B.C. French immersion teacher forced to leave due to red tape

A French immersion teacher from France has had her temporary work visa application denied due to a bureaucratic technicality, despite a shortage of French-speaking teachers in B.C.

Marion Bigot de La Touanne is a French citizen who has been working the last three and a half years as a French immersion science teacher at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Cloverdale, B.C.

More parents than ever want to enroll their children in French immersion schools, but many students in B.C. are being turned away due to a lack of space, resources and qualified teachers.

• French immersion wait lists continue to grow in B.C.

"I'm not here just to have fun, I am here because B.C. needs people like me," said Bigot de La Touanne.

When the Surrey School District chose Marion as the best candidate, her application was denied by Employment and Social Development Canada because the 27.5 hours a week teaching does not constitute a full time job.

"It's a bit odd and I would say unfair," said Bigot de La Touanne.

The school tried to appeal the decision by explaining that Bigot de La Touanne was more than qualified and that teachers put in far more work than their instructional hours. 

In a written statement, the federal government said the program is not meant to replace Canadian employees. 

"The Temporary Foreign Workers Program is intended as a last and limited resort when employers are facing short-term skills and labour shortages, and only when qualified Canadians are not available,' said the ESDC.

'Chronic shortage' of French-speaking teachers

Glyn Lewis, executive director of Canadian Parents for French says there are not enough qualified Canadians.

"I think there needs to be a simple recognition that there is a chronic shortage of French immersion teachers," said Lewis. 

"She is a qualified teacher and needs to be kept here."

Bigot de La Touanne has sought the help of Surrey MP Jinny Sims, who is also the former head of the B.C. Teachers' Federation. 

Sims says this case proves the temporary foreign workers program is inherently flawed.

"What we have now is an example of a human victim to a program that was changed on the back of a napkin, based on what's in the media," said Sims.

Sims says she hopes the government will launch an independent investigation into the program.

Bigot de La Touanne is returning to France in two days, but she said she hopes to return by the start of the new school year.