Evidence of meeting #22 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was saskatchewan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Fédération Franco-TéNOise
We suppose that it is being done. The Northwest Territories' obligations were transferred to Nunavut when it was created. In Nunavut, French and English are on the same legal and constitutional footing.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you.
We will now begin our second round with Mr. Brent St. Denis, from the official opposition.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thanks also to Messrs. Desgagné and Denault.
I represent a large riding that includes a number of small francophone towns where a good part of the population operates in both languages.
My friend Richard Nadeau raised the issue of excessive bureaucracy, or red tape. There is a large network of volunteers who work very hard for the nation and the region and nobody is paid to manage them. It is a gift for the nation. Without that network, the nation would be the poorer.
Because of these two very important notions, at the same time we demand a great level of paperwork from the small organizations. There is a use of volunteer time that would otherwise be used in the service of minority languages, health services, or social services—it doesn't matter.
Many small organizations are faced with a lack of resources, even though they have a considerable amount of paperwork to deal with on a monthly and an annual basis.
It seems to me that the typical income-tax payer might pay, depending on their income, $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000 and up per year—and we don't get audited, except by exception once in a while. But we insist that each of these organizations....
There has to be some way to ensure that we are accountable for the use of taxpayers' money. I would like to deal with the balance between
the idea of audit demands, and the need to put our volunteers to the best use, whether it's for official languages or any other service to the country.
President, Fédération Franco-TéNOise
I appreciate the question. It is clear that you have understood what we were saying earlier.
We are proud to be accountable. We are proud to be able to manage the budgets that we are given and do it responsibly. The volunteers are proud and everyone is in the same boat, it is part of the learning curve, etc. However, we hate to have to use one-third of the resources that you give us to simply fill out your forms. But that is what is happening now. With the changes in accountability at Heritage Canada, our employees spend 33% of their time filling out your forms. That is way over the top. This all began with the problems at Human Resources Development Canada.
There were no problems with our groups and our files. However, we were publicly dragged through the mud and we had unreasonable accountability criteria imposed upon us.
We like to hear people say that we are giving our nation a gift, but it is a rather strange gift because we have to constantly fight for our place. We are criticized for being demanding. People try to make us feel uncomfortable because of what we are advocating. However, it is the person who has no respect for the rights of an individual citizen who should feel uncomfortable; not the person who is advocating that right. You are not an advocate if you are not asking for something to which you are already entitled.
It is hard for us to feel like we are giving something to the nation when the Department of Justice continually finds itself on the other side of the issue and regularly loses its case. What is wrong with a government that sends our Department of Justice to work against the rights of a citizen, to reduce costs or the risks to the government, which has not respected the right of that citizen? Something is wrong with this system. It's a pretty strange way of doing business.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you Mr. Denault.
We will now move back to the government side with Mr. Luc Harvey.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
You said that you had trouble with the satellite transmission of Radio-Canada in French. I am a Bell ExpressVu subscriber and I can get Radio-Canada signals from the Atlantic provinces and from Quebec. I can listen to the same newscast four times a day, every hour or two, according to the time zone. The satellite is up in the air. I don't understand why you would have any trouble with reception. I am trying to use my imagination, but I just don't understand.
Can you help me out here?
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
I will be happy to. The answer is quite simple: the CRCT decision on satellite broadcasting is made according to time zones. Our time zone is located in the middle of Saskatchewan. We are either in the Manitoba or the Alberta time zone, depending on the time of year. Saskatchewan is not available by satellite because the reception is based on the time zones. Saskatchewan is not currently an option.
We have complained, we have done whatever we could. The francophones in Saskatchewan cannot see themselves represented on television at this time. If a flood or some other event were to occur, we would see that on the national news; otherwise, we have no way of seeing ourselves represented on TV.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
You can receive television signals, but you have no local news.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
We get the news from Manitoba via satellite, or news from Montreal, but there is no news from Saskatchewan.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
I see. It is because of Radio-Canada and not because of the satellite.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
It's because of a decision made by the CRTC. We are not one of the choices that are available via satellite. The decision was based on the time zones.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
For example, at home, I have the choice of SRC “V” for Vancouver, “W” for west. But “W” does not include Saskatchewan.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
It includes either Vancouver or the other ones, but not Saskatchewan. It is not available. We don't have that choice currently.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
We can watch the stations in other provinces via satellite, but not Saskatchewan. Do you understand? A Fransaskois subscriber to Bell can watch Radio-Canada from Manitoba, from Montreal and from Vancouver, but not from Saskatchewan. It is available on cable, but not via satellite.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
I am referring to local newscasts.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
But you have a signal. However, you can't watch the network for your province.
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
We don't have that option with the satellite.
Conservative
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
Most people who live in Saskatchewan, even in Regina, receive their television signals via satellite. It isn't necessarily because they live in remote areas, but because satellite television is becoming more and more common. For local news, the best source is the Internet, at least for those who have high-speed access.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Has the government imposed a general framework? Are you able to develop your own administrative structures and your own management tools? Can you talk to me a little bit about that? Do you have that kind of autonomy?
Director General, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
Yes. We have some autonomy, but I would say that we are rather dependent. To some extent, we are able to determine our own mechanisms and work with people. For example, in Saskatchewan, we are responsible for community governance; in other provinces, some associations have a certain number of representatives. As long as we comply with the legislation, we can adopt our own governance and partnership structures, among other things. We have that independence and this opportunity.
