Evidence of meeting #83 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was reports.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Gentlemen, I want to thank you for joining us today.
On page 9 of your presentation, you mention that 2.4 million young Canadians are learning English or French.
Do you know how that figure is broken down? Do you know how many of them are learning English and how many are learning French?
5:25 p.m.
Director General, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
We probably have that information.
5:25 p.m.
Director, Policy and Research, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Our latest annual report, which covered the 2010-11 period, stated that the number of young people studying French as a second language was 1.7 million and that about 700,000 Quebec francophones were studying English as a second language.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
I will. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You talk about intensive English in Quebec. In another part of your presentation, you talk about day care centres. Those topics are often the object of political debate in Quebec, in addition to what is happening on the federal level.
Do you simply allocate funds without interfering? How do you manage to let provinces have their own political debates without interfering, while at the same time supporting certain programs?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
We work with provinces and territories on those issues. We realize that this is an area of provincial jurisdiction. We do not want to meddle in it.
When it comes to day care centres, our involvement often has to do with coming up with initiatives to add space for a day care centre in a school. That's done according to the province's plans and at its initiative, with our participation.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you very much.
I want to thank the witnesses for joining us.
There is something I would like to clarify.
Just to clarify, this brief was prepared for our committee, not for the Senate committee. There's simply a typographical error on the cover page. This is new information that they've prepared specifically for our committee. We appreciate that very much.
I thank the department for their briefing as well.
Without further ado, Mr. Galipeau, on a point of order.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Mr. Chair, Ms. Bateman has a question, but she has not had an opportunity to ask it. Could she submit the question to Mr. Lussier through the clerk? That way, he could send the committee a response in due course. Could I have the committee's unanimous consent on that?
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Dionne Labelle NDP Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I would like to be sent your decision and the reason behind it.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
First, you have to give me a notice of motion. You didn't do that.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
No, Mr. Godin has given me notice of motion. Mr. Chisholm could present the motion because he was acting as Mr. Godin's replacement. That's not your case.
Second, we began our meeting with a reduced quorum, and you cannot present this motion in that context. A quorum is necessary for that. In other words, the majority of committee members have to be present.
Without further ado, this meeting is adjourned.