Official Languages Committee on Dec. 12th, 2012

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

There always are, unfortunately.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

—in this program, a large number of publications existed only thanks to the subsidies. They were small publications with very small runs.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I don't think that the size of the run defines the relevance of the medium.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

It must also be noted that we reduced funds granted to large companies such as Rogers and Maclean's Magazine, which used to receive $3 million. In my opinion, Rogers did not really need taxpayers' subsidies.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

The problem really affects the small media.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

We reduced this funding from $3 million to $1.5 million and we allocated that $1.5 million to small and medium businesses, to minority official language publications, as it happens. So, there is more funding—

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I would ask you to conclude, please. I have other questions.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

It is—

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Could you simply shorten your answer a bit?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Your question was about the amount of money allocated? The answer is complex, if you want a real answer.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

In that case, could you submit it in writing. We are starting to run out of time. I simply want my colleague to be able to ask a few questions as well.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

It is your choice to waste time. If you want to make a statement when you ask a question, that is one thing, but if you want to ask a question and obtain a real answer, because it is complex, that is why I am here.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

This is the time at my disposal in committee and I will formulate my questions as I please.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Waste your time as it suits you.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I would now ask my colleague Mr. Dionne Labelle to continue with his own questions.

Thank you very much.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Minister, we are talking about $358,911,000 in 2007-2008, and $340,551,000 in 2010-2011. I hope that the next time we see each other, I will have, as a parliamentarian, the figures in hand to explain where these $18,500,000 went. I hope that we will have an opportunity to talk again and that I will eventually have these figures in hand.

Let us now talk about statistics. When Statistics Canada issued its latest data, statisticians said that since the introduction of the short-form census questionnaire, the statistics lack relevance and it is more difficult to determine the situation of linguistic minorities in Canada.

This committee asked you for a specific budget for Statistics Canada so that it could follow the development of official languages in Canada. Are you not worried about the fact that Statistics Canada statisticians say that the data are more or less reliable, and how can we remedy this?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Dionne Labelle.

Briefly, Minister Moore.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

We have in the census report, for the first time ever, three language questions: knowledge of official languages, home language, and mother tongue. These were included on the census questionnaire, and it was administered to 100% of the population.

So actually the census data we have now is more comprehensive than it's ever been.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Why, in that case, did the statisticians say that?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I won't speak for them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much to all the members of our committee.

I thank our witnesses for their testimony.

Thank you very much to everyone for all the work you've done on the committee in the last year.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

All the best for the holidays, and we'll see you back here in January.

This meeting is adjourned.