Official Languages Committee on Nov. 7th, 2006

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

That's all. Thank you, Mr. André.

Now it's my turn. I would like to raise two subjects. The first concerns the health sector and hospitals. Ms. Nadeau mentioned earlier how difficult the situation was in the southern part of the province compared to the north. But it must not be forgotten that several hospitals were closed in the north.

[Josée Nadeau]

Absolutely.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

We took the hit and are asking ourselves how far it will go. Hospitals were closed in Lamèque, Caraquet and Dalhousie, and several beds were closed in Saint-Quentin, etc. The hit was taken entirely on the francophone side.

I would like your opinion about this and I would like to know what the network can do. The Standing Committee on Official Languages could pass on your message about the cuts made by the federal government. Of course, we can't blame only the current government, because the 1994 government did its share as well.

The second subject I would like to raise is literacy. On this topic, I would like to hear what the Association of French Speaking Teachers of New Brunswick has to say about this. I don't know if anyone here can talk to us about literacy. It's not "fun"—I say "fun", because in New Brunswick we are bilingual—to learn that we are in a province where 64% of francophones are illiterate. That's nothing to be proud of.

Would you want the Standing Committee on Official Languages to put in its report what you have to say about cuts to literacy?

Let's begin by talking about health.

[Gilles Vienneau, Director General, Société santé et mieux-être du Nouveau-Brunswick]

First of all, it is clear that health is a very sensitive issue that gets people excited rather quickly. I have already heard you in Parliament, Mr. Godin, and it was—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

I never get excited.

[Gilles Vienneau]

No, you're not an excitable guy at all.

The Société santé et mieux-être du Nouveau-Brunswick would like the consultation process that is to be established at the regional and local level—and even if need be at the provincial level—to take distinctive features into consideration in taking financial decisions for a community, a majority and a minority. There are important decisions to be made. The model that we are trying to introduce aims precisely at giving the communities a degree of power—or at least influence from the consultation standpoint—to prevent any cuts.

In New Brunswick, the Act is clear. It provides for health services for all citizens, in the language of their choice, wherever they may be in the province, and that's what we want. The reality, on the other hand, is something else again. Unfortunately, when the time comes for policy decisions, they are made the same way for everyone. History has taught us that in a minority context, the minority often takes more of a hit than the majority. It is therefore a question of tools, empowerment and capacity building. That is what the organizations around the table do. That is what our work is.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Thank you. I would like to hear a comment about literacy.

[Josée Nadeau]

To be sure, if the francophone community had been consulted about the literacy cuts, it would have said no. As Mr. Godin said, 64% of the francophone community is illiterate. But what is more worrisome still is that of this percentage, 40% are 40 years of age and under. We are therefore speaking about parents, adults who work on an everyday basis. These are parents who cannot help their children do their homework or educate them as they ought to be educated.

The situation is indeed very worrisome. We are very concerned, and I find it unfortunate that the Fédération d’alphabétisation du Nouveau-Brunswick is not here today, because it could have been very vocal. Unfortunately, this group will disappear because it has been deeply affected by the cuts. The group will disappear within a few months.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

My five minutes are up, and, as the others have done, I will yield the floor .

If there is unanimity on this matter among the members of the committee, I will give Mr. Petit five minutes to give him an opportunity to ask his questions.

[Some voices]

Okay.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Go ahead Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Thank you very much.

Thank you for coming. I will try to summarize your comments at this point. I am a member of Parliament; that will help you to understand what I am going to tell you.

First of all, I would draw your attention to the following: after taking each of your measures into consideration, I have noted that the Court Challenges Program was mentioned several times. If I have understood your message correctly, and as I must prepare a report, this would appear to be the key topic at the moment. Except that I am going to skip over it for the time being to ask you whether there is anything else. I did not travel 5,000 km to hear only about that.

I would like to know, as representatives of an active and powerful community like yours, whether there is something other than the Court Challenges Program. I have five pages [Editor's note: technical difficulties]. However, could you tell me, because we need to be proactive, what you are lacking, and not merely from the legal standpoint. I understand and have taken note of it. There is no need to go over it again.

Are there any key projects that you would like us to pass on to the Standing Committee on Official Languages and that could generate something?

[Achille Maillet]

When I return—

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

That is for anyone; it's an open question.

[Achille Maillet]

Thank you. I would like to return to the Court Challenges Program.

I referred earlier to services available in both official languages. There is access to French-language services on the one hand and on the other, there is the whole economic aspect. When offices are transferred to major centres where the majority is anglophone, our francophone officials need to work in an anglophone environment, and that, Mr. Petit, reduces their opportunities for working in the language of their choice.

Here is my final point, which you could take note of and pass on. In this corner of the country, we work hard to combat assimilation, and everything that I spoke about promotes an environment in which assimilation is predominant.

[Louis-Philippe Gauthier]

If I may speak, I will be brief.

You spoke about key projects. According to studies carried out by the previous government—I can no longer remember which department was involved—a 1 per cent-increase in literacy has a direct impact on the gross domestic product.

How are we in New Brunswick, given the realities of our francophone communities with respect to the labour force, going to be able to cope with needs for ultra-qualified workers in context of globalization, and given our high illiteracy rate? You mentioned a key project, one that would have a direct impact on Canada's economy and on Canada's positioning from a global standpoint.

[Daniel Thériault]

[Editor's note: inaudible].

[Louis-Philippe Gauthier]

Illiteracy and the cuts related to it.

[Daniel Thériault]

Do I have the floor?

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Yes.

[Daniel Thériault]

There is perhaps someone else... Jean-Luc?

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Be brief to allow Mr. Bélanger to state his point of view. Okay, go ahead.

[Jean-Luc Bélanger]

I do not want to be unpleasant, but it seems to me that we have discussed several subjects and not only the legal issue. I do not know whether we are all at the same table or whether we agree.

In connection with social considerations and seniors, we pointed out earlier that we were concerned about the New Horizons Program, among other things. I do not wish to refer to the former government, but we requested from that government a francophone budgetary envelope for the New Horizons Program. We took some steps that were on their way to becoming a reality. We renewed our request and met some people at our AGM in St. Boniface and in Winnipeg in June to take this into consideration. Indeed, there are still many francophone minorities in Canada that are not receiving their proper share of the New Horizons Program.

Here again, literacy comes into the picture. When members of seniors clubs and people who are beyond a certain age want to complete registration forms, there are no resources to help them. If there were a budgetary envelope for francophones, the organizations here could help these people submit applications and follow up on them. It is not always easy for them to do so. The vocabulary used on forms is such that many elderly people, because of their poor literacy, cannot understand. Sometimes these people do not even take the trouble to apply for many government programs, thereby depriving themselves of benefits. Literacy is a truly important factor not only for seniors, but in every area that we have talked about around this table.

I want to note the absence of some key people from this committee. There was definitely a lack of communication, because other francophone organizations from New Brunswick could have been represented. I do not know what happened. My comment is not negative; simply a statement of fact. There are organizations in New Brunswick, such as the Forum de concertation des organismes acadiens and the AAFNB, who know all the francophone organizations working in New Brunswick in every field. You could contact them when you are going to meet as a parliamentary committee or otherwise, to keep them informed about what is going on, because they would like to be able to take part.

We want to cooperate with you, but in order to do so we need to be informed. We need to be consulted if we are to be able to communicate with you to move forward on various files.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Thank you.

That adjourns our meeting this afternoon in New Brunswick. Earlier, we covered Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

I have taken note of the constructive criticisms and assure you that our committee has not completed its work. Many associations were invited to come and meet us, including the SAANB. It is true that the invitations may have reached you at the last minute, but all I can say is that the work of Parliament has been proceeding at a furious pace for some time now. We are trying to do our best. This is the first time in 25 years the committee has travelled to meet in a region. Thus on a positive note, I can tell you that this will not be the last time. When we hold meetings in Ottawa, we invite groups to come and meet us and give presentations. We see groups that come to meet MPs. For example, a seniors' literacy group came to meet us in Ottawa last week. We want to continue our efforts in this direction.

A moment ago, Mr. Petit said that all he had understood was one thing: the comments about court challenges. I can tell you that there is more than one person at the table; I certainly heard other things. I am convinced that you raised other issues besides the court challenges. The francophonie affects minorities; it is a whole.

We are preparing a report that will be submitted to the government.

Thank you.

The committee must now go to the University of Moncton. We need to pick up our suitcases and be ready by 2:45 p.m.

Thank you and good afternoon.