Are you talking about the regions where you are in the majority?
Evidence of meeting #23 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was brunswick.
Evidence of meeting #23 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was brunswick.
2 p.m.
Liberal
Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB
Are you talking about the regions where you are in the majority?
2 p.m.
Director General, Association of French Speaking Teachers of New Brunswick
I would like to return to the comments of the gentleman who wanted to reduce the administration work involved with the grants. In a minority community, there is nevertheless a difficult situation because we don't have the structures or the infrastructures needed to provide administrative services. We are working on developing services, such as forums to get the organizations working together. However, if they only have program funds, such administrative services will not be introduced, because the organizations do not have the administrative structure required to manage all these programs. Our communities are at a disadvantage from the administrative standpoint. We have infrastructures in place, but not enough to manage our volunteers, for example, or to organize and submit grant applications—
2 p.m.
Liberal
2 p.m.
Liberal
Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you.
I would like to return to Mr. Gauthier. We are familiar with the economic and employability development networks, or the RDÉE, which we have. The people of Prince Edward Island I believe told us this morning that they did not have enough funding for projects.
Does the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency fund your RDÉEs? In our province, for example—
2 p.m.
President, Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick, As an Individual
RDÉE funding comes from the Service Canada Enabling Fund. In view of the cuts that have been made, we are wondering whether the funding will be renewed in 2008.
The direction taken by the New Brunswick RDÉE is to act as the intermediary and analyst for possible projects, in addition to being the coordinator, because we already have a number of infrastructures. The New Brunswick RDÉE definitely has an extremely positive impact on economic development and employability.
Is ACOA making a contribution? Yes. All of the federal, provincial and municipal authorities are working hand-in-hand with the RDÉEs.
We are worried about the renewal in 2008 of the Service Canada Enabling Fund. Needless to say, the RDÉE had some difficult moments a few years ago. Will it be renewed? Given that the francophone community was not consulted before the cuts were decided upon, will it be consulted when the time comes for renewal? I think we need to begin talking about this.
November 7th, 2006 / 2:05 p.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I want to thank you for having travelled here to come and share your concerns with us. I think that it is important for the government to know about the problems in order to be able to identify them. That is what we are here for.
I want you to know that our government, and Ms. Verner in particular, are working very hard. We firmly believe in official languages and the francophonie. Don't ever forget that.
I have spoken a great deal about cuts, but I am sure that each and every one of you has several accomplishments of which you are very proud. I would like to know which is the accomplishment of which you are most proud and how you managed to achieve it.
2:05 p.m.
President, Société santé et mieux-être du Nouveau-Brunswick
As I mentioned somewhat earlier, the roots of our Société santé et mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick go back to the Dion plan in 2003. We have only been in operation for three years. Before that, as a member of a university community with interests in the health field, we worked mainly in a silo. If I had concerns about certain health problems, I might have a great deal of difficulty gathering people around me. Our society has developed a model that resembles that of the World Health Organization. Every time we meet, there are the following five major partners: political decision-makers, health institutions, educational institutions, the community and health professionals.
Whenever we meet, the eight New Brunswick provincial boards, the community and the other partners that I previously mentioned are all around the table. I believe that was a success.
However, when we talk about how little money there is, Canada should perhaps look at what we have done. We and the other francophone organizations take this small amount of money and do a great deal of work. We are talking about $250,000. In view of our results and our impact on the community, our achievement needs to be celebrated. The federal government should look at what we have done because we could serve as a model, even for the anglophones.
To conclude, I would like to mention another accomplishment: Our society is a part of 17 national networks. We met two or three times elsewhere in Canada and shared our problems with all of Canada's provinces and territories, with very little money.
2:05 p.m.
Director, Association francophone des parents du Nouveau-Brunswick
Our greatest accomplishment is having been able to continue to operate with less and less money. As Mr. Gionet just said, we are continuing to be successful. Five years ago, our association had $140,000 per year; we are currently receiving $125,000 from Canadian Heritage. Our funds are not increasing, and our grants are getting smaller and smaller, but we are nevertheless managing to survive because we believe what we are doing and are determined to remain vital.
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
If I have understood correctly, your greatest challenge is funding.
2:05 p.m.
Director, Association francophone des parents du Nouveau-Brunswick
It is indeed one of the greatest challenges.
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
2:05 p.m.
As an Individual
I heard Ms. Boucher's comments, but hope that the government will do something tangible. You spoke about the intention to support official languages, but we, the minority francophones of New Brunswick, are worried.
I will also have something to say to Mr. Simard, who seems to believe that everything is going well in New Brunswick. Yes, we have moved forward, we have made progress, but we needed resources to do it and we need even more now. Our population is evolving. Even though things are going well and even though there has been progress, there are still many things to be done in terms of health, cardiac laboratories, hospital employees or a francophone board. I know that provincial matters are not within your jurisdiction, but there is work to be done in our communities, and even our provincial governments must do something to move things forward. More resources are needed—not fewer resources—to continue to progress and play on a level playing field. But this requires that we be consulted. There are discussions about partnerships with organizations, but it is not enough to talk about these things; they needs to be done. The government is not giving us any concrete signs about its interest in francophone issues; if it were to do so, it would give us hope. What we have been seeing is the very opposite. It makes no sense.
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
As this is the second round of questions, I will attempt to move things along quickly, because several questions have been raised.
To begin with, I would like to address the issue of consultation. I know that there have been cuts and that the Court Challenges Program was shelved without any consultation. That is what you've told us this afternoon.
I believe that governments always have one fear. I worked in the community field for many years, and when the time came to announce cuts to the Department of Health and Social Services, we took action and were given a cheque. When cuts are involved, the impression is that government representatives hide and are afraid to meet us, which often gives the impression that they have been cutting in the wrong places.
When there is a budget deficit—which is not the case at the federal level, I feel—people can be consulted to determine where the cuts can be made. With respect to the francophone communities, how would you approach such consultations and a way of evaluating priorities, which has not yet been done? I think that you have said that you have infrastructures. I would still like to hear your comments on this subject.
Second, do you feel that you are receiving your share of the budget at the moment with respect to local and community economic development in the francophone communities of New Brunswick? Are there any projects you put forward that were affected by administrative delays, and that are at a standstill or not going anywhere?
Third, in health, there is often discussion of the level of education, and low incomes. I know that the francophone communities feel that they are losing vitality. If you consult certain statistics, it can often be seen that incomes are lower, etc. Is this reflected in the health problems of Acadians? Have ways been put forward to enable each individual to receive appropriate services in accordance with the reality of the communities?
2:10 p.m.
President, Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick, As an Individual
You asked me whether I thought that the francophone community in New Brunswick was receiving its share of the economic development budget.
First of all, there is unfortunately too often the perception on the national level that the Atlantic regions are waiting for grants. I think that our business community is very dynamic; it knows where the resources are; it can do many thing and it can go and find what it needs.
As for assurances that the ACOA will always be there to support private-sector projects or departments such as Industry Canada, etc., we certainly hope that the funds will be there. The thing is to ensure that the existing structures are maintained and properly funded. I would like to end my commentson on that note.
2:10 p.m.
President, Société santé et mieux-être du Nouveau-Brunswick
If I could comment. As you know, there is definitely a correlation between socioeconomic level and health. The interesting thing is that our society consults and works with various partners to identify the problems involved in the health of our population. This is not done at the provincial or even national level, even though the data are beginning to come in. It is really essential to know the status of our community's health.
Society, together with its various partners, is trying to effect a shift towards wellness. So we may well go beyond health as such including, as you mentioned, the factors influencing health in terms of income, poverty, etc. Our society is thus becoming very sensitive to the issues that affect our population.
2:15 p.m.
Bloc
Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Is there a significant gap between anglophones and francophones in New Brunswick?
2:15 p.m.
President, Société santé et mieux-être du Nouveau-Brunswick
Léandre Desjardins carried out a study of the population, but once again it is very difficult to collect data. It is not completely clear, but the fact remains that depending on where you live, there are certainly differences between rural and urban communities. We can only speculate about whether there is a francophone majority in a given region. That is highly likely where the problem lies, because we do not have the tools needed to identify the differences between francophones and anglophones.
