Yes, that's about right.
Evidence of meeting #47 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #47 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Yes, that's about right.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
3:45 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
3:45 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
3:45 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
No newspaper.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
The Conservatives suggested that private broadcasters could do a better job than the CBC. Explain to us what the result of that would be for francophone communities in the North.
3:45 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
I don't think a private company could do the same thing. Radio-Canada or the CBC has a mandate to cover all of Canada. It is already set up. Why break something that is working? It may be working badly, because it doesn't have enough money, but why break something that is working and start over with something that we aren't sure will work?
And also, how are you going to make sure that they are really going to provide something that's good quality? I don't know how you do that.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Private radio or television stations broadcast news and entertainment, but explain to us what the role of Radio-Canada is in developing Franco-Ontarian identity and culture in the very large, very rural and very isolated regions.
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Mr. Angus, if I listen to Radio-Canada and hear that francophones are engaged in some particular battle in Timmins, for example, it gives me ideas. Seeing the vitality of francophone communities elsewhere in the country, it's a pleasure to see.
And it brings us together. We see that we aren't the only ones fighting against assimilation, against the things we're concerned about. Having examples that don't come just from Ontario but that may come from Acadie or Western Canada tells us more about ourselves and about how to help ourselves. That's very important.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Assimilation has always been a serious threat to francophone communities in the North. Is there a spirit of economic, linguistic and cultural confidence now in the francophone communities in the region?
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
I think so. I think there is a little more confidence. The big problem we have noticed is that the birth rate is very low. Why is that? I think it's a problem throughout the western world.
The most difficult thing is when there are mixed marriages, exogamy. When a person marries someone who speaks a different language, how do we get them to keep both cultures? That is the issue now. It is important to show that French-Canadian and Franco-Ontarian culture are as important as English-Canadian culture. That is our challenge. People want to identify with a winner. If a Franco-Ontarian doesn't show that they are proud of their culture, there will be a problem. What we have to pass on is pride in our culture. That is our challenge. We need a strong Radio-Canada helping us. That is better for us.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
March 21st, 2011 / 3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Thank you.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
I listened carefully to the brief you presented to us. I very much appreciate your sharing it with us with a brave heart.
I have learned from my friend that we are intending to privatize. I have never heard that from this side of the table. Let's not start a witch-hunt with all that.
In one sense, I have also experienced the worries you have shared with us. We are the only two Franco-Ontarians at this table today.
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Where do you come from, Mr. Galipeau.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
I come from St. Isidore. When I was born, it was called St. Isidore de Prescott.
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Yes.
3:50 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
My father used to say that we French-Canadians were schizophrenic, that we needed protection from a saint and an Englishman. Eventually we defrocked the Englishman.
I have to tell you that the most significant event in the last 20 years was the ice storm in early January 1998. It was a crisis, locally. I listed to Radio-Canada day and night to find out what was happening. I learned every day what was going on in Plateau Mont-Royal, but for what was happening where we were, we heard nothing about that.
I talked to my friends at the presbytery or elsewhere. I asked them how they were getting news about what was going on in our backyard. They were listening to CFRA.
3:50 p.m.
Community Project Officer, Association canadienne française de l'Ontario - Région Témiskaming
Yes, that's right.
