May 31, 2003 – Nouvelles Parc-Extenstion News, Montreal’s Park-Extension community newspaper

Quebec welcomes new citizens

BY BARBARA LAVOIE

More than 300 new immigrants were officially welcomed to the province by Madame Michelle Courchesne, Quebec Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, MNA (Fabre), in a ceremony at the Monument-National in downtown Montreal on Friday, May 16.

The formal welcome by the ministry, an annual tradition that began last year, was extended to individuals and families who after successfully applying to become Quebec residents chose to settle on the island of Montreal.

“I am delighted to hold this welcome ceremony in a spirit of togetherness that aims to bring all Quebeckers closer together,” said Courchesne, at her first official ceremony as the new minister. She acknowledged the choice made by newcomers and their contribution to the diversity of the province.

In a very proper, yet friendly ceremony, each individual met the minister, received a certificate, flag and charter of rights and freedoms, and then posed with her for a photo. Everyone who participated had either studied French or was currently a student at an adult education centre.

“For them, this (ceremony) is a further step in their decision, possibly one of the most important decisions in their life, to enter into the society. They are now part of it and can play their role – work and raise their children,” said Courchesne during a brief interview. “For us, it is a way of demonstrating they are important to us – they are part of Quebec and its development and future.”

Judging by the many smiles and happy expressions in the room, the ceremony was of some significance. Just sitting in the majestic Monument-National elevated the event to an occasion. Built in 1893 and reopened to the public in 1993 following renovation, the theatre is aptly and liberally decorated with fleur-de-lys, the long held symbol of France taken from the Iris Versacolore, recently named Quebec’s official flower.

For Park Ex resident, Svetlana Prikazchikova, 30, who arrived from Russia in September 2002, the day was special. “Today is very nice, very magnificent, ” she said, beaming with pride, “For me, it’s official. My first ceremony.” After completing her French courses, she plans to take the one-year university certificate needed before she can work as a chemical engineer, her profession she studied before emigrating.

Since 1971, when an agreement was made between Canada and Quebec allowing the province to set its own objectives for immigration, the province has chosen the country of origin and the number of newcomers they will allow in. Immigrants are selected using a point system that considers economic and social factors such as professional status and languages spoken ensuring they will both adapt and contribute to the province.

According to the ministry of immigration and citizenship, 37,500 newcomers were admitted to Quebec in 2001 and of those, 30,644 chose to settle in Montreal. The previous government’s 3-year immigration plan had planned to attract between 40,000 and 45,000 newcomers in 2003.

The welcome ceremonies are part of a province-wide program to assist newcomers make the transition into Quebec society. Nine integration centres, four in Montreal and the others in the cities of Quebec, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Longueuil and Laval, provide immigrants with a variety of settlement services including help in finding housing, day care and obtaining medical cards and driving permits, information about education, training and employment, French language courses, advice for professionals and business start-up assistance.

Although the immigration process prefers francophone immigrants, many arrive here unable to speak French. Learning the language can be a formidable barrier to integration. “For me, it’s been a challenge. I didn’t know French or the culture,” said Feng Xue Han, a Dorval resident who emigrated from China with his wife and son in 2002.

“For newcomers who already speak French, that’s about 60 per cent who come to Quebec, finding work can be one of the most difficult tasks, ” said Jacinthe Michaud, co-director of the Carrefour d’intégration du Nord. The centre offers immigrants a one-week course on the socio-economic realities in Montreal and across the province. They learn about the province’s history, geography and labour market. Participants get help with rewriting their resumes, how to contact employers and conduct a job interview.