Official Languages Committee on Dec. 5th, 2006

[Luketa M'Pindou]

As I indicated in my written submission, we want to see the action plan reflect these commitments in our communities.

For the very first time, one positive spinoff of the action plan is that there's now mention of the immigration sector. I also wish to answer Mrs. Boucher's question on what the community's best achievement is. I would say that the establishment of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada—Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee, working to encourage francophone immigration is a major achievement. It is something that never existed in the past. It is because of sections 41 and 42 that our communities have these settlement services for new immigrants arriving in our communities. We hope to see the action plan continue to emphasize that.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

When I asked my question on health care, everyone froze. I know that it is cold outside, but this morning we have heard from witnesses who were telling us that progress has been made. Like it or not, we need more money, and we cannot be shy in saying so. In fact, Ms. Devaney, it is not our money, it is yours. It is money that belongs to taxpayers. Let us clarify one thing, this money belongs to you.

With respect to health care, the answer is that we have found what was missing, but currently there's not enough money for our community centres. During your presentation this morning, I heard you say that the province is ready to inject $2.7 million. The province is saying yes, the federal government is saying no.

Do you believe that this should be part and parcel of the action plan?

[Denis Collette]

In a way, that is already a part of the action plan. When the plan was developed, we set aside funds to establish our health networks. We asked for funding for two networks, one in southern Alberta and the other in northern Alberta.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

I don't want to interrupt you, Mr. Collette, but there are other needs.

[Denis Collette]

Secondly—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

This morning, a witness told us that there are programs. We do not want to begin something.

[Denis Collette]

In the very beginning, our networks served to sensitize health authorities, as needed, to provide more health care services, and to sensitize the public on the need to ask for these health care services. We have a lot of work to do on that front. The same goes for education: we said earlier that only 15% of those entitled to services actually use them.

During the second phase of the plan, we asked for significant amounts of money to help set up treatment centres, similar to the one that is being built here in Edmonton. That did not occur. We're still waiting for confirmation of the funding which will allow us to build these treatment centres and to maintain them for some time, until we were able to convince health care authorities to give us our fair share. That is why, in our presentation, we said that it would be important to include a language change when the provincial and federal governments negotiate health care transfers, so that within the budget envelope for health care, specific amounts will be earmarked for services provided to the francophone population. We've been asking for this for some time. I don't know. We hope that one day, this will be done, just as it has been done for education and employment. A few years ago, we established a francophone employment centre here in Edmonton, thanks to cooperation between the provincial and federal governments. We haven't reached that point in health care. It is part of the action plan, but it still has not been achieved.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Mr. Simard.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our guests.

I will begin with Mr. Collette. We talked about the Saint-Thomas Health Centre. I'm not very familiar with this concept that you touched upon in the beginning of your presentation. In my area, there is the Centre Taché, where 95% of the people are francophone. I can't even begin to imagine them speaking English; it would be incredibly stressful for them. So I understand why you want to build the centre.

Earlier, with our other witnesses, we talked about infrastructure. When people come to Saint-Boniface, they ask us how we have created such a dynamic community. Obviously, it's because of people like you, people who are involved, committed, and above and beyond that, we have significant infrastructure. This is important. We take out office space, and it is difficult to get us to leave. That is why it is so important to have a building where francophones can feel at home.

Earlier, one of the subjects discussed with the other witnesses was the possibility of building in a language provision in all health and education agreements entered into by the federal and provincial governments. This would allow for a certain degree of flexibility when managing funds earmarked for francophones and French-language projects. On top of that, I'm wondering if there shouldn't be an infrastructure fund for community infrastructure projects like the one that you have just mentioned. In fact, in many cases, the communities are lagging behind. In Manitoba, for example, there are no daycares in our francophone schools, but all English-language schools have daycare. We have some catching up to do. Before, if we are to talk about a language provision as a number one priority, it can also apply to infrastructure projects spread over a 10-year period so that we can catch up with majority community.

Does that seem like a good idea to you?

[Denis Collette]

It is quite certain that this is what we have been asking for and waiting for for several years. We put in a request to the federal government last year, under the Canada-Alberta agreements a request for additional funds to balance our budget. Our budget is $24 million; we are running a shortfall of $1.2 million, 5% of the total amount. Nonetheless, we still progress. Earlier, I was asked whether or not we are going to build the centre. We are in the midst of building it. You will be visiting the construction site this afternoon. As I was saying, the centre will house 200 residents. Approximately 100 jobs will be created. People will be working in French. These are tangible results. These people will get paid, and their salaries will be secured through funds coming from Alberta. This falls under the health care sector. People will provide health care services, and these will certainly be paid for by the Alberta government, the provincial ministry of health. We asked the federal government for a little help in getting started. Afterwards, the centre will sustain itself financially. Obviously, we would like to receive federal funding through these agreements. So far, we have been refused, and we are apparently being told it would create a precedent. It is true that it would create a precedent. It is true that this is unprecedented, giving financial aid for health care infrastructure in Alberta and other western provinces is unprecedented.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

It is not necessarily a bad precedent.

[Denis Collette]

Absolutely. The numerous good precedents set have contributed to the development of francophone communities. We have received 95% of our funding. We are missing 5%. It is not unreasonable. In the other provinces, if a similar project was presented by an organization similar to ours, I believe that it should be approved.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

Thank you.

I would like to talk to you about francophone immigration here in Alberta. In the Maritimes, some have pointed to the Lebanese community as being a pool of francophone immigrants. In Manitoba, we have identified French-speaking Africans. Eastern Europe is another example. It varies by region.

In Alberta, have you identified any francophone community in particular?

[Josée Devaney]

According to my documents, I can tell you that this year in our schools, many of our immigrants came from Ontario and New Brunswick.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

I'm talking about people from abroad.

[Josée Devaney]

With respect to immigrants from abroad, the majority come from francophone Africa.

[Luketa M'Pindou]

As a former Alberta community representative on the Steering Committee for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, I can tell you that Alberta has not reached the stage of recruiting from abroad, something that has become a primary objective. Demographic migration occurs interprovincially. Unlike Manitoba or the Maritime provinces, we have not reached the stage of recruiting from abroad.

The Centre d'accueil et d'établissement d'Edmonton at Saint-Jean Campus made two or three trips to Africa and Eastern Europe, but these were not very successful. For now, people are arriving in Alberta of their own initiative.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Thank you.

Mr. Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Hello and thank you for your presentations.

I am a Franco-Ontarian member of parliament. I live close to Ottawa, in a region whether there are 65,000 Franco-Ontarians. I am always sensitive to the needs of minority language communities.

We discussed budget cuts and government obligations under Bill S-3. I would like to point out some concrete and positive measures which show the government's support. In the field of education, we announced a $1 billion agreement over four years. In Alberta, exactly $53 million will be spent on education. In terms of community services, we are looking at $64 million. That represents a 25% increase. In terms of direct support to communities, $120 million will be granted, or an increase of 11%. We also just announced $309 million for immigration, a significant source of concern for many. As the chairman mentioned, representatives from all four parties sitting on this committee came to meet with you to speak to you and hear what you had to say. It is also a way for us to show our support for you.

As I've already stated, the needs are always great, but funding and resources are limited. Sometimes, we try to reach specific goals and we manage to do so because our targets are clear. You represent the francophone community in Alberta. How do your groups and associations work together to identify needs, and more importantly, to set priorities? We need to make decisions. If priorities can be established for Alberta, that could contribute to the development of francophone communities.

Mr. Colette.

[Denis Collette]

The representatives of our provincial association, who did a presentation this morning, told you about our priorities for the next few years in terms of infrastructure. The top priority was definitely building the Saint-Thomas Health Centre. So the importance of that project was recognized. Then, there was the second stage, La Cité francophone, as well as a project on Saint-Jean Campus.

So we discuss our priorities at various forums and meetings, and we do manage to make decisions. Those priorities are then conveyed to our funders, including the federal government, the provincial government and, in some cases, our municipal governments. Our position is always the same, the one you heard this morning. We support all of those priorities.

That is more or less how we establish that, but there are certainly some good discussions in our community to try to set priorities. For a long time, it was education. That is still important. As for infrastructure, that may not be the priority of the francophone community these days, it's more about health, and not just in Edmonton. We are starting with a project in Edmonton, but we want to create others in the regions.

We do want to show that the partnership with a board of health can actually happen. We are starting with the largest board of health in the province, Capital Health. If we manage to convince these people to help us and to support our projects, we are sure that in Calgary and in northern Alberta, we can be even more successful with our claims. That's what happened with education.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

I am going to pick up where Mr. Lemieux left off. We're talking about billions of dollars for education. Agreements were renewed.

There were complaints in some places, but in others, the issue didn't even come up, and, spontaneously, witnesses were saying that without the Court Challenges Program, they wouldn't have been there. It takes funding. There is a lot of talk about accountability and responsibility and all that, but without funding, you can refer to Part VII of the Official Languages Act, and section 41, which is clear and declaratory, all you want, but it's pointless if you can't afford a court challenge. Is it worth thinking about the millions of dollars? The current government insists on so much accountability and responsibility that people in the field can't come back with a tool to say that something isn't working.

For example, where I live, without the Court Challenges Program, the riding of Acadie-Bathurst would have been merged with the riding of Miramichi, which is 70% anglophone. That was the first time in Canada a case like that was won in Federal Court.

In terms of education, Ms. Devaney, do you have the funding you need to challenge the Federal Government in the Supreme Court and win?

[Josée Devaney]

Definitely not.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

And you, Mr. Dumont?

[Paul Dumont, Trustee, Greater North Central Francophone Regional Authority no. 2]

No.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

And you, Mr. Blanchet?