The Fédération des aînées et aînés francophones du Canada is a non-profit organization that represents each of the provincial and territorial federations. We are the only national seniors organization to include all of the provinces and territories. We now have 303,000 members. We are thus the only francophone seniors organization in the country to be organized on this basis, and that includes anglophones.
To be sure, Bill S-3 would appear to provide the opportunity for more consultation of minorities, and seniors in particular. We are somewhat neglected at the Department of Human Resources and Social Development, and we are not always consulted. We suggested to the Hon. Ms. Finley that she strike a committee that would enable us to be consulted on official languages. The committee would consist of representatives from departments and our communities. We believe that this forum, or this committee, could be an opportunity for the federal government to ensure that it can effectively reach minority community francophone seniors and meet their needs.
The reason we would like to have this committee is that the department under which the New Horizons program operates has said that minority community francophone seniors very often do not receive their fair share of grants under the program. Thus, as a percentage of their demographic weight, francophone seniors receive much less than seniors from majority communities. A striking example of this is when it was decided to establish provincial committees to grant funds to organizations, very few francophones were appointed to these committees. Even in New Brunswick, we had to intervene to be represented on the committee. In Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta, action had to be taken with the department to place francophones on the committees. There was even a committee requirement that francophone presentations had to be translated before sending them in. I believe that the question is now being debated at the department and that we can expect a favourable response, I hope, to this question.
The federation wants nothing more than to work with the department to ensure that such situations do not occur again and that francophones can receive equitable and fair treatment. That is only one example, but it shows just how important it is for the federal government to work together with our francophone communities.
The members of our federation would like to take this opportunity to underscore just how important it is to give greater consideration to our needs when the time comes to cut or eliminate certain programs. There is really no need to mention that the cuts being made will eliminate the structure for these programs. My impression is that the literacy program could perhaps continue, but that it would float along aimlessly. That, I believe, is where the cuts hurt.
In view of the little time available, we will only give the example of the literacy program. If seniors do not have access to appropriate programs in every area, how can they be expected to read prescriptions or even properly complete the forms they need to fill in to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement? In this area, the government noted that over 200,000 Canadians were not receiving the supplement because they did not know they were entitled to it. Information about it had not reached seniors. And because seniors do not necessarily read well or perhaps have trouble reading, we made use of this program; we spoke about it a while ago. By making it impossible for them to complete such tasks, which are so familiar to us, are we not jeopardizing the independence and health of our francophone seniors in Canada? Francophone seniors in Canada need to be able to develop in their language, their culture and in the region in which they live. We believe strongly in this.
Lastly, on behalf of the members of the federation, I wish to thank you. I would add that I am accompanied by Mr. Jean-Luc Bélanger, who is not only a member of our federation, but also the President of the Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick.