Official Languages Committee on Dec. 12th, 2006

[Pierre Bourbeau]

There is an excellent example.

When there were municipal elections in Ontario recently, the CBC never talked about it. We perceive this as an insult. It's absolutely awful, and makes no sense. But when there are elections in France, the CBC will talk about it. It is examples like that that make us say that it's unbelievable, and that there are all kinds of areas for improvement.

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

But do you agree with me in saying that the government has washed its hands of it? In fact, the CBC has its own organization. No one has anything to say about it. They have their executive committee and they decide everything.

[Pierre Bourbeau]

In my view, the criteria are not demanding enough. There's something missing. Something more needs to be done.

Currently, under its licence, the CBC must broadcast six hours of regional production as part of its national programming. Regional for the CBC means everything outside of Montreal. That includes Rimouski, Sept-Îles and the Canadian francophonie. Very often, the programs are things like Le Jour du Seigneur or La Semaine verte, which have a very small viewership.

What we would like to see is an increase in the number of hours during which the Canadian francophonie can be seen and that these programs be broadcast in better time slots.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Thank you, Mr. Bourbeau. Your time is up.

Mr. Lemieux, you may ask the next question.

I think that Ms. Carrier-Fraser would like to make a comment.

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

Yes, I would like to make a comment strictly about—

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

First, we will hear what Mr.—

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

Ask me a question about the networks.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

I would prefer to start with something else.

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

I'll be glad to submit your questions and give you the answers too.

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

I would like to make a few positive comments, because Mr. D'Amours has given us only part of the story.

The government has not cut funding to the Action Plan for Official Languages, unlike my Liberal friends who made cuts to official languages programs during the 1990s.

We have announced some fine initiatives in education; we have signed a billion dollar agreement with the provinces, we have allocated $64 million to services, which represents an increase of approximately 25%. We have also announced a contribution of $120 million for minority francophone communities; this is an 11% increase. Lastly, we presented the strategic plan to promote immigration within minority francophone communities.

You have our support. We are signing agreements, we are providing money and, I repeat, there have been no budget cuts at all to official languages programs.

I would nevertheless like to ask Ms. Carrier-Fraser a question. Not the same question.

I attended the annual meeting of the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario, the ACFO. What are the differences between the mandates of the ACFO and the AFO?

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

You are speaking of the former provincial ACFO.

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

There is the Prescott and Russell ACFO here.

[Jean Comtois]

At the regional level.

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

Yes.

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

The regional ACFOs have a local mandate: they address the needs of their own communities. The purpose of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario is not to replace the local organizations. For example, the work of the Centre culturel de Cornwall has nothing to do with us. The priorities that we set are to increase funding for all existing organizations and to increase French-language services provided by the provincial government. After all, we live in Ontario, and the provincial government has responsibilities too.

The local organizations respond to the needs of their own communities. We work with these organizations to move major provincial issues forward. The definition of the role of an organization in a specific community differs from ours.

[Jean Comtois]

It's somewhat like the FCFA in relation to the provinces and territories.

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

Yes.

[Jean Comtois]

There is the national FCFA, and then the provincial and territorial organizations. Here, we have the provincial organization and then there are the various regions—

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

—who are members.

[Jean Comtois]

—who are members of the AFO.

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

Okay.

You said that you were a new association. You have my congratulations!

What are your medium-term goals and your goals between now and 2011 or 2012?

[Mariette Carrier-Fraser]

The AFO set its priorities for an 18-month period, which is the end of my term in 2008. Collaboration and coordination between sectors, regions and racial minorities are a priority. It is a very important dimension. The groups are not very familiar with their role, and we need to establish what I like to call a parliament. We need to work together to help the community develop.

Communications are also a priority, because we are not aware of the success stories from elsewhere. We would like to boast about our accomplishment and not always complain about the problems and challenges we are faced with.

Increasing services in French, visibility and recognition from governments are other priorities. In fact, at the Government of Ontario and even the federal level, there has been a tendency in recent years to ignore us, because the organizations were not displaying very much solidarity.

We accept part of the blame for this, but now that we are there, we want to work with the governments to move things forward. We are responsible for the development and vitality of minority communities, but so is the government. The only way we will be able to progress is to pool our strengths. If we work against you or if you do nothing to help us, then we will not accomplish anything. This collaboration is very important.

An increase in financial resources and support from the government is also important. You spoke about funds from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, but there are other sources of funding as well, including in education. However, there is a lack of cohesion in this area.

I appeared before the provincial Citizenship and Immigration Steering Committee and before the Standing Committee on Education. At one point, as a volunteer—

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

You are correct. In some sectors—

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Excuse me, Mr. Lemieux, but your five minutes are already up.

Mr. Rodriguez.