Official Languages Committee on Dec. 6th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much.

We're going to suspend the hearing so that we can receive our next witness, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I invite committee members to return to their places so that we can continue with eighth meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Today we have he pleasure of hearing from the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Womena and Official Languages.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee will commence its study of the Court Challenges Program and the State of Affairs from the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Minister, welcome to the Standing Committee this morning. Without further delay, I turn the floor over to you.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Colleagues and members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. I am pleased to appear before you today as Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages.

Since I took up this position, I have met representatives of English and French official-language communities and Canadians who care about our country's linguistic duality. I was impressed by the dynamism and determination of these men and women. The discussions that I have had with them have motivated me to work together with these Canadians.

We are making significant efforts not only to support these people in their work on official languages, but also to ensure that our linguistic duality helps us build bridges between various components of Canadian society. The data from the 2006 Census published by Statistics Canada on December 4 underscore the importance of the Government of Canada's programs and initiatives to promote official languages. The Canadian reality is enriched by an ever-increasing pluralism.

Since the beginning of its mandate, our government has redoubled its efforts to lay the foundations of a stronger, more prosperous, and more united Canada. In my opinion, we will reach this goal only when we allow all citizens to live and grow in French as well as in English. We can make this happen through the education of our young people.

Since my arrival, I have signed bilateral education agreements with every province and territory that will allow us to invest no less than $1 billion over four years, an unprecedented amount. In these agreements we touch on several different responses to the challenges of teaching in a minority setting in order to advance the goals that are important to our government and to communities, such as recruiting and retaining students, bridging the gaps between school and community, recruiting teachers, and improving access to post-secondary studies.

In accordance with our stated goal of making a better future for official-language communities, we have launched pilot projects on the advantages of offering enriched services in French to preschool-age children. I believe that this is an important first step not only for the development of these children, but also for the future of official-language communities.

With respect to second-language education, the provinces and territories are developing new second-language teaching approaches, improving primary and secondary students' language skills, and modernizing teaching methods. Like us, these governments believe it is important for young Canadians to know our two official languages to succeed in a world of global communication.

As we announced in the 2007 Budget, we will spend $30 million over two years to help Canadians use their language more on a daily basis. Over the next few months, I will be making a number of announcements about how this major investment will be shared across the country.

We have a simple yet worthwhile goal. We want all young Canadians to have the opportunity to appreciate our linguistic duality and to understand what a treasure this cultural heritage is for our country.

This year, the Department of Canadian Heritage, through its Official Languages Support Branch, will target youth activities that will give young people in official-language communities more opportunities to live life in their own language. In so doing, we hope to encourage their commitment to their community.

Supporting local projects by and for young people would seem to be the most relevant approach - such everyday activities as sports, cultural pursuits, and developing Web content. Young people become more attached to their language by regularly taking part in activities in their language. Leisure activities provide key opportunities for social interaction and building identity.

As you know, our government wants to involve not only young people from English and French minority language communities but all young Canadians. Learning their second official language is growing in popularity among our young people. The adults of tomorrow recognize the personal and professional potential that language learning can afford them.

It's therefore important to target youth activities that create opportunities for young Canadians to have linguistic and cultural experiences in their second official language.

To do this, we support extracurricular and cultural activities that promote use of the second language or exposure to the second language outside of school. From these experiences, young people can learn to better appreciate the culture that accompanies both languages while improving their language skills. For young anglophones, this type of experience makes the French language more relevant to their lives.

I would now like to speak briefly about how we are dealing with the changes that are happening in official-language communities.

The most recent census clearly indicates that these communities are undergoing a transformation. They are becoming more urban and more multicultural. We need to provide them with places adapted to their needs.

On the other hand, there are also dynamic and unified rural communities, firmly anchored in tradition.

To respond to the concerns of communities throughout the country, the cooperation that exists between the federal government and the provinces and territories is invaluable.

The construction and expansion of school-community centres across Canada are a wonderful example of this in the community and education sector.

In terms of health care, the construction and renovation of cultural and community spaces in the Saint Thomas Community Health Centre is often mentioned.

This fall I was honoured to take part in the latest federal-provincial-territorial ministers conference on la Francophonie in Canada. At this gathering we restated the importance of working with provincial and territorial governments to make sure our investments in official language minority communities have maximum effect.

Some provinces have added their voices to ours on the subject of Francophone immigration. A few months ago, we implemented a strategic plan on Francophone immigration in the provinces in partnership with the country's Francophone and Acadian communities.

The work that we have done over the past few months with the Government of Quebec has focused mostly on celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The cradle of French civilization in North America, the site of the earliest chapters of Canadian history, and an important player in the promotion of French today, Quebec is an important partner of the Government of Canada. We are particularly pleased to work with the Government. of Quebec and the Société du 400^e to make 2008 a landmark year for all Quebeckers and all Canadians. Our Government is providing more than $110 million and offering valuable support in preparation for this anniversary, both for infrastructure and for the artistic and cultural programming.

In addition, the next Francophone Summit will take place in Quebec City in 2008. It is no accident that the heads of state and heads of government of Francophone countries have decided to hold their discussions in Canada. Our country is a beacon in its support of the French language. That is why we are investing $2.5 million to ensure that Francophones from all regions of Canada are represented at the activities that are part of the Summit.

Other important activities are planned in connection with the 400th anniversary, including the 13th Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers' Conference on La Francophonie in Canada.

As we mentioned in the most recent Speech from the Throne, our Government recognizes how important it is to promote our two official languages and support linguistic duality in Canada. We will confirm our support for our linguistic. duality through concrete actions in the coming months. This spring, we will propose a strategy to bring about the next phase of the Action Plan for Official Languages.

To date, the action plan has generated investments of close to $810 million in education, the federal public service, and the development of language industries and official language communities. This plan expires in March, providing an ideal opportunity to breath new life into our efforts to strengthen our linguistic duality.

We are currently reviewing all projects and the federal strategy on official languages. This will allow us to renew or perhaps even change government projects that deal with official languages. We may sometimes need to strengthen them and also to adjust and modernize them, to build on partnerships, and to raise interest among Canadians.

This week, we launched consultations aimed at taking the pulse of the population to see what this new strategy should focus on. These consultations will allow us to understand the viewpoints of all stakeholders. Such as key organizations in the area of linguistic duality, universities, and representatives of the volunteer and private sectors.

Bernard Lord will moderate the regional consultations that will be held in seven Canadian cities in the first two weeks of December. As former Premier of New Brunswick, Canada's only bilingual province, Mr. Lord is the ideal candidate to successfully lead these consultations. His extensive regional experience, as well as in the area of official languages, provides him with the necessary expertise to understand and moderate these consultations.

In our discussions about developing a new strategy, we will consider our ongoing dialogue with the provinces and territories, particularly the work of the Ministers' Conference on La Francophonie in Canada.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Minister, could you wrap up, please? You have about one minute left.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I have two pages left. I'm coming to the conclusion.

Of course, we will also take into account—and it’s important to say this—results of community gatherings like the Sommet des communautés francophones et acadienne, reports from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, results of the 2006 Census and an important follow-up study on community vitality by Statistics Canada.

Of course, the important work of the House of Commons standing committees on official languages will be given careful consideration.

Conclusion.

As you can see, our record in the area of official languages is solid and diversified.

Our Government will continue to build on what we have already achieved to ensure that Canadians can benefit from the many advantages offered by our country's two official languages—a national cultural treasure that is unique in North America.

I am determined to work toward this, in the spirit of open federalism, and respectful of provincial and territorial fields of jurisdiction.

Thank you for inviting me and taking the time to listen.

Of course, I should have introduced my Deputy Minister, Judith LaRocque, whom everybody knows well, and Hubert Lussier, who is Director General.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Minister, and welcome to those persons with you.

It was worth it to hear the end of your address. We thank you for your kind words about our committee.

We will now begin a five-minute round, then a three-minute round, as we did with the previous group of witnesses. We will start with the Liberal Party representative, Mauril Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, sometimes I try to be patient and courteous, but at some point we'll have to tell it like it is.

If the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages comes to meet with us for only one hour, whereas she should be here for two hours, and she uses up the first 15 minutes, that doesn't leave us much time to ask questions.

In fact, those are fine words. Even the Commissioner of Official Languages has begun to get tired of fine words and suggested in his first report that the government start taking action.

Ms. Verner, you've held the position of minister for approximately 22 months.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Yes, roughly that.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Could you tell me how many times the members of the Committee of Deputy Ministers on Official Languages has met in those 22 months?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

That committee meets on a regular basis.

[Judith LaRocque, Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage]

As you know, the committee of deputy ministers has not been restruck, but a committee of assistant deputy ministers meets regularly. It is chaired by Mr. Manion, of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So the committee of deputy ministers has been dismantled and a committee of assistant deputy ministers has been established. Is that correct?

[Judith LaRocque]

The fact is that subjects concerning official languages are examined by a number of other committees of deputy ministers, such as the Human Resources Management Advisory Committee and the Social Inclusion and Justice Committee. So these issues are addressed where they should be.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Minister, could you tell me whether the Cabinet ad hoc committee on official languages has met during those 22 months?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

During that period, I have regularly attended meeting with my colleagues to deal with certain issues.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

But there have not been any meetings of the ad hoc committee on official languages?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

No, sir.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Since the Privy Council Secretariat was transferred to the Department of Canadian Heritage, has a report been prepared on the Secretariat's achievements?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

An evaluation on that subject is currently underway.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It's underway. May we know when it will be completed? Will it be disclosed?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Perhaps someone can tell me that.

[Hubert Lussier, Director General, Official Languages Support Programs, Department of Canadian Heritage]

The evaluation is underway; it's a matter of a few months. These documents are regularly made public on the departments' Web sites.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

All right. Can you also tell me, Minister, whether reports or follow-up were done on the establishment of the horizontal management framework for the Official Languages Program in the public service?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

What is your question about?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It's about the horizontal management framework for the Official Languages Program. It was requested by the communities, and they haven't heard about it in 20 months. Can you tell me whether some sort of report has been prepared on the implementation of that horizontal management and accountability framework?