Evidence of meeting #43 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 yukon.
2:10 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
There are many similar examples. You need a network to help you keep going and grow. These events have forged a community which is very tightly knit. It seems to me it can be more than that.
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
There is still much to be done. Even for the children, as I was saying, it mustn't simply be a question of survival; they must be able to grow and develop, particularly when they're still very little. People have to think about their language and culture.
I hope you will succeed, because there is work to be done, as you have clearly shown us. I'm happy for your wife; please send her our regards. Mr. Chairman, I think we should do that.
2:10 p.m.
President, Comité Francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
It's a question of equity between linguistic groups. English is very strong in Quebec, and increasingly so. There are several other languages in Quebec.
The same applies to the other provinces. Mr. Cannon said yesterday that the language question should be left to the territories, but is our territory treating us fairly? Is it giving us what it receives from the federal government? It's a question of equity. We are resourceful and have community spirit, so we will survive, continue to fight and do what is necessary to move forward in life; but if our territory does nothing for us and we complain to the federal government, then what is the point of having governments? Where is the fairness? Do you have scales for all the provinces, whereby you decide that you will give 2% to the territories, for example, 50% to Ontario, and so on? I understand that those are only numbers, but treating human beings fairly is what is important, the language they speak naturally, their mother tongue.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
I have two quick comments.
Father Claude, do you only speak French?
2:15 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
No, I learned English here.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
So, you speak both languages.
I have the impression there is no real friction between Francophones and Anglophones here in Whitehorse. Am I right?
2:15 p.m.
President, Comité Francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
Friction?
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
There are areas where there is friction, but I have the feeling that here in Whitehorse, people get along fairly well.
Am I correct?
2:15 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
Yes, that is what I've been told by all kinds of people. Anglophones here come from all over.
There is a common reality which we share, and that is the territory—the Yukon reality. The Yukon is increasingly cross-cultural. It has happened once or twice that there has been friction when people say things like: “We don't speak French here”. It's more like the opposite; it's more difficult to learn English here, because they want to practice their French as well. For example, if I go into a store and someone recognizes my accent, they will start speaking French to me. When they realize that I speak French, they tell me I should have said so before.
So, I don't think there is the kind of friction that exists elsewhere. That said, there is no doubt that there is always room for improvement.
2:15 p.m.
President, Comité Francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
As I see it, if there is friction, it comes from Francophones themselves, because we live in the midst of a majority. We want that friction and we want to fight; that's all it is.
We want to win something. Actually, it's not power we want; the power is there already. People already have all the power they need. We just want the right balance.
2:15 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
There is friction when it comes to funding applications. For example, if we, on the Francophone side, receive $35,000 for the territory and Anglophone groups receive the same amount, they wonder why Francophones, who number only 1,200, are receiving the same amount of money as they are, when there are 30,000 of them. They question that sort of thing.
Also, we hear Anglophones talk about the French mafia. That is the English expression they use to say that Francophones have the right contacts, that they know how to secure money and get things done. They have an incorrect view of things. They think there is inequality and that we have a lot more than they do.
Because the Yukon government takes so little interest in promoting services in French, when we ask for them, we are perceived as whiners who are always asking for more than the others.
For example, if we're waiting in line and want to be served in French, all the other people who are waiting wonder what we're doing, and why they are at the back of the line. It takes time for them to get over it. We look like people who are always making a nuisance of ourselves.
That is the kind of friction we see.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
But in the community, that friction is not evident.
2:15 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
In terms of interpersonal relationships, I'd say it's pretty relaxed, but in recent years, the AFY has opened up a lot from a cultural standpoint. It invited Francophiles to come on board and let Anglophones know that they were welcome. It produced bilingual posters, and that made a big difference.
So, at an individual level, there may or may not be much friction, but there can be frustration.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Everybody gets along as long as everybody gets along in English.
We have seen that before.
Father Gosselin, you have quite a challenge here. You have a network—a community of about 200.
2:15 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
To be honest with you, I would say that it only happens about once a year that there are actually 200 in attendance—at Christmas. I just decide that all those people are members.
2:15 p.m.
A voice
Ah, ah!
2:15 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
But seriously, there are between 100 and 125 people who would feel comfortable saying that they are part of the community.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
There are 50 people who attend every Sunday. The ones who come on Christmas are like the submarines that only surface once a year.
2:15 p.m.
Priest, Comité francophone catholique Saint-Eugène-de-Mazenod
No, I'm not judgmental about those people. They have a service in French as well.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Since you were saying that there are 1,245 people in all, that suggests there is a lot of potential.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
If they are French Canadian, their roots are there, somewhere.
