Oh, oh!
Evidence of meeting #23 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was yukon.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #23 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was yukon.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I would like to raise a point of order, Mr. Chair. I am simply doing my job as a member of the opposition.
9:50 a.m.
Director, Education Sector, Association franco-yukonnaise
Let me just say that I have lived there for 21 years, as I mentioned. I am married to an anglophone who learned to speak French. Everyone in my family is bilingual. When we had children, we decided to speak only French at home because there is so much English everywhere. Speaking either language was never a challenge for them. They are very comfortable in both languages. I gave them home schooling for a few years and now they attend a francophone school. I am very glad that my children got their education in French.
I am a newcomer to the board of directors. I only joined it last fall. I was not involved before because I was living outside of town, at a 40-minute distance from downtown Whitehorse. Last year, we moved and I decided that it was time for me to get involved. I have some very close friends who have worked very hard to promote our beloved francophone culture. It required some effort, and I derived great benefit it. I really saw how much hard work had been done.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Certainly.
When your colleagues, your counterparts from the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan testified last week, they told us that if there was a problem with the Canada-community agreements, it was due to the one-size-fits-all approach and that we should take regional needs into account. This was true with regard to the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan.
Are you of the same opinion? If you are, how should we adapt the program to Yukon's real needs?
9:55 a.m.
Acting Director General, Association franco-yukonnaise
Regarding this very point, I had written in my notes that we should recognize regional differences, community growth, specific economic situations in certain regions, for example the boom in the west, and the growth of Yukon.
Of course, the national picture cannot be described in such rosy terms. The demographics of official language communities are shrinking almost everywhere except for a few small regions of Canada. How can we improve the situation? For example, we held meetings in Yukon with 10 consultants hired by the government of the territories to meet with three members of the Yukon government. We were told that we were about to reach new agreements and recognize the needs of our communities. However, in the end, everyone got the same thing. Everyone got the same percentage of increase, everyone was treated in the same way. In Yukon, there was no infrastructure in the 1980s. Today, we have a new school, a new child care centre.
In my opinion, if we stop there, we will come to a point of exhaustion and lose our personnel. We have reached a critical mass for the child care centre and the school. All the space is being used, and that also applies to the community centre.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Without any problems? And do you also know all about the traffic jams on highway 40 in Montreal?
9:55 a.m.
Acting Director General, Association franco-yukonnaise
Indeed, there are some problems. For instance, current events are not covered very well. In fact, we would like to have local coverage. In English, they have the CBC—
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I said that because Mr. Godin says that he is fed up with hearing about traffic jams on highway 40 in Montreal, when he is in Bathurst.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.
Maybe some people in Yukon will not use their cell phones while driving.
Now let us continue with Mr. Harvey, of the Conservative Party.
April 3rd, 2008 / 9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
First, I am sorry for being a bit late this morning. My vehicle was broken into, the windows were broken, etc.
9:55 a.m.
An hon. member
When will you finally understand that it is dangerous to be a Conservative?
9:55 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
It sure is dangerous. Therefore, I am sorry I had to miss your presentation. However, I see that you have nonetheless succeeded in transmitting your love of French to your children and to society at large. I think that your dynamic efforts are reflected in your results.
It is often easier to become bilingual or to learn another language when it is done for pleasure and not out of obligation. I think that you are making it pleasant for everyone. This might be the reason why you got such good results.
We mentioned your priorities, which are interesting. As you know, we have come up with new proposals for minority official language communities. If some big change was made, some adjustment that you could say is exactly what you wanted, what new changes or adjustments would you like to see in the next agreement?
9:55 a.m.
Acting Director General, Association franco-yukonnaise
We spoke of recognizing regional differences and recognizing the fact that in 2009 we cannot live on the same means as in 2004. It is good to have an agreement that reaches over several years, but we also must recognize this fact. Everyone has the right to minimum wage increases and to a minimum income. We must recognize local differences, so that we do not have to hear people say that everything is decided in Ottawa.
There should be some regional decentralization so that the agreements could be reached with regional powers, so that we can use the existing mechanisms and the regional offices. The powers of implementation and decision-making should be decentralized so that things can move faster, with less red tape, and so that more work can get done. If we want to promote the love of a culture and if we want to hold activities, we must be present on the ground. We cannot be constantly busy with drafting the reports.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Let us continue with our guest member this morning, Mr. Jean-Yves Roy from the Bloc Québécois.
10 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Welcome, Ms. Bourque and Mr. St-Pierre.
As I listen to you, like everyone else, I feel that things are going well. That being said, you are nonetheless sending us some important messages. Basically, you constantly have to justify to the federal government the way in which you spend the funds that you receive.
You said that you spend much time with red tape and with justifying your activities to various departments, and that this is a huge waste of time. Nevertheless, government matters always require some accountability.
How could you simplify your organization's accountability procedures? After all, you are receiving taxpayers' money.
10 a.m.
Acting Director General, Association franco-yukonnaise
Accountability is crucial. My children must be accountable to me even if they have been living with me for 15 years. If I receive money from the government, I must be accountable for it to the government. If I am running a business, I must be accountable to my shareholders.
As a member of the board of directors, I must be accountable to my people. I must also be accountable to the federal government.
Usually, if we want more authority and control, more accountability and more reporting is expected of us. If we want just and fair control and flexible measures, we ask for a flexible solution. If we reach an agreement that covers several years, our accountability should also cover those years. This seems quite logical.
There could also be interim reports as well as a final report after the three- or four-year period. This already applies to requests for funds.
10 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
How are your negotiations with the government going?
Do you deal with officials who tell you they have no power and cannot change anything? Do you get that message across in your discussions with senior officials?
10 a.m.
Acting Director General, Association franco-yukonnaise
There is a lot of turnover in the public service. There is also a high turnover in the population of the Yukon, as is the case of officials in departments. You often have to do the same work over and over again. You have to introduce yourself, even to your partner. That could change in government. The Department of Canadian Heritage is supposed to be our main partner within the federal government, but we sometimes have the impression that that is not the case. The department is like family which does not know us.
10 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
You are always dealing with different officials, if I understood what you said. You are basically dealing with new people all the time.