Official Languages Committee on June 7th, 2007

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

If that's the case—Radio-Canada won't like what I'm going to say—perhaps it's time we got rid of it completely.

If Radio-Canada says that the Commissioner of Official Languages and the minister should not interfere in its affairs and that it's the one that does the programming... Ultimately, it's preferable for Francophones to watch CBC because at least they can find out what's going on across the country, whereas, if they watch Radio-Canada, they only know what's going on in Montreal. Perhaps some people only want to live in Quebec and have a country. I don't know. I don't think that's the case: I'm an Acadian French Canadian who lives in Canada, and I like to see Francophones from Alberta on Radio-Canada's airwaves. People want to see themselves on Radio-Canada's airwaves.

However, French Canadians are starting to watch English television because they can't see themselves on Radio-Canada. Imagine: there are 5,000 persons in Caraquet, and there were 25,000 at the Acadian Festival that time when Radio-Canada broadcast the festival and told us that we were lucky that it had been broadcast! It's insulting to be told that we were lucky that it broadcast the festival, particularly since it was done with our money, that of our taxpayers.

Now you're saying that Radio-Canada told you that it wasn't your business, to use the French term from back home. That's completely bilingual.

[Graham Fraser]

We're talking with Radio-Canada about how to proceed.

I nevertheless found the Société nationale de l'Acadie's approach of conducting a study on Radio-Canada's television interesting. That approach is worth a second look.

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

It isn't the people who work at Radio-Canada—that is to say the journalists and all those people—who lead, who hold the power. When a cat is run over on Saint-Catherine Street, they aren't the ones who interrupt the news in the Atlantic to show the poor dead cat; it's the senior management in Montreal that does it.

[Graham Fraser]

I'm going to take your comments into account in our discussions and conversations with Radio-Canada.

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

Commissioner, I'm going to tell you how many times the program L'Atlantique en direct has been interrupted since January, before it was taken off RDI. I'm going to send that to you; you'll see what I'm talking about.

[Graham Fraser]

Thank you very much, I'd like to have your—

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

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Godin.

That completes our first three rounds. As you know, our business will follow, but one person has asked to speak. If the committee is willing, we could grant Mr. Harvey three minutes.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

I'd like to ask Mr. Fraser a question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

If the committee agrees because, in view of the schedule, it is will be difficult to start a fourth round.

Ms. Folco, the floor is with you.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

We have to consider a motion, but I'm willing for us to let Mr. Harvey speak. However, I don't understand why Mr. Chong spoke during the second round, if Mr. Harvey had a question to ask.

That said, we agreed last Tuesday that we would begin work on the motion at no later than quarter to. I would ask you to respect that decision.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Do I have the consent of the Bloc québécois and Mr. Godin to allow a final three-minute question, then to move on to committee business?

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

If you have a good question, I agree.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Go ahead, Commissioner.

[Graham Fraser]

Mr. Chairman, before continuing, I've been given clarification concerning one of Mr. Nadeau's questions. We will be starting the follow-up to the situation at National Defence and Mr. Sauvageau's complaint in November.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That's very good.

[Graham Fraser]

I wanted to clarify the answer that I had given to your question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

If you are willing, Commissioner, there will be a final question. This is a period of three minutes for the question and the answer.

Go ahead, Mr. Harvey.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Fraser, I want to thank you and your team for being here today.

I would really like to confirm for you that the official languages are very important for us. We don't just talk about it; we live it as well. My children are completely bilingual, and some are even multilingual. The official languages, curiosity and interest in other languages are important factors not only for my party, but also in my personal life.

The action plan will soon be renewed. I'd like to know what you think are the innovative and essential aspects that the next plan should contain.

[Graham Fraser]

As I mentioned, I think that health, education and immigration are three very important elements. With respect to education, the issue of early childhood is important, for the reasons I raised earlier this afternoon.

To answer Ms. Boucher's question concerning retention in the minority communities, I think certain aspects of the arts and culture—culture in its broadest sense—are important in making it possible to live in French outside Quebec. You have to have access to a cultural environment, even if you are far from Montreal.

I also know perfectly well that the issue of second language learning can present a risk. As Mr. Nadeau mentioned, immersion schools have raised certain fears in minority communities, but it is possible to stress the importance of collaboration between francophiles and Francophones in the minority communities.

As Mr. Chong said, there is a problem in postsecondary education. When the universities do not encourage students to continue studying in French—English is mandatory in Quebec—students drop French at the age of 14. They make a quite pragmatic choice with regard to what will help them get into university in the program of their choice. You have to look at matters vertically and see how we can encourage young people to learn a second language—

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

[Graham Fraser]

—and gain access to university in important programs.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Fraser.

That brings our question period to an end.

Mr. Commissioner, we would like to thank you for appearing before this committee with your team. You reminded us this morning that French and English are a richness for this country, and you are its guardian. You can count on the support of this committee to assist you in your mandate. We wish you the best.

Thank you.

[Graham Fraser]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We will continue with committee business, as planned.

While the clerk distributes the document concerning the groups we intend to hear from in the coming weeks, I invite Ms. Folco to comment.

I'm ready to hear comments on the notice of motion given by Ms. Folco.