their contributions and ensuring a structural investment in order to acquire the necessary resources to implement the strategy.
The first recommendation is to amend the preamble of the bill to explicitly incorporate the following elements: “whereas immigration is of particular importance to francophone and Acadian minority communities” and “whereas francophone immigrant women have specific immigration needs that must be recognized and their contributions to Canadian society must be highlighted.”
The second recommendation is that the government invest structurally in the implementation of the pan-Canadian strategy for francophone immigrant women in minority communities.
Thank you for your attention, and I will be happy to answer your questions.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, Ms. Boutiyeb.
Ms. Amy Ka, the floor is yours.
[Translation]
Seynabou Amy Ka, Executive Director, African Federation and Associations of Canada: Madam Chair and honourable senators, it is with a deep conviction and a strong sense of historic responsibility that I speak today as the Executive Director of the African Federation and Associations of Canada in support of Bill S-215, which aims to establish a national immigration month in Canada.
The African Federation and Associations of Canada represents diasporas from 35 of the 54 countries on the African continent and today acts as an essential interlocutor in debates and initiatives on social, economic and political issues in Canada. The federation builds bridges between Africa, Quebec and Canada and wants to be part of the solution. I begin my remarks with a quote from African writer and historian Amadou Hampâté Bâ, who said:
Much as a carpet’s beauty depends on the variety of its colours, the diversity of humans, cultures and civilizations makes the world beautiful and rich.
These words resonate with particular sharpness in this chamber. Canada is not a single-shade carpet. It is a work woven together by millions of destinies from all over the world, and that is precisely what makes it great.
Honourable senators, before I make my case, I have some compelling data. Fifty-nine per cent of admissions to Canada in 2025 come from economic immigration. In addition, 34% of Canadians could be immigrants by 2041, according to Statistics Canada, and 99.3% of population growth is due to international migration.
These numbers are not abstract. They represent women and men who have made the brave decision to build their lives here, contributing every day to the collective Canadian fabric. By 2030, immigration will account for all of Canada’s population growth, according to Statistics Canada’s own projections.
This is not a political option. It is an unavoidable demographic reality and an irreplaceable contribution. Who are these immigrants, Africans in particular, that we are talking about? They are everywhere Canada needs them.
In hospitals, they provide care. In retirement homes, they support our seniors with dignity. In schools and universities, they transmit knowledge and build the generation of tomorrow. In factories, farms and fields, they are an essential workforce in maintaining the food chain. They are at the heart of the scientific, technological and academic creativity that positions Canada on the world stage.
In an aging society, they support population growth, fill shortages and expand the tax base. From moringa to baobab fruit, hibiscus flowers to superfoods, they enrich the Canadian table with health-giving staples.
Let me focus for a moment on a particular component of our national mosaic, the African diaspora, whose contribution to Canada deserves to be clearly named. It’s not just a presence; it’s a strength.
Women and men from the African continent, in the richness and plurality of its 54 nations, its 2,000 languages and its millennial civilizations, are more than residents and more than workers in Canada.
They build bridges between Africa and Canada, between history and the future, between worlds that, without them, would not be talking to each other. In federal and provincial departments, in university amphitheatres, operating rooms, boards of directors and council chambers, members of the African diaspora are silently but resolutely shaping the face of this country. Their expertise is a national asset. Their commitment is a service to all Canadians. Canada has welcomed them, and they uphold its image wherever they go. Abroad, every step of the way, they are living ambassadors of Canada’s multiculturalism.
[English]
The Chair: I’m afraid you don’t have time to go through your recommendations. We hope that senators will offer you the opportunity to do so.
Ms. Amy Ka: Okay.
The Chair: Thank you very much.
Mr. Grosse, we offer you five minutes. You have the floor.
Russell Grosse, Chief Executive Officer, Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia: Thank you very much. Honourable chair and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
My name is Russell Grosse. I am the CEO of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, which was established in 1983 as the country’s first and largest museum focused on sharing and preserving Black Canadian history while celebrating the contributions of Black Canadians past and present.
I am here in support of Bill S-215, the national immigration month act. At first glance, this may appear to be a symbolic bill, but symbols matter. National recognition shapes public understanding, strengthens social cohesion and affirms whose stories are considered part of the Canadian story and part of the Canadian narrative. We know this because Canada has already been a place where we have seen the positive impact that national recognition can have when we think of Black History Month.
Earlier this year, Black Canadians marked 30 years since the federal recognition of Black History Month in Canada. Over those three decades, that month has become far more than a celebration. It has created space for Black Canadians to be seen, heard, understood and valued. It has provided opportunities for Canadians of all backgrounds to share stories, learn history, challenge stereotypes and better understand the depth and diversity of Black communities across our country.
Importantly, Black History Month has helped increase awareness, and Black Canadians are able to see themselves reflected in our cultures, languages and migration experiences. They have collectively made an indelible and lasting contribution to the fabric of Canadian identity. That recognition has also strengthened pride within diverse cultures, in particular Black communities, while also helping foster greater understanding of inclusion and national identity.
Bill S-215 has the potential to create a similar opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the role immigration has played in shaping our nation.
Canada has been built by immigrants, including Black immigrants from the Caribbean, Africa, the United States and many other parts of the world, whose labour, culture, entrepreneurship, resilience and perseverance have enriched this country for generations. Yet too often these contributions are under-represented in our public memory, educational systems and in society in general.
For organizations like the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, this recognition is especially important because immigration is deeply connected to our story as Canadians. In particular, in Nova Scotia, our foundational communities span back over 400 years and include descendants of Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, migrants of the War of 1812 and those from the Caribbean. Today, recent immigrants from across Africa, Jamaica, Haiti, Bermuda and the Caribbean call Nova Scotia and Canada home. Together, these communities continue to contribute to Canada’s cultural, economic and social development along with the many other immigrant countries that Canada welcomes.
This bill also creates opportunities for education. Young Canadians need to understand that immigration is not a recent phenomenon or a political talking point; it is a part of our identity. It is part of the foundation of this country.
Recognition through a national immigration month can encourage schools, museums, cultural institutions and community organizations to share these histories more broadly and more honestly. At a time when our country is experiencing division around questions of identity and belonging, Canada has an opportunity to reaffirm a message that diversity and immigration are strengths and that inclusion requires intentional recognition.
On behalf of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, I encourage this committee to support Bill S-215.
Thank you. I look forward to the questions.
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. Grosse.
I’m going to offer additional time to Ms. Amy Ka to give us her recommendations. Please, go ahead.
[Translation]
Ms. Amy Ka: The first recommendation is to establish university research chairs on immigration, in partnership with French- and English-speaking universities, to build institutional memory, train the next generation of experts and inform future public policy.
We also recommend implementing an immersion program within immigrant families that is open to police officers, government officials and citizens to dispel prejudices, prevent racial profiling and build genuine mutual understanding.
Next, we must fund rigorous research on the economic, social and cultural impacts of immigration to provide policy-makers with evidence-based data, rather than fuelling the debate with anecdotes or perceptions.
Furthermore, it is essential to foster an institutional culture of recognition by appointing more immigrants to decision-making positions, boards of directors, public institutions and commissions, and by actively encouraging the consumption of their food and cultural products.
Honourable senators, Canada’s history is one of immigration. From First Nations peoples to French and British settlers, and the waves of Irish, Italian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Haitian, Syrian and African immigrants, this country has been built layer by layer, culture by culture, dream by dream.
Establishing a National Immigration Month means looking this country in the face; it means honouring what it truly is; it means preparing, with clarity and gratitude, for what it must continue to become.
I invite you to vote in favour of Bill S-215.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you very much.
Now we’re going to move on to questions from committee members. For this panel, senators will have four minutes for their questions and answers. Please indicate if your question is indicated to a particular witness or to all witnesses.
Senator Burey: Thank you again for your testimony and for being here. This question is directed to all of our witnesses today.
The intent of Bill S-215 is to designate November as national immigration month to recognize the arrival of immigrants from all backgrounds to Canada.
I’m wondering, how do you think this bill might contribute to the well-being of youth and children and create a sense of belonging and home?
Second, how might your community contribute to this initiative?
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: Thank you very much for your question, senator. I’d like to break the ice. Taking the time, as a country, to designate a month to celebrate immigration means recognizing the diversity and unique characteristics of our community, including young people, women and all the different aspects of identity. To do this properly, it is important to name them. This goes back to our recommendation; I hear my colleagues who are here with us: We are here to highlight the unique characteristics of the immigrants who shape our society every day. It is important to recognize them concretely in this bill.
Ms. Amy Ka: That is what gives young people a sense of belonging. Some come from immigrant backgrounds and others do not; recognizing National Immigration Month will allow them to learn more about the history of the people they interact with every day, to appreciate the richness they bring to Canada and to discover what they can share with one another, because sometimes, people rely on preconceptions, but designating this month will help highlight, understand and discover the richness that immigration brings.
[English]
Mr. Grosse: For a first-hand perspective, when I reflect on the importance of Black History Month and the role that it has played — it is a national recognition in the month of February — and what that has done for young minds and young community members, I remember a time when I didn’t feel like my identity mattered. Being a Black Canadian, I felt that I was defined by coming from people who were atrociously enslaved. Now we have a month to celebrate our contributions to aspects of society and the fabric of our country. It’s made an indelible mark in empowering young people and Black Canadians to feel pride and honour in their own identity. I think that same mantra of growth would happen if there was a national month of recognition for those who are immigrants.
Senator Burey: Thank you.
Senator McPhedran: Thank you to each and every one of our witnesses for making the time to be in dialogue with us. It does make a difference. It is really helpful.
I’m probably asking a bit of a magic wand question in that we know that this bill does not allocate resources, but do you think a bill of this nature would actually help in the advocacy that you all engage in in order to secure more resources for your communities and organizations?
If so, how would you use the bill as part of a process to really emphasize that it’s a community-led approach that needs to be invested in by governments? Would the bill be helpful to you in that kind of advocacy? Perhaps, Mr. Grosse, you could start online, and then we could go to our witnesses here with us in person.
Mr. Grosse: Thank you very much for that question. I would suggest that it would definitely be transformational in the way in which organizations like the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and those that are here participating and witnessing today are able to approach growth. When you have public awareness of any subject, it creates an open door where it becomes commonplace, a part of the national narrative and our own identity. It is not obscure.
That’s the struggle many organizations and communities face when they try to go mainstream and develop and gather resources for what they are trying to do. There is this lack of awareness that there is a thriving, contributing immigrant community in our country.
Having this type of recognition shines that light that makes it much more palatable for there to be support.
What it also does is create an opportunity where those communities can leverage their abilities to be able to share their identity and who they are and be able to celebrate it. And that in itself has wealth beyond measure.
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: Thank you very much for your question. It is a very interesting question, senator.
Let me remind you of something you already know: Immigration is important, especially for francophone and Acadian communities. Our country is bilingual. Francophones are found in every province and territory. It is a vibrant community that is growing thanks to immigration. Immigrants make a tangible contribution to this sense of belonging and identity. Many Canadians share the pride of being francophone, but also the pride of being francophone immigrants.
I know about immigration. It is important that this month recognizes all these unique aspects. We must value the contributions made on the ground to foster the vitality within our communities, especially those made by women. Senator, I have had the opportunity to travel across the country. I have observed that there is one common thread across all regions of the country: Immigrant women, whether francophone or not, often contribute to every sector, yet they are not recognized enough. Women are often perceived as recipients of services, rather than as active contributors to our communities. It is important to highlight this.
[English]
Senator McPhedran: Thank you so much.
Is there time for Ms. Amy Ka to respond?
The Chair: We give you a minute, Ms. Amy Ka.
Senator McPhedran: Please, Ms. Amy Ka. Thank you.
[Translation]
Ms. Amy Ka: I believe it’s important to recognize National Immigration Month. I am convinced that, as beneficiaries of this system, we will be eager to volunteer for these activities. Sharing our stories so that we can be recognized and so that our children can share their experiences with others is an opportunity to break down stigma and prejudice.
[English]
Senator Osler: Thank you to all the witnesses here today. I have one question for all of you, and perhaps we’ll start with Mr. Grosse, then Ms. Amy Ka and Ms. Boutiyeb. I am flipping the question a little for you. As representatives of immigrant organizations, can you provide this committee with any comments or recommendations on how governments can improve learning, teaching and the understanding of Canada’s complex history, from Indigenous Peoples, who have been on this land for thousands of years, to English settlers, French settlers and future waves of immigration? How can governments better share Canada’s complex history with new immigrants to Canada? We’ll start with you, Mr. Grosse.
Mr. Grosse: Thank you very much for the question. It’s quite a simple approach. The approach is listening and learning. For far too long, our leadership in governments has gone to diverse communities and said, “This is how we see you should be presented. This is how we see you should be supported.” Giving that community a voice and a hand-in-hand relationship, a relationship that is not us versus them but an allyship relationship, creates an opportunity where people and communities feel the comfort that they can share what they need to share. When we even look at the recognition of this idea, the fact that there was public consultation and it was well thought out is working in the right direction.
A saying that we in the African Nova Scotia community and the Indigenous communities use is “nothing for us without us.” That’s the idea of working together and building as we climb as a united front. It is not just a government body making a decision, but it is firmly rooted in community and community having a voice so that it’s done in a constructive way.
[Translation]
Ms. Amy Ka: I believe it is important to develop a national educational program on the history of immigration in Canada and integrate it into the school curricula in all the provinces, so that every student can learn about the waves of migration that built this country. This program must be implemented by government departments at all levels and by municipalities, so that people can participate in awareness activities. For example, listening to someone share their personal experience is different from reading a historical text. It would be valuable for someone to come forward and share their immigrant story.
Furthermore, it is important to involve immigrant organizations like ours. Nelson Mandela believed that anything done for us, but without us, is done against us. Therefore, if we are to tell and highlight the stories of immigrants, they themselves must be involved.
[English]
The Chair: We have very little time, six seconds.
Senator Osler: Save that. I will ask that on the second round, please.
Senator Muggli: Thank you to all of you for being here today. I would like to start with Ms. Amy Ka. I just wanted to understand the recommendations you made around creating a university research chairs immersion program and the appointment of immigrants on boards and things like that. Are these recommendations ideas of things that the government could do during immigration month? I’m just seeking some clarity.
[Translation]
Ms. Amy Ka: These are concrete steps we can take during National Immigration Month. The chairs are permanent. Therefore, it would be important to establish them starting with the first National Immigration Month.
[English]
Senator Muggli: Thank you.
Maybe a question for all of you. A few years back, I was involved in an initiative creating a newcomer information centre in Saskatoon. We collaborated with settlement agencies in the City of Saskatoon, and there was an event called a human library, where we set up a bunch of stations and you could go from one to the other and talk to somebody for five minutes and learn about who they are and their culture, et cetera.
I think, Ms. Amy Ka, you were talking about the face-to-face experience. Do you have other ideas for what people might do during an immigration month that are kind of an intimate face-to-face experience? I find getting to know people and relationship building is really how you develop an understanding of and respect for other people. Any ideas? Maybe I’ll go online first to Mr. Grosse.
Mr. Grosse: Yes, I think those are wonderful ideas. If we look at other forms of recognition, like Acadian Heritage Month and Black History Month, the idea is that people feel welcome to enter diverse communities to get an understanding of the culture, whether it’s through food, entertainment or storytelling from elders in the community. Those are all powerful sentiments, and they have a lasting effect. When you talk to the greater community, what people comment on and remember from those months or days or recognition of a particular culture is the experience. It’s what they felt, whether it was because of something they ate, a performance they saw, a talk by an elder they heard or something even more tactile, like learning to do basket weaving or some other sort of culturally relevant craft. Those are ways to engage.
It gives communities an opportunity to share who they are. For immigrant communities, one of the things that becomes a struggle is having to assimilate to the place that you’re in. You assimilate to Canadian values and a Canadian way of life, and you kind of lose your own way.
Within the community, your family and your cohort, you might still share those traditions and those ways of life, but generally society isn’t aware, so having a month of recognition is an opportunity to create that type of learning.
The Chair: Thank you. We have run out of time, unfortunately.
Senator Senior: Senators Osler and Muggli have built on my question a little bit, so I will start by saying that I remember coming here as a kid. I was 11 years old, and I quickly learned who the immigrants were and who they weren’t. Part of that was learning that it’s Indigenous people who are not immigrants. However, over the years, at some point, certain communities have stopped being immigrants, and that’s troubling.
What I worry about in current times is that immigration has a negative connotation to it based on what we’re seeing geopolitically. I’m wondering: In the spaces that you operate in, how do you see this bill being able to combat some of that potential negativity around what immigrant communities face?
[Translation]
Ms. Amy Ka: It comes down to communication and awareness, as well as having data on the economic impact of immigrants. We know that money is the lifeblood of society; I think if people knew what immigrants actually contribute to Canada’s economic, cultural, social and scientific vitality, they would see them differently.
Those who stigmatize immigration do so on social media, on television, and in public. Those who need to promote and gain recognition for immigration must use these same channels to counter this discourse, which is now giving free rein to racist rhetoric.
Ms. Boutiyeb: Thank you very much for the question. I firmly believe that what makes Canada Canada rests on three main pillars. First, Indigenous communities; second, linguistic duality; and finally, multiculturalism and immigration. When there is a crack in one of these pillars, our Canada faces difficulties.
In my opinion, this bill would counter the messages we see online or elsewhere. We need to create more opportunities for our society to celebrate and value immigration, and we need to focus more on the positive and less on the negative and other narratives. We need to create moments like these and celebrate them.
[English]
Mr. Grosse: I tend to agree. The idea of having a month leads to a level of awareness that could create change. It moves it from being in the shadows. There is always this idea that immigrant communities are less than and that they have come to the country for a deplorable reason. I think having a month when you can talk about their contributions and, as was mentioned, what that has done for the economy, our society and the fabric of our country would really make a difference.
I think back to the late senator Don Oliver and the title of his memoir, A Matter of Equality. I like the idea of levelling the playing field so that there is a level of equality between Canadians and an understanding that it doesn’t matter where you hail from — you’re Canadian — and that this is a part of the fabric of our country. Having that type of recognition creates an opportunity for further education. It is a time when people turn the spotlight on a diverse culture to learn more about it. That could be leveraged.
Senator Greenwood: Thank you to the witnesses for being here. I am an educator by trade, or I was before I was in the Senate. I did a lot of knowledge translation, so I was heartened to hear you talk about awareness and education.
I just wanted to follow up on Senator Osler’s and Senator Senior’s questions. When people come to Canada, how do we prepare them to be here and make sure they get all of the information that they need? I’ve looked at it before, so I know that in the citizenship guide there is some history of Canada. I don’t think it is a lot, but there is some in there. I wondered how your organizations then support people coming to this country. How do you teach them, or what do you teach them about the history of the country they are coming to? It is very different from what they are coming are from, right? How do you teach that while, at the same time, teaching everybody else? Could you talk a bit about that, all of you?
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: Thank you for the question. The pan‑Canadian strategy for immigrant women that I mentioned in my opening remarks was requested by IRCC because the department recognized there were no specific guidelines for the integration of immigrant women in particular. There are no concrete goals; everyone gets integrated, it is a bit of a mess, and it does not work. There is a clear need to create programs tailored to the specific needs of immigrants—and, in this context, immigrant women.
We have 11 recommendations; I will not go into each one, but I would be happy to provide them to the committee.
One of the things that emerged is that an idealized image of Canada is being sold to immigrants, which they do not recognize once they arrive, and that things become much more difficult. It is hard to connect with and understand the culture and history, but many immigrants come from countries that were colonized in the past. Therefore, understanding this aspect of Canada’s past is not so difficult for immigrants. Once all of this is explained to them, it is unfortunately easy for them to draw parallels with their own history or the history of their ancestors.
It is important to create opportunities, but beyond that, it is important to make a concrete commitment to the integration of immigrant women. I would like to remind you of our initiative for francophone immigrant women.
Ms. Amy Ka: When immigrants arrive in Canada, their life is turned upside down, so even though there are programs available, people do not necessarily have time to participate in them because they have to put food on the table, take care of their kids, do housework and so on. So, I think work needs to be done beforehand, before people arrive in the country, so they know what Canada is like, what the norms are, how to behave, what the climate is like and all that. I think that is how we can better equip them so that integration is easier once they get here.
Senator Arnold: Thank you to all the witnesses for joining us this afternoon.
[English]
I’m going to ask you a question that I feel may have been asked, but maybe there’s a little bit more on it.
A number of us sit on the Human Rights Committee, and we’ve been studying the anti-hate bill. We are seeing a rise in hate crimes and divisions in our country and around the world, actually.
I’m curious if you feel that celebrating a national immigration month would work towards building a more compassionate and united Canada? Do you have ideas around that and how we could use this?
Mr. Grosse: I tend to think that it would create an opportunity to combat online hate and human rights issues because awareness is the key. Any opportunity that we could have as diverse cultures to celebrate, honour and educate helps move, in most cases, misconceptions that people have. People have a lack of understanding of diverse cultures and immigrant cultures. By harnessing a celebration and a focused time, there is the opportunity that that could create change.
Also, to be quite honest, it creates an opportunity that there could be heightened negativity as well. When we have months like, for example, Black History Month, a segment of that, whether it’s online hate or what have you, does rise during that time of awareness. In the end, there’s more good than negativity that comes out of it because there’s an awareness and an opportunity to change just one mind. Changing one mind can change 10 minds, and it goes on and on. It’s a mixture of both.
Senator Arnold: Thank you. I appreciate that.
Is there anything else that anyone might like to add?
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: If I may, I would like to share something we experienced as an organization during the pandemic. We received a package that called into question the place of women in Canadian society. In that same package, it was stated that women’s place should not be in the public sphere, but rather — excuse my language — in the kitchen, that immigrant women should return to their home countries, and that the francophone community should not exist in Canada. Since we are an organization made up of many immigrant women . . . . That is not the mission of our organization, which serves all francophone women in Canada, but we were targeted on these three levels.
What is often forgotten is that, due to a person’s various identity factors, they can become a target for many reasons. This situation is reminiscent of the rise of masculinism and toxic masculinity, which also target immigrant women. Unfortunately, we live in a time when there is a lot of hate speech out there, but there are no concrete, long-term grants for education and prevention. Currently, we mostly hear hate speech, but organizations lack the resources to counter it, because there are no grants and because they are constantly hoping to secure a project or even to survive from one fiscal year to the next.
So, it is important to designate months like this one to celebrate immigration, but it’s also important for the government to encourage organizations and individuals working on the ground to spread more positivity in our society. We need this for future generations as well.
Senator Arnold: Thank you very much.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you. We will go into the second round now. We have reduced time, so in order to finish at the appropriate time, we will go with three minutes each.
[Translation]
Senator Petitclerc: I have a quick question — and I am not asking a trick question — but rather I am wondering: is there a challenge due to the fact that some of the organizations . . . . I do not know the details of your organizations, but some are rather small, with limited funding and a team that is not necessarily huge.
You mentioned volunteering earlier. Does adding a National Immigration Month, which will coexist with Black History Month, create opportunities — I imagine — but also challenges? Is there only a positive side to this? You are thinking that there are several weeks, months or days to organize this within your small organization.
Ms. Boutiyeb: Of course, it depends on the size of the organizations. We are not a large organization either, but we have a network of 17 organizations across the country where immigrant women are thriving and contributing, so I think this would certainly create positive opportunities. Furthermore, if I may say so, the pan-Canadian strategy that IRCC called for and encouraged the creation of exists; it includes recommendations, but no strategy for implementing them. There are 11 recommendations that come from immigrant women, and investments are certainly needed to implement them.
Senator Petitclerc: Thank you.
Ms. Amy Ka, did you want to add anything to this?
Ms. Amy Ka: Yes. Since we want to be recognized and for people to know what we bring to this country, any opportunity to do so is welcome, whether it is Black History Month or the month we are advocating in favour of today. It would be an opportunity to highlight the contributions of immigrants.
Senator Petitclerc: Thank you.
Mr. Grosse, do you agree with the idea that it’s preferable to have as many opportunities as possible?
[English]
Mr. Grosse: I agree. For a lot of the organizations that serve immigrant communities, which are very volunteer-based and have limited resources, awareness of any type is creating an opportunity for growth, an opportunity where the greater society can say, “Hey, this is an important topic. This is an important cause to support and move forward.” The work that happens with recognition creates an opportunity for that.
Senator Cuzner: I’ll say from the outset that I’m not a big fan of the days and the weeks and the months unless there’s something behind it. But I really see the merit in this bill here.
I am coming off Senator Senior’s comments about how we forget. My folks came from overseas. My mother is half Scottish, half Irish. She used to say, “I’m half Scottish, half Irish. I like to drink, but I like to get somebody else to pay for it.”
We forget about the fact that we are all immigrants. Mr. Grosse has mentioned the positive influence of Black History Month. At the UNIA Community Hall in Glace Bay, they focus a lot of their energy into Black History Month. It’s like the NHL playoffs for them. It’s all hands on deck, and they do a great job in the community.
With no money in the bill, as has been mentioned, do you see groups like yours making this a priority in your annual budget so that you’ll get out and seize that opportunity? I think it’s needed and necessary.
Again, Mr. Grosse, I’ll use former Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments: A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. We should celebrate that. Do you see it as being a priority in your budgeting cycle to make this a worthwhile celebration?
Mr. Grosse: I would say so. When we look at it from this perspective, we already are shouting from the treetops that there are diverse cultures, and we have a message to do that. Having a month to do it in takes shouting from the treetops and puts a megaphone on it. I think that’s what it does.
For many of our organizations, it’s not going to require more resources. It’s going to create more opportunity because the work is already being done out there in small pockets around our country, and this gives it more lift.
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: Furthermore, senator, work is already being done on the ground. We are already doing several things to promote immigration in Canada, as well as the contributions of immigrant women. This will simply create another opportunity to provide greater predictability.
We also need to look at this from a long-term perspective. I do not think that just because there is no funding right now, there should not be any in the years to come. In my opinion, this bill can lead to new developments.
Ms. Amy Ka: As I said earlier, any opportunity to raise awareness about immigration and break the cycle of stigmatization, hate crimes and verbal abuse is a good one. It is really about having opportunities throughout the year — and setting aside an entire month for this — to celebrate and highlight immigrants. We saw this during COVID when nurses from Haiti were there to care for seniors. Why did people look at them differently? I think that highlighting the contributions of people who care for others can only help.
[English]
Senator Osler: It’s a continuation of my question, Ms. Boutiyeb. Perhaps if you can take one minute, and then we can give my second minute to Mr. Grosse to answer Senator Greenwood’s question.
[Translation]
Ms. Boutiyeb: I will try to recall the question. I will make a note of your question, which concerns the importance of immigrant integration. It is important to ensure that integration is done properly, taking into account people’s specific circumstances, as I mentioned earlier. The idea of developing an immigration program where there would be just one course for everyone, and everyone would understand it and that would be the end of it — I do not think that would work. We must respect individual differences, because everyone comes to Canada in their own way. People have different immigration experiences in Canada.
When I came here as a young immigrant over 20 years ago, when I was still a teenager, the reality was not the same as that of a teenager arriving in the country in 2026. It is important to take into consideration changes in the population and to continually adapt our resources, precisely to build this shared vision of society.
[English]
Mr. Grosse: I’m sorry. I didn’t hear the question.
Senator Osler: It was Senator Greenwood’s question from the first round. There was not enough time to get to you.
Mr. Grosse: I’m sorry. I can’t recall the exact question.
Senator Greenwood: It was a question about how we support people coming into Canada with information about the history of Canada and the kind of context that they’re coming into.
Mr. Grosse: When we look at the information that is provided to newcomers to our country, it’s very much based on the historical sentiment of our country. It could be leveraged, and there could be more information about the contribution of immigrant communities. That’s the aspect that has to be modernized. It has to move in a new direction so that we not only look at the past but also look at the present of where we’re at and the contributions that happen from there.
When immigrants from the African diaspora come to Canada, they are aware of the Black communities that have existed for 400 years, but they’re not aware of the contributions of Black immigrants who might be in the country for one or two generations. More work can be done there so that it creates an opportunity for understanding.
Senator Greenwood: Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you very much. Senators, that brings us to the end of the first panel.
I’d like to thank the witnesses today for their testimony and for joining us in person and online.
Joining us today for the second panel, we welcome, by video conference from Achev, Tonie Chaltas, Chief Executive Officer, and Kristen Neagle, Director, Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships. We also welcome from the Canadian Council for Refugees, Gauri Sreenivasan, Co-Executive Director, and Mustafa Abbas, Youth Network Coordinator. Thank you for joining us today.
For your opening statements, you will have five minutes each, followed by questions from committee members. Ms. Chaltas, the floor is yours.
Tonie Chaltas, Chief Executive Officer, Achev: Chair and honourable senators, thank you for the opportunity to appear today on behalf of Achev.
Achev is one of Canada’s largest non-profit settlement and employment providers, serving over 70,000 newcomers annually, including immigrant youth who rely on us for language learning, skills development, wellness supports and pathways to upskilling and employment.
Today, we appear in support of Bill S-215 because immigrants, particularly immigrant youth, are central to Canada’s future, yet their contributions and challenges are often invisible in public discourse. A designated national immigration month would create a national platform to showcase their stories, strengthen public understanding and mobilize communities to support their success and advocate for their futures.
The bill’s preamble recognizes that educating future generations about the role of immigration in building Canada is essential. We agree. When young newcomers feel seen, valued and included, their outcomes improve dramatically. When they don’t, the consequences — social isolation, underemployment and lost potential — can be profound.
Immigrant youth face unique barriers: interrupted schooling, trauma from displacement, language pressures and the responsibility of often helping parents who are also adapting. Yet they also bring extraordinary resilience, multilingual skills, big dreams and global perspectives.
In our programs, we see youth who arrive with limited English and within a year are tutoring their peers. We see young people who work part-time to support their families while excelling academically. And we see youth who stay in our programs long after they graduate, returning as mentors because they want to give back.
One young man, Saksham, joined one of our youth programs at the age of 14, just weeks after arriving in Canada. He was shy, soft-spoken and unsure of his place. Through our newcomer youth programming, he found community, mentorship and opportunity. Today, at 21, he is a successful real estate agent, a civic leader and still an Achev volunteer. He credits our youth program and the sense of belonging it gave him for changing the trajectory of his life.
Another youth, Saad, came to our Youth 2 Action program simply to do something. He found a community that believed in him. That volunteer experience led to his first Canadian job and then to a career in finance. Today, he is a vice-president at TD Bank and continues to mentor newcomer youth.
These stories are not exceptions. They happen at Achev every day, and they remind us of what’s possible when immigrant youth are supported and when they feel seen and like they belong.
We also see the challenges. Newcomer youth are more likely to drop out of programs because of family pressures or financial responsibilities. Many face loneliness. Recent national data reflects this reality. According to a 2024 Environics Institute survey, negative attitudes toward immigration have risen to their highest point in decades.
What we have seen at Achev is that an anti-immigration sentiment has now pivoted to an anti-immigrant sentiment. Youth report increasing experiences of discrimination, particularly racialized newcomer youth. These trends make recognition and education more important than ever.
At Achev, a national immigration month would not just be symbolic; it would be a tool for public education, countering misinformation and building bridges between newcomers and Canadians. It could create space for schools, employers and community organizations to celebrate immigrant youth and to better understand the supports they need.
Achev respectfully asks for you to support Bill S-215. By doing so, you affirm that newcomers to Canada are not just beneficiaries of Canada’s immigration system but that they are also builders of Canada’s future.
Thank you. I welcome your questions.
The Chair: Thank you, Ms. Chaltas.
Ms. Sreenivasan and Mr. Abbas, it’s my understanding that you will be sharing your five-minute slot for the opening remarks.
Gauri Sreenivasan, Co-Executive Director, Canadian Council for Refugees: Thank you very much. Good afternoon.
[Translation]
The Canadian Council for Refugees is the national voice for more than 200 member agencies working with, from and for refugee and immigrant communities across Canada.
[English]
We welcome the opportunity to speak to Bill S-215 because immigration has played a foundational role in building Canada. Our message today is simple: Refugees are a key part of that story and should feature prominently in any national immigration month.
Whether welcoming refugees arriving by boat from Vietnam in the 1980s or embracing people fleeing danger in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine more recently, Canadians have strongly supported our identity as a refugee-welcoming country. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have also been sponsored by communities across Canada or supported after claiming asylum here.
We recommend amending the bill’s preamble to say:
Whereas Canada has greatly benefited from the arrival of immigrants and refugees from all backgrounds who today make up a vital part of its population.
The bill is timely because politicians from all sides have increasingly scapegoated refugees and migrants for crises in housing and health care that affect all families in Canada but should never be used to undermine safe refuge and due process for people fleeing persecution.
This false narrative is enabling deeply concerning policy shifts. Even as over 90,000 refugees have families and communities in Canada ready to sponsor them, the government claims our country lacks the capacity to welcome more. The Group of Five, or G5, sponsorships have been frozen, resettlement numbers have been slashed and the right to asylum has been rolled back through Bill C-12.
Rising anti-immigration rhetoric is dangerous. It blocks refugees from finding safety, undermines confidence in our immigration system, inflames racism and makes newcomers feel unwelcome. Over time, this threatens Canada’s ability to attract newcomers and damages our reputation as an inclusive and multicultural democracy, so we need ways to rebuild public support.
A national immigration month is a welcome opportunity. It could become an important vehicle for celebration, education and dialogue on refugees and immigration at a critical moment when many in Canada want to distinguish our values from the heinous treatment of migrants we are witnessing in the U.S.
Whose stories and perspectives will be lifted up? Refugee and newcomer voices, including youth, must be central in any dialogue, communications or outreach, alongside Indigenous perspectives on immigration and border management.
I will pass to my colleague Mustafa.
Mustafa Abbas, Youth Network Coordinator, Canadian Council for Refugees: Honourable senators, my name is Mustafa Abbas, and I am the Youth Network Coordinator with the Canadian Council for Refugees, or CCR.
As someone who came to Canada seeking protection from Sudan, arriving alone without family beside me or a community waiting for me, I didn’t know whether this country would ever feel like home. However, a fair and strong refugee protection system, together with the community I found along the way, gave me an opportunity to rebuild my life. Over time, Canada gave me something every young refugee searches for before they can start chasing their dream again: a sense of belonging.
Now, as I work with refugee and newcomer youth from coast to coast to coast, I have learned that young people are never one story. They come from different backgrounds, regions, cultures and identities, yet many carry the same hopes to study, work, find housing, access mental health support, reunite with their families and contribute without facing barriers or unequal opportunities.
Youth also need spaces where they can connect, lead and learn from each other. Through the Youth Action Gatherings we have at the CCR, I have seen how bringing refugee and newcomer youth together from across Canada builds confidence, leadership, community and a sense of belonging. Canada’s future will be shaped by young people. A national immigration month should not only reflect on how immigration has built Canada in the past but also help create the conditions for young migrants to build Canada’s future. The month can be an instrument to create a space in schools, communities and institutions for people to hear directly from us about our experiences with immigration and the future that we want to build together.
Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you for keeping within your time. We appreciate that.
We will now proceed to questions from committee members. For this panel, senators will have four minutes for the question and answer. Please indicate if your question is directed to a particular witness or witnesses.
Senator Burey: Thank you so much, all of you, for being here. I think your presentations were so comprehensive. You answered a lot of my questions. Let’s put that out there.
I am a senator from Ontario, but 50 years ago my family and I immigrated from Jamaica. Canada truly is a land of immigrants. You can see that a number of senators here on this committee are the same.
I’m in the Windsor-Essex community, and that is a very historic community, you may know. This is talking about education and the role of Canada and immigration. You may not know, as it is probably not in any documents, that the famous Blackburn Riots in Detroit led to Canada being a leader in accepting refugees and asylum seekers across the world.
Canada has a historic leadership role in that. Often, we forget that because we are not teaching people about it — that’s to the education piece.
But I wanted to focus on you, Mr. Abbas. Thank you so much for your wonderful testimony. I am a pediatrician, so I am always interested in youth and what you have to say because you are our future.
You said that Bill S-215 is a very important bill. How do you think this bill being enacted would affect how you feel about being a Canadian and your own identity?
Mr. Abbas: Thank you for your question.
I have been here for three and a half years, and I have learned that Canadians come from different identities and have different cultures. Before I landed here, I didn’t know much about Canada. I thought Canada was one person, like Justin Bieber or something.
I learned about different cultures here. You mentioned that your family immigrated from Jamaica. I learned more about the Caribbean culture in Toronto, where I live. I learned that multiculturalism is a core identity of Canada and something that we should strengthen and celebrate.
Senator Burey: Thank you.
Senator McPhedran: I think we have generally agreed that this is a good news, positive and inspiring bill, which could lead to many positive changes at the community level and across society, so I’m going to state my support and appreciation for that.
However, I would like to use my time to ask you about the shifts that you’re already seeing around refugees and immigration more generally. I would appreciate, given your expertise, if you could tell us a bit more about what you see happening now — I’m sure that’s not entirely due to Bill C-12 but with some sequelae — in communities and with refugees already in Canada and refugees trying to come to Canada.
Ms. Sreenivasan: Thank you for the question, Senator McPhedran. It is an important opportunity to find ways to stay positive, so we appreciate this opportunity to comment on a bill that lets us think about that.
There are two kinds of shifts that we’re seeing, even though it’s extremely complex to categorize it that way. One is what you started to refer to — and I’ll come back to that — which are actual shifts in programs, positions, budgets and laws that are radically transforming the systems of immigration, welcome and support.
However, the first kinds of shifts we see are actually around communication and narrative frames. This bill is interesting because it would invite everyone — not just community organizations that are already continuing to struggle to emphasize the importance of our multicultural roots, the importance of belonging and how we make everyone feel safe but also institutions, government and officials — to remember and think about the way they communicate.
The shifts we are seeing in the narrative frame — there used to be an entire program that was usually launched in November called Immigration Matters by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC. That whole program has been closed down. Instead, we have a narrative frame that sees its job as reporting on how we are successfully keeping the numbers down and using the language of control: “Things have been out of control; we’re controlling them,” or “Don’t worry; we’re controlling them.”
That is language that provides an enabling framework that whistles to a very dark part that has always been part of society but has been kept contained. The more we have language saying that we have to control immigration and we report with delight our numbers of how we’re keeping refugees out, we increasingly invite a shift in thinking among people in Canada that immigrants and refugees are people to be feared.
We instantly promote — and I would invite Mustafa to comment on that more — newcomers themselves to not feel welcome.
That shift means that if we had a month that we deliberately framed as a focus on education, dialogue and celebration — not to pretend that everything is rosy but to focus on contributions, what could be and on building the future — that would be huge.
On the second category, the kinds of shifts we are seeing include significant cutbacks to the support that settlement organizations are able to provide to welcome and sustain newcomers over time — these kinds of narrow quantifications of deciding that people need exactly this many number of months, and after that they are cut off from support. That has huge gendered impacts because women and gender-diverse people often take longer to seek support.
Of course, we are seeing legislative and policy shifts, so the actual numbers of immigration levels have been slashed. The community organizations Mustafa was going to be supporting to bring his family here — the entire G5 program is frozen and not allowed. The legislative basis for protection in Canada is extremely rolled back.
Now we are potentially looking at a process to assess protection that doesn’t afford people hearings. The shifts are very problematic.
I will pause there to leave room for others.
Mr. Abbas: Regarding different shifts we face right now, I will start with the example of Bill C-12. The first thing that could impact people is the Safe Third Country Agreement. In the past, you could come in at an unofficial border and apply for asylum. Right now, that agreement considers the United States a safe country, but if you talk to anyone here in the Senate or any person in the public, they’ll tell you the United States is not a safe country.
Bill C-12 eliminates the right of asylum for people. I don’t think that is good for Canada’s reputation. Also, with the narrative change and communication from the government — I came here with optimism and positivity in my notes — a lot of people might hide their identities or that they are refugees or immigrants because of the narrative that comes from the government itself. That is not right and could lead to worse consequences in the future.
Senator Arnold: Thank you for that. I really appreciate that. I think that we’ve heard of all of the benefits, for sure. As a former mayor, I’m keenly aware of the benefits to immigration in a community that has grown exponentially recently and very aware of the barriers faced and the contribution that newcomers make to our communities.
So I’m curious. In light of this bill, I’m wondering about the impact that you hope a national immigration month would make on the hearts and minds of Canadians. As you were saying, Ms. Sreenivasan, with this idea that the policy is changing, how can we use this to turn things around?
Ms. Chaltas: Thank you very much for the question, senator. I think your comment specifically around hearts and minds is a really important one. And we all know we can share a lot of facts and figures and data, but the reality is that stories resonate in our hearts and souls.
I think there are some incredible stories that can be told, and the result of many of these stories, as I often say, is busting the myths of the value. And that’s amongst a wide range of audiences, not just general citizens but, I’ll say, employers, too, who have some misunderstandings about the barriers or challenges that newcomers may bring with them into the workforce.
It is an opportunity for really powerful storytelling. It provides a platform of advocacy and achieves one of the things that we take very seriously, which is to try to be the voice in rooms where our clients can’t.
We find ourselves meeting with politicians and business and community leaders all the time. It is the opportunity to use those moments, those galvanized moments in a month like this, to be able to reset priorities, bust those myths and to try to push for action and change and co-opt people into understanding that they have a role to play. That role can be very small and simple and a single step, or it could be larger than that.
It provides an opportunity that wouldn’t otherwise exist. I think the hearts and minds are a great place to start.
Senator Arnold: Thank you very much. Anybody else?
Ms. Sreenivasan: I absolutely agree with what my colleague has just said, and I would build on that by saying that the month would provide an opportunity for storytelling, for a values-based narrative that reminds Canadians and people in Canada of the best of who we want to be. Contributions need to be recognized across a range of areas. There is a very important narrative in relation to building our country and the economic contribution. It is the kind of narrative we fall to quickly.
But there are so many other important contributions in the civic space, the caring world, culture and democracy. I have actually lost track in the current cabinet, but there were, at one point, five former refugees in the cabinet. There is a range of cultural and artistic community and family support contributions that people need to recognize from both refugees and newcomers so that we see each other. Ultimately, we need to appreciate and love differences. As the daughter of immigrants, I’m always aware of the difference. But at the end of the day, we need to connect with how these are all our neighbours, and we are stronger together. I think the storytelling across the range of contributions is really important.
Senator Senior: Thank you for being here. I think I would like to — no disrespect to the more seasoned witnesses we have — ask the younger people what they believe the role of young people is. In terms of building on Senator Arnold’s question, as it relates to this bill, what would you say the role of young people would be in terms of being able to shift the narrative?
Kristen Neagle, Director, Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships, Achev: Thank you for the question, senator. I think this bill would be a wonderful opportunity to bridge the divide between individuals like myself who identify as somebody who was born here in Canada, along with young people who maybe have a different story, who have immigrated here, whether with their families or as refugees.
I think that a lot of people like to tell the story of their grandparents coming here, whether it was from Ireland or Italy, and the struggles they faced coming here with $5 and the bag on their back.
For a lot of young Canadian people, they don’t see how that story relates to modern-day immigrants today, and I don’t think those stories and some of the things they faced then — not belonging, racism, struggle and not knowing the language or what job they were going to have — are that different.
It really is a chance for young people to maybe look back at what their family story is here in Canada and how that relates to their classmates and to other young people. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen, whether you experience it yourself or you see it as an ally on the outside, that there is increased hate and racism and anti-immigrant sentiment. It’s unfortunate.
As young people, it is our responsibility to reach across, find those opportunities to bridge the divide and really make sure that this is not the story of Canada in the future and that we can kind of turn this back in the right direction. I think we all agree that is what Canada is.
Mr. Abbas: Thank you. I agree with Ms. Neagle. The month could be a platform for young people to hear from them. There are many stories, as I mentioned, that are hidden. There are many young refugees outside. They contribute to society. I have two friends who work as nurses in northern Ontario. They just came here and got their credentials and are helping the community in the north right now.
There are a lot of stories that could be visible. Having this platform and having this visibility to show the positive impact of immigration and the positive impact of refugees would be a great opportunity to have. Here at the CCR, we have the Youth Network and the Core Team. The Core Team is similar to advisory youth groups in different organizations but more operational. We have programs and members across the country. We have our own initiative, but if this became a national initiative, it would make a huge difference. It would make it easier for us and groups like us to advocate and show how young refugees and young migrants contribute to Canadian society, which is a lot. It is a hidden contribution, and we try to make it visible to the public and the media.
Senator Senior: Thank you.
Senator Muggli: I don’t even know if I have a question anymore because you’re all just knocking it out of the park, but I’ll say a few things here.
Bills are usually a response to fix something or to draw attention to something that’s a problem that we want to address.
We know, from what we’ve heard from you and others, that there is sufficient misinformation about immigrants in our current state: immigrants are the cause of the housing crisis, unemployment, et cetera. I think, Ms. Chaltas, you said that contributions are invisible.
Are we solving that by having a month when we’re sharing and celebrating customs? Are we solving that by taking this opportunity to have a month of immersive education and addressing growing stigma and negative attitudes towards immigration?
It gets me wondering what the most influential way to do that piece is. I think that attitudes are why the bill was introduced in the first place.
I’ll give you an example. In Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Open Door Society, a settlement agency, has the Annual Diversity Awards Gala every year, and they give awards to businesses that employ newcomers. There are usually five or six companies nominated. They fill an entire hall with 500 people. They make it a big deal, and people want to actually be there now. They want to win the award, and they want to take the picture and be in the paper.
What I’m getting at is that I think that positive reinforcement may be a route to go to try to highlight and point out that immigrants are not causing unemployment or those sorts of issues.
I will go to Ms. Chaltas for any commentary.
Ms. Chaltas: Thank you so much, senator. You are doing such amazing things in your community.
We are doing a similar event where we celebrate the successes of our clients and our partners, but we also choose an employer partner that we celebrate.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach here, and every community will have to look at the ways in which they are best equipped to leverage this opportunity. But I do agree that celebrating successes is a far more impactful way to bring about change than necessarily always talking about the negative. It’s about painting the future that we want to see in Canada and how we can get there and the path forward and who can participate in that path.
I think your approach on the positive side is the right one.
Senator Muggli: Thank you. Does anyone else want to contribute?
Ms. Neagle: What’s wonderful about this bill not necessarily having specific prescriptions as to what it should entail is that it allows organizations and individuals across the country to be flexible about what a month like this would mean for them.
Whether it’s having a cultural cooking night or a social media campaign or an awards ceremony, it doesn’t need to be burdensome to smaller organizations or to what resources might have to go behind something like this. It can also adapt to some of the things going on at that time in the years ahead.
Hopefully, something like this helps reduce some of that sentiment we are seeing. Maybe misinformation is not what the topic will be years from now. Hopefully, years from now, we will have dispelled many of those myths, and it will continue to be more about storytelling and positivity as opposed to some of the negatives that we’ve heard today.
Senator Muggli: Thank you.
Senator Osler: Thank you to all the witnesses for being here today. My question is for the Canadian Council for Refugees.
Ms. Sreenivasan, I believe in your opening remarks you mentioned an amendment for the addition of “refugees” into the preamble. I’m asking you to tell us more about your thinking behind suggesting that amendment. Refugees come to Canada for different reasons versus people who immigrate to Canada.
In your recommendation to add that to the preamble, were you thinking only in line 2? Are there other areas where you would recommend adding the words “and refugees”? Are the long title and short title sufficient? If you could expand on your suggestion.
Ms. Sreenivasan: Thank you for the question. We thought about it because for many refugees, once they have landed and if they are able to ultimately get status, they also become immigrants, but in many cases they do not. The pathway for how you come to Canada matters.
What we’re trying to celebrate in the story of Canada is that we need to recognize that we absolutely have both parts in our identity. We want to be a country that people want to move to, for a variety of their own reasons, but we will also remain a very strong beacon of safe harbour for those who have forced displacement.
I will tell you that in our immigration levels and the discussion of immigration, the proportion that we are allotting for refugees is becoming smaller and smaller and smaller. I really feel that it’s important that we recognize that the migration story — the immigration system of Canada — is both about voluntary migration and protection for those that don’t have the choice. That is why the word matters.
I didn’t want to be the person who inserted it everywhere. I will acknowledge the IRPA, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, is highlighted in there, but it is a kind of legal reference to the act, and that act covers many aspects of immigration and refugees. I just felt that we should add “and refugees” in the place where we are recognizing a vital part of our population. It is possible that it could be added in a few other places, but my intent in bringing it up was to say that, as we form the program of the action or what happens in the month — and I agree that people will take it where they want to go — we could signal from the get-go that Canada being a place of refuge for refugees is important.
I wanted it named explicitly. When we just talk about immigration, it can be lost. I can tell you that because we can see it in the levels. Almost 7% of all of our immigration levels go to resettled refugees. It is important for me that we keep both of these because it is both a month of whom we are for ourselves and whom we are in terms of our place in the world.
Senator McPhedran: I appreciate this additional opportunity because there is something that has been hovering for me. Hopefully, time will allow everyone to respond, but I want to start with Ms. Neagle and Mr. Abbas.
Your generation knows a lot more about social media than my generation. A lot of what’s happening that is not good comes from social media: algorithms that target people that are already racist inclined and encouraging this. In other words, it’s encouraging the worst in people.
What are your thoughts on some possible linkages between social media that are more helpful in the context of this bill and what this bill is offering? Do you have any specific thoughts on strategy?
Mr. Abbas: Social media is a big issue right now. People use social media more than traditional media.
The solution in my head right now is about government communication in the first place. If we go on social media and see different people sharing anti-immigration sentiments and spreading misinformation about refugees, that’s something that is hard to control sometimes. But what we can control is government communication.
When I open social media and I see the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship speaking about refugees in a bad way — this is coming from a minister, a government official — we can control this. That’s similar to what Prime Minister Carney said. We can control the things that we have, and for the things that we can’t control, we can avoid them. It is similar to what happened with Canada-U.S. relations.
We can control government communication, and this will eventually lead to a better narrative throughout social media. Community organizations, individuals and celebrities across Canada can be involved in campaigns like this.
Having a month like this might take a part from the negative side. We have to mention that there is a negative side, and it’s getting dangerous. I mentioned earlier about the Safe Third Country Agreement. We are not that far from the United States. We saw what Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, did with refugees and migrants in the United States. With this narrative in the future, it might lead to the same thing, so we have to first change in-house and then change the narrative on social media.
Ms. Neagle: We’re never going to get rid of hate entirely, but I think that maybe we can drown it out with positive stories and make sure that when those unfortunate messages are out there, there are also positive ones that people can look at and see that it’s not everyone.
Senator McPhedran: Let me just jump in because I want to hone a bit.
As I read the description of your position, part of it is corporate relations. I wonder if you have anything to add specifically, given your experience working with corporations, that might be possible in this situation.
Ms. Neagle: With social media?
Senator McPhedran: Yes.
Ms. Neagle: I think that corporations definitely play a role in terms of the messages that they send about the positive benefits of immigration to our country. I also want to say that I don’t think that immigrants should be reduced to just their economic potential at the end of the day. Sometimes, with some of these recognition months, I think that it can kind of be reduced to a monolith of what they’re trying to accomplish.
I do think that corporations definitely play a role in elevating some of these positive stories. But at the end of the day, every story of every immigrant is different and unique, and the way in which they’ll get involved in this will be different depending on how they’re involved.
Senator McPhedran: Thank you.
The Chair: Senators and witnesses, this concludes the witness testimony scheduled on the work plan for this bill.
I’d like to thank all the witnesses for their time and for being with us today.
Tomorrow, we will begin our study on Bill S-221, An Act to provide for the recognition of the Canada jay as the national bird of Canada.
In the second half of our meeting, colleagues, we will be dedicating time to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-215 and Bill S-221. Senators wishing to move amendments or append observations to the report of either bill are kindly asked to submit them to the committee clerk in advance of tomorrow’s meeting.
That brings us to the end of this meeting as there is no further business.
(The committee adjourned.)