Evidence of meeting #31 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 francophone.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Yvon Godin
New Brunswickers are not immigrants. We are part of Canada. We should be proud of our country and all—
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Yvon Godin
But we refuse to be considered as immigrants. You can use the word "migrant". You want such a program to exist, I understand that.
In your recommendations, you mentioned a need for a program to ensure labour force flexibility. There have been discussions for a number of years to ensure flexibility within Canada, meaning that workers could go from one spot to another and feel comfortable and where both official languages are recognized by law.
President, French Canadian Association of Alberta
To come back to your question, without providing you with the solution, the community may identify solutions for you on the ground. We need to be seen as partners in development, intake and settlement.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Yvon Godin
Thank you.
We will now begin another round of questions. If the members agree, each member will have seven minutes. We cannot allow any more time than that, because we only have three more witnesses.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am a lawyer and a member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the associate critic for the Liberal Party.
I am well aware of the fact that, in Moncton, New Brunswick, disputes sometimes go before the courts. It is essential to reinforce the legislation. Mr. Arnal, you said, "We get lectured all the time but nothing changes". I listened to all the witnesses during our trip and it is my feeling, currently, that not everything is working perfectly. The example that I want to give, on the national level in health care, is that of the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa.
What do the witnesses who are here think of the abolishing of the Court Challenges Program? Was this a good decision or do you believe that, as a last resort, it was an essential tool for minority communities, not only with regard to language, even if this issue concerns you much more than other minority rights? Are you in favour of this decision, yes or no? Do you dare say it? I think that your opinion is extremely important to our work, Mr. Chairman. I would like to know.
President, French Canadian Association of Alberta
I have no problem answering that question. Ultimately, francophone communities often resort to using the courts. The courts are often their only tool, and often, we challenge the provincial government. The goal is not to identify whether legislation is constitutional or unconstitutional, rather it is the application of legislation that is a problem. We are not challenging the legislation but rather its application. If we are unable to ensure compliance by the federal or provincial government with the legislation, the community's sole recourse is the courts. So, when this tool is taken away from us, we feel that it is another nail in the coffin of the Canadian francophonie.
I am sorry but we refuse to die silently. We will continue to fight, and I think that the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne has taken a position regarding that decision. We, the representative of the francophone community in Alberta, support the efforts of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne in this regard. I believe that is a mortal blow.
General Director, Réseau santé albertain
I want to add a comment, since our school board benefited from the Court Challenges Program. Clearly, this is an extremely important tool, if only financially or as moral support when making our demands and with regard to how the application of the legislation is interpreted. That said, if the program was ever restored—I don't know whether you are aware of how high legal fees are these days—I can tell you that past rates would be much lower than the rates that lawyers are commanding these days.
I simply wanted to make that comment. In some ways, this loss will hurt less if, in fact, financial aid represents approximately 5% of court costs, even when going before the Court of Queen's Bench in a particular province.
My second comment is this: I want you to know—although this is not my area of expertise—that I read in Le Franco, our francophone newspaper in Alberta, that currently with regard to the Caron case, the Government of Alberta is challenging the fact that the Constitution does or should ensure the development of the francophone community. This gives you a good idea of what we are facing at the provincial level and the prevalent mindset with regard to francophone rights.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Yvon Godin
Thank you. We will now go to Mr. Blaney. I think that he will be sharing his time with Ms. Boucher. Is Ms. Boucher going first?
Conservative
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Yvon Godin
Pardon me, Ms. Boucher. My deepest apologies. Ms. Boucher will be sharing her time with Mr. Blaney.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Good day.
First, I want to tell you that our government—a Conservative government, unfortunately for the others—will work tirelessly for the francophonie and official languages, particularly Mr. Harper and Ms. Verner. It is our duty. We are here to listen to you. We understand, we are taking notes and we want to work in a positive way with all minorities because it is important to us. We are all francophones, here around this table, and we understand just how difficult it can be. I come from Quebec, from the greater Quebec City area, and I have not experienced this kind of problem, however, anglophones who live in Quebec City face almost the same problem as you do.
One issue concerns me a great deal. I would like to know whether, in minority communities, it is difficult to keep francophones. When we go to more isolated rural regions, people often talk about retention. What are the best tools to ensure that people who come to work here in French, or are from here, will remain in your communities?
President, French Canadian Association of Alberta
If I may begin with a comment, I will mention the recent statement by the government on the status of Quebeckers as a nation. I don't have a problem with Quebec identity; Quebeckers believe that they form a people.
For some 10 or 11 months now, we have been waiting for the current government to make a statement in which it would adopt a firm position on the issue of Canadian francophone communities.
When Mr. Harper talks about the francophonie, he always turns to Quebec. I am concerned that we are not really included in what your government is currently saying and I would like confirmation that it is not talking about one aspect of the francophonie within a specific region.
When we hear such discourse in the absence of a firm statement on the status of francophones outside Quebec, we feel as if we are persona non grata, we feel that we don't exist and that we are not important. I am not playing the victim, but I am asking you to take a stand, to talk about us and to promote linguistic duality. That is what we want, and we will work with you to make this happen.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Listening is sometimes more interesting than talking.
I went to Fort McMurray this summer and I found myself in a francophone intake centre that helped people find employment. The centre was located in a school. A Quebecker who had just arrived was there. I was welcomed in my mother tongue and I really liked that.
I would have liked to hear you say more about education because—I think that you stressed this—it is fundamental. Could you tell us more about your Saint-Thomas Health Centre? What is this exactly? Is this a kind of health care clinic? It's a centre for seniors.
President, Réseau santé albertain
You will be getting a presentation from the group shortly.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Are you talking about Mr. Gaudet? I thought that he was to appear between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. So it will be later, that's great.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Thank you very much for your presentation. I think that there's a time to speak and a time to listen. Today, I greatly appreciated your sincere and heartfelt comments. Thank you.
Liberal
Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to know how long you have had your own school board.