1. http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/french-language/index.html Learning about the French language in Qubec Choosing Qubec means you want to live in a francophone society.

French is the common public language and is used by more than 80% of the population. Learning French online f you want to! evaluate your level of "nowledge of French ta"e a French course on line because that is most convenient to you improve your "nowledge of French. #isit the section $earning French online. Learning French in your country of departure %he time devoted to learning French in your country of departure will help you integrate more &uic"ly in Qubec. 'egister for a French course in the country you are leaving( Learning French in Qubec )nce in Qubec* you have access to diverse French course formats free of charge. Financial aid is provided under certain conditions to help you attend class. 'egister for a French course in Qubec. +. http!,,www.immigration-&uebec.gouv.&c.ca,en,choose-&uebec,commonvalues,french-language.html Qubec society is governed by the Charter of the French Language which ma"es French the official language of Qubec. French is the language of public institutions and the normal and usual language of wor"* instruction* communications* trade and business. Qubec cares about preserving and promoting its official language. French is not only an essential instrument of communication* but also a common symbol of belonging to Qubec society. %o integrate in their new living environment* immigrants who are not fluent in French must ma"e an effort to learn it. %o help them do so* the Qubec government provides French courses. %he children of immigrants who settle permanently in Qubec normally attend French school. Candidates wishing to practice a profession regulated by a professional order must demonstrate sufficient "nowledge of the French language to obtain a regular permit.

.. http://www .canada.com/ottawaciti!en/new"/"tory.html#id$%&%fbde'-(a&a)c*&-bd(e-)f c)*dbbb(+ Learn French, Quebec order" immigrant" /ewcomers must also sign pledge to respect province0s values -anwe"t .ew" /ervice 1ublished! %hursday* )ctober .0* +008 2)/%'34$ - %he Quebec government has implemented a plan to force new immigrants to sign a declaration saying they will respect the province0s common values. 5tarting in 6anuary* immigrants applying to come to Quebec will be re&uired to sign a declaration promising to learn French and ac"nowledging that they understand men and women have e&ual rights* and political and religious powers are separate. 4nyone who refuses to sign the declaration will not have their application accepted* Quebec mmigration 2inister 7olande 6ames said yesterday. 8Coming to Quebec is not a right* it is a privilege*8 2s. 6ames said. 8 f you refuse to sign the declaration* you won0t be able to come here.8 %he declaration will be translated into several languages so immigrants understand what they are reading* but they must sign the French version. 2s. 6ames said she doesn0t foresee opposition from prospective immigrants. 89hen people leave their country and come to Quebec* it is because they see the potential that Quebec has to offer*8 she said. %he director of a 2ontreal organi:ation that helps new immigrants said she believes the new plan is designed to appease a segment of the population that is worried that too many newcomers don0t share the values of Quebecers. 8 am uncomfortable with ma"ing people sign this*8 said 4nne 2arie 'odrigues* director of the Centre d0action socio-communitaire de 2ontral. 2s. 6ames defended the decision to ma"e prospective immigrants sign the declaration* saying the values in it are based on principles outlined in Quebec0s Charter of ;uman 'ights and Freedoms and the French $anguage Charter. 5he ac"nowledged there wasn0t much the government could do if immigrants refused to abide by Quebec values once they have settled here. 2s. 'odrigues said she doesn0t thin" prospective immigrants will refuse to sign the declaration 8because they want to move here.8 <y the end of =ecember* about >?*000 people will have immigrated to Quebec this year. )pponents are saying the plan is a political stunt designed to increase the government0s support prior to a provincial election. 8 don0t "now what it can achieve. am all for new immigrants learning more about the place they are coming to* but this is a place that already has a Charter of 'ights*8 said 3hab $otayef* the vice-president of 1arole 4rabe* an 4rab community organi:ation. 4lthough the government announced the plan yesterday* 1remier 6ean Charest first floated the idea in =ecember +00? when he appeared before the <ouchard-%aylor hearings on the integration of immigrants* which he set up to e@amine the treatment of religious minorities in Quebec.

mmigrants who have been accepted into Quebec will now be able to ta"e free French courses before they leave their home country. %he French course see"s to familiari:e immigrants with 8Quebec values and culture8 by focusing on employment* education* public services and life in a democracy. )nce they arrive in Quebec* the government will as" immigrants to attend a seminar called! 8;ow to live in Quebec.8 %he course will be given in several languages to accommodate the .A per cent of immigrants who don0t "now French when they arrive. %he province also plans to favour immigrants who have the Bob s"ills needed in Quebec. QuebecCs new immigration rules put the emphasis on French s"ills 4dvanced intermediate level of oral and written French will now be re&uired! minister >. http://www.montrealga!ette.com/life/Quebec0immigration0rule"0empha"i"0 French0"1ill"/*&%&2('/"tory.html Quebec3" new immigrantion rule" put" the empha"i" on French "1ill". 45 67897. /-:;;, ;<= >7?=;;= 4DED5% +* +01. F9e have rethought our approach in order to select* around the world* immigrants able to respond ade&uately to QuebecCs needs and to contribute to its prosperity*G said =iane =e Courcy* the minister in charge of the French language charter* in a statement. @hotograph by: 2arie-France Coallier * %he Ea:ette 2)/%'34$ H 1rospective immigrants to Quebec will need to master French better than in the past under new immigration rules that came into effect %hursday.89e have rethought our approach in order to select* around the world* immigrants able to respond ade&uately to Quebec0s needs and to contribute to its prosperity*8 mmigration and Cultural Communities 2inister =iane =e Courcy said in a statement.%he government has twea"ed the point system for selecting immigrants in hopes of boosting the proportion of immigrants who spea" French on arrival to about 8+ per cent from about I+ per cent.89e want people who choose Quebec to be able not only to live and wor" in French* but also to find a Bob more easily*8 =e Courcy added.5eventy-si@ per cent of people who immigrated to Quebec in +01+ as s"illed wor"ers could already spea" French when they arrived.;owever* mastery of French is lower among other categories of immigrants* li"e investors* of whom nine out of 10 do not spea" Quebec0s official language.%he new rules mean prospective newcomers in the s"illed-wor"er category won0t even be considered unless they can demonstrate a higher level of competence in French than in the past* when applicants could get points for spea"ing French at a beginner0s level./ow* the minimum level of oral and written French for people to be considered is advanced intermediate.%hat means having a sufficient command of French to write a wor"place memo* said 6onathan $avalle* a spo"esperson in the mmigration and Cultural Communities =epartment.5tephan 'eichhold* director of the %able de concertation des organismes au service des personnes rfugies et immigrantes J%C' K* a provincial coalition of organi:ations wor"ing with newcomers* condemned the new rules.8 t0s much too demanding. t0s going to limit the diversity of immigration*8 he said.'eichold said the measures will ma"e it impossible for people from many parts of the world* li"e 4sia* to immigrate to Quebec.%he government should focus on helping immigrants integrate into

the wor"place rather than prevent people from non-francophone countries from gaining entry* he said.'eichold said a lac" of French s"ills is not the maBor problem facing immigrants.8%he great maBority spea" French*8 he said.8%heir problem is not the language* French. t0s access to Bobs. %hat0s where we should be putting our efforts.8 n +01+* AA*0.I newcomers settled in the province* a I.>-per-cent increase over the previous year* when A1*?.8 immigrants came.=e Courcy said the new rules will speed up treatment of applications since people without the re&uired level of French will be ruled out automatically.89e will not deprive ourselves of the contribution of talented people Quebec needs* but we will ensure that candidates who are selected have the necessary mastery of French to fully use their professional competence and guarantee their active participation*8 she said.=e Courcy noted the government offers online French courses for prospective immigrants so they can improve their language s"ills and learn about Quebec0s values and history.6ac" 6edwab* e@ecutive vice-president of the Canadian nstitute for dentities and 2igration* said that while the government is emphasi:ing that immigrants need to spea" French to find a Bob* it omits to mention that in 2ontreal* where most newcomers settle* it is very helpful to spea" both French and 3nglish. f the government focuses on French to the e@clusion of all other &ualifications* 8the ris" would be it would diminish Jimmigrants0K employment opportunities*8 he said.8 n the 2ontreal mar"et* the reality is that in many sectors of the economy* both languages are needed*8 6edwab added. n fact* French-3nglish bilingualism is &uite high among immigrants to Quebec* he noted.From +008 to +01+* .?.? per cent of immigrants to Quebec spo"e both 3nglish and French* while +A.. per cent spo"e French only* 1I.. per cent spo"e 3nglish only* and +0.? per cent spo"e neither French nor 3nglish.6edwab noted that unemployment is high among many newcomers to Quebec even when they are fluent in French.For e@ample* unemployment among university-educated 2ontreal immigrants age .A->> was 11.. per cent in +011* compared to +.I per cent for the universityeducated* native-born population in that age group. $ac" of local networ"s is one reason* he said.%he employment gap between the immigrant and native-born population is lower in other Canadian cities* 6edwab said.%he top country of origin for immigrants to Quebec last year was China* representing 10.1 per cent of new arrivals* followed by France JL.. per centK* ;aiti JL.. per centK* 4lgeria JI.A per centK and 2orocco JI.. per centK. A. http!,,www.cbc.ca,news,canada,montreal,immigrants-can-t-be-forced-to-learnfrench-&uebec-language-watchdog-1.I?A010 mmigrants canCt be forced to learn French! QuebecCs language watchdogs %he head of the advisory body that oversees language policy in Quebec says it would be unethical for the government to impose the need to learnFrench on immigrants. Coercive language measures such as those proposed in the 1arti Qubcois0 Quebec identity act should not be used* said the director of le Conseil suprieur de la langue franMaise* or the5uperior Council on the French $anguage. 8%he choice of language* we can0t impose that*8 council director 1ierre Eeorgeault said in a French interview with C<C /ews. )nly half of all immigrants to Quebec use French when they shop and use public services* but forcing them to change through legislation would be unethical* said Eeorgeault. %he Quebec identity act* "nown as <ill 1LA* would withhold the right of new citi:ens to

run as candidates in elections and raise funds for political parties unless theypass a French test. %he way to encourage more people to spea" French is toteach them how* Eeorgeault said* and Quebec0s public language training programs are underfunded and poorly organi:ed. %he 1Q has vigorously defended its proposed laws despite mounting criticism from law e@perts* opposition parties and civil rights groups. 8 f you want* really* to be part of Quebec society* thin" you have to ma"e an effort a little bit* to spea" French*8 said 1Q immigration critic 2artin $emay. <ut that may discourage foreign s"illed wor"ers from choosing Quebec* said ;arBeet <habra* an economics professor at Concordia Dniversity. <habra* who immigrated to Quebec a decade ago* said it0s not really essential to spea" French in order to live comfortably in Quebec. 87ou can wor"* and you can have a good social life* and enBoy the culture* without having invested much in learning French*8 he said. t is difficult for newcomers to learn French because the provincially sponsored courses are inconvenient* especially for those who find some "ind of wor" when they first arrive. 87ou can only Nattend classesO if you are not wor"ing and 0m not sure that a lot of immigrants can afford to do that*8 he said. 8 f it were more spaced out* let0s say* or an evening program* and you encourage them to do that* in addition to wor"ing* and learning at the same time* 0m sure everybody would be interested in doing it.8 I. http!,,www.canada.com,montrealga:ette,news,story.htmlPidQ>0ce00eI-8e>L>b?.-bI+>-?ef0A>.0bL1d J4gainstK ?. http://www.cic.gc.ca/engli"h/helpcentre/an"wer.a"p#q$%((At$( Bhat are the requirement" for becoming a -anadian citi!en# %o apply for Canadian citi:enship as an adult* you must! <e a permanent residentR be 18 years of age or olderR have lived in Canada for at least 1*0LA days in the four years before the date you sign your application Jtime spent residing in Canada prior to ac&uiring permanent residence counts as a half day of residence H see residence calculatorKR have an ade&uate "nowledge of either 3nglish or French Jsee 9hat is meant by Fade&uate "nowledge of 3nglish or FrenchGPKR have an ade&uate "nowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citi:enshipR not be under a removal order Jin other words* the Eovernment of Canada has not ordered you to leave the countryKR not be a security ris"R not be criminally prohibitedR and attend a ceremony and ta"e the oath of citi:enship