Evidence of meeting #142 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was groups.
A video is available from Parliament.
Chief Executive Officer, First Peoples' Cultural Council
I did have that question, and I did consult a lawyer, in fact.
Chief Executive Officer, First Peoples' Cultural Council
His advice was that I was right, that there is no obligation to fund. That is a concern. I'm just saying it needs to be strengthened.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I have only one minute. We didn't hear from Ms. Gessner.
In what field is your Ph.D.?
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
That's what I thought. My question is specifically for you.
We have a French academy in France. I'm not from France. I'm not from Belgium. I'm not from a Franco-African country. I'm an Acadian from New Brunswick. There is that big institution called l'Académie française. Sometimes they move on with new definitions, new words, and we're not necessarily in accord with that or happy about the way it evolves.
Do we have something similar to this, on a smaller scale, obviously, for all the 90 and more languages in Canada? I'm asking because I'm from eastern Canada, and I know that Mi'kmaq, like sign language, has many ways to say one word. Mi'kmaq is in the communities surrounding Quebec's Gaspesian coast, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, etc., as well as in northern Maine, and they seem to have some difficulty in all those communities in agreeing on certain words.
Could there be a tool financed through the act? Would that be a great idea—or maybe not at all—to fund an institute like l'Académie française?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Unfortunately, that really brings us through the seven minutes.
If you have a yes or no answer, or if you want to provide an answer in writing, that would be great. Thank you.
As an Individual
[Witness spoke in Oneida Sign Language, interpreted as follows:]
Can I jump in?
As an Individual
[Witness spoke in Oneida Sign Language, interpreted as follows:]
I have a question for all of you.
I can see that this standing committee has representation from a variety of people. If you included indigenous people within the process, and indigenous deaf people, it would become an excellent tool to resolve all of the issues that you've stated.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Thank you.
I'm trying to learn a couple of bits here.
Thank you, everyone.
That brings this panel to an end.
Mr. Nantel, you had shown verve to continue on with discussion with the committee. You have all of the witness notices until the end of this week. The clerk can tell you all of the people who have agreed and been scheduled, just so you have a list, but there are a lot of invitations that are still in the process.
Would that satisfy you just for tonight?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
To the witnesses, thank you. I appreciate your being here.
The meeting is adjourned.
