Evidence of meeting #38 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bilingual.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It's between $800 million and $900 million.
9:55 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Nine hundred million dollars.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I do not have that number here.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I think, Mr. Chair, it's important to understand which communities we're talking about when we say “official language minority community”--given that Edmonton and Vancouver have significant francophone populations, for example, to what degree funding is made available in those communities.
We could look at what funding goes to, particularly settlement agencies in cities that offer services in French.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I would love to see that.
Would you propose to give us a breakdown as well?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We can look at what we have in terms of the systems across the country. We have various arrangements by way of contribution agreements, grants, and that sort of thing, to the extent that we can identify contribution agreements for delivery of services in French.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I'm of the impression that you may have a situation here in which there may not be much more than the sum I've mentioned—$10 million—being directed towards these communities out of the $800 million or $900 million spent annually. If that's the case, then I think you're going to have to have a serious look at that.
Would you agree?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Well, we will have to look at the detailed information that we have in Quebec. We won't be able to provide the information—
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
In this fund, does it include
—official language training, either English or French?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I believe we have details on the courses offered in either English or French.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
You're not sure. Does that come from the $800 million or $900 million? Does that come from settlement funding?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Linguistic training, yes.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
If I could, Mr. Linklater, I would be curious to get a detailed record from the department. I've tried to obtain information through a question on the Order Paper, but I never managed to. I want a detailed record; I do not want any games.
How much money is spent in Canada to provide new Canadians with official languages training? What language is taught and who gives these courses?
I have a feeling that, apart from one or two courses offered in Ottawa by the French-language teaching community, no other French-language courses are offered, except in Quebec, of course.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, they exist.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
But getting that information is difficult.
As a parliamentarian, if I could ask you for a detailed, accurate report on the situation and if you could provide me with that, I would be delighted. That would be my Christmas present. Thank you.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Okay.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you very much, Mr. Bélanger.
It is nearly time to conclude our meeting. We thank the witnesses for being with us here this morning.
Thank you very much. You manage a very important department. As Ms. Guay pointed out, at times we feel like we are involved in your operations. Of course we will be watching with great interest for your responses to the recommendations we have made, particularly concerning your targets for recruiting a certain number of French-speaking immigrants to settle in francophone minority communities outside of Quebec. Thank you very much to our witnesses.
I would simply like to inform committee members that on Thursday, after hearing from the witness, we will continue with the committee's work to begin our study of the far north. Until then, if you have any specific witnesses you would like to call to appear or if you would like to visit any specific areas, please let our clerk know. We hope to provide you with a preliminary agenda at that time.
Mr. Nadeau, would you like—
9:55 a.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Assuming we meet on Thursday, depending on what happens in the House of Commons, I had asked that we invite Mr. Handfield this Thursday. Has that been done? What needs to be done? I spoke to you about it earlier and you replied that the mission itself was important. I had no problem with that. Thursday is very soon. Has Mr. Handfield been invited? I think it is very important that he be here.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Not for Thursday's meeting. Other witnesses could be called to appear at a subsequent meeting. As I said, I want to save some time for the mission. One department has already been called to appear. Mr. Handfield could be called to appear at a future committee meeting, Mr. Nadeau.