N.S. could to more to attract, retain, promote Francophone immigrants
One might assume that French-speaking immigrants might face less of a language barrier in Nova Scotia, since French is one of Canada’s two official languages. But one would be wrong, according to Emmanuel Nahimana, project manager at Immigration Francophone Nouvelle-Écosse (IFNE).
“For sure, language can be a barrier,” Nahimana says. “They can face some difficulties because they don’t speak English very well. Such difficulties can be when they’re looking for a job, and they’re not able to get those jobs because of their English level.
“That’s why we work with our partners to offer the language trainning, to help those people who don’t speak English.”
Nahimana estimates IFNE helps settle between 100 and 120 newcomers each year. The agency provides integration services, settlement school services, volunteer programs, and collaborates with partners to provide employment services, language trainning, entrepreneurship, and information and orientation sessions.
According to IFNE’s website, it’s mandate is to “increase the number of French-speaking newcomers who settle in Nova Scotia and retain them; promote the integration of these newcomers in the province, and more specifically within the Acadian and Francophone community; [and] increase the reception and integration capacity of Nova Scotia’s Acadian and Francophone communities.”
Nahimana is a French-speaking immigrant himself, having originally come from Central Africa to Canada in 2002, and relocating to Nova Scotia from Quebec in 2007.
Nahimana believes Nova Scotia could be a great home to more francophone immigrants if only there were more policies in place to make the province more attractive.
“I know for sure the number of francophone immigrants who come to Nova Scotia is still low,” Nahimana says. He points out that often French immigrants choose other provinces over ours. “There are a couple things [we could do]. First of all, I can say to ameliorate the condition of welcoming the immigrants [we need to improve] housing. Another thing to work on, with the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, is to try other ways to attract immigrants to Nova Scotia. And to promote, also, the existing programs. If you want to increase the number of francophone-speaking immigrants, the government has to promote the existing programs for Nova Scotia immigrants.”
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