Evidence of meeting #133 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was action.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:25 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
The person with whom my employee spoke was an assistant deputy minister in the Government of Ontario. But it is not…
11:25 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
In the Department of Canadian Heritage, who talks with the Ontario Government people?
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
Go ahead, Mr. Racine.
11:30 a.m.
Denis Racine Director General, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
It is the staff in the Official Languages Branch. As part of the federal-provincial relationship, we talk to the provincial representatives for the initiatives in education or teaching.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Forgive me for interrupting you, Mr. Racine. But since this is a crisis and a unique situation, should the communications not come from higher up? Should they not come from you, the deputy ministers?
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
The first thing I would say to that is that no one is higher up than my minister.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
After the decision, my minister said clearly that she was very concerned and that she would like to meet with them.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
In her first letter, she asked for a meeting with her.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
That was a first letter.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
I am not aware if Ms. Mulroney provided a written response, but as I understand it, there were conversations between the ministers.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
However, I was not present during those conversations.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Okay, but did you personally have conversations with the people in the ministry, with Marie-Lison Fougère and George Zegarac, who came to see us two weeks ago?
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
In managing the program, my officials communicated clearly with the Government of Ontario officials on a number of occasions. I supported my minister very actively, as you can see with all the interactions we had and with all the work we did in connection with the $1.9 million to help the university.
I had very frequent reports on what was happening. We were clearly very active. We called and communicated with the two deputy ministers. We talked about education, but also about francophone affairs. It was clear that those officials had no mandate from their minister to…
11:30 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I understand, but the FCFA, the AFO and everyone involved are asking the federal government to show some leadership.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
Yes.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
We can see that you are making an effort, but it might be said that you are not going as far as you can. You send letters, but you do not pick up the telephone yourselves. There is leadership, but it might be said that it does not go as far as it could.
You deputy ministers should be contacting Ontario's deputy ministers at least once every two weeks to tell them that your offer is serious. I understand that the request must come from Ontario and that the officials may not have the mandate. The fact remains that, in your work, and certainly in Minister Joly's, because you get your direction from her, you have to demonstrate strong leadership.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
My answer to that is that Minister Joly has demonstrated very strong leadership. As soon as the decision was made, she was clear on her position. She immediately wrote to Minister Mulroney to ask for a formal meeting in clear terms. I am not aware whether she received a reply to her first letter.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
It would be incredible if she did not reply. That is unacceptable.
11:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, Department of Industry
I am talking about the minister.
First, I think that the ministers did talk to each other. You said that there were no telephone calls, but they did speak to each other. I was not there during those conversations.
Second, in her second letter in January, Ms. Joly explained to Minister Mulroney that the federal government was able to go up to 50% and, if it could help, we would provide money for the first years.
The federal government's leadership in this matter is very clear. We showed that very clearly by putting $1.9 million on the table. I can tell you that my officials worked tirelessly on the matter and I followed it very closely. Nevertheless, the request has to come from the provincial government, because education is a provincial responsibility.
11:30 a.m.
Liberal
