Evidence of meeting #10 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
We will take this opportunity to ask for some clarifications along the same lines as what I was raising earlier. For me, consultations and so forth end up being, as I said earlier, an extension of the Dion plan, with a few additions. In my opinion, this is the bulk of it. It's not bad, it is fine; the Dion plan was a good plan.
Could you tell me concretely what the additions are? What more is there in the Roadmap than there was before?
10:05 a.m.
Tom Scrimger Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Corporate Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
Thank you for your question. What are the new amounts for the departments concerned? I'm going to quickly list the targeted departments and tell you the amounts. My colleagues will be able to add to my answer. With regard to the Official Languages Secretariat, which falls under Canadian Heritage, there is a new investment of $8 million. For the other programs under Canadian Heritage, there is $38.5 million. For Health Canada, there is $59.3 million. For HRSDC, there is $55 million.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Corporate Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
I'll give you the overall amount, which includes both the continuation of existing programs as well as new programs.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I don't want to talk about ongoing programs. The government is patting itself on the back for the Roadmap. From what I can see, in large part, it's what we had before, which is fine and well. But what I want to know, is what is new?
March 24th, 2009 / 10:05 a.m.
Jérôme Moisan Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
First, funds have been added to the envelopes that have been maintained. As Mr. Scrimger said, Health Canada has received additional funds for existing envelopes. This is an example of an increase. The same thing is true for Justice Canada, where amounts were added to existing envelopes, in the same way. There are a number of new initiatives, including the Fonds de développement culturel under Heritage Canada and support for francophone immigration to New Brunswick.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
It is $14 million over four years.
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
With regard to support for immigration to New Brunswick, ACOA received $10 million over five years. Also the Music Showcases for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities program under Canadian Heritage has a $4.5 million budget over five years. I could send you a list in writing.
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
Thanks to some 10 or 15 new initiatives, various departments that were not part of the previous action plan received funding. Among the new funds, we could mention those allocated to Public Works for the implementation of a linguistic gateway, translation branch, and the language industry initiative. Other departments have also followed.
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes, absolutely. To give you a specific answer to your question, there will be a difference between the new initiatives and the addition of funds to existing initiatives.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
What is the increase compared to the total amount? The envelope for five years is $1 billion. Is this correct?
10:10 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Corporate Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
The total investment is $1.1 billion. The new funds are approximately $250 million.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes, correct.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Perfect.
Do you know about the new Canadian Media Fund, that the minister mentioned earlier? And what about Radio-Canada?
10:10 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Corporate Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
That does not come under us.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Chair, I have one minute remaining. I'd like to still try to understand. You are saying that there were additions, but we're talking about reaching the amount set out in the Dion plan. If we multiply by five the amount set out in the last year of the Dion plan, would it be close to the $1 billion amount that you referred to?
10:10 a.m.
Senior Director, Official Languages Secretariat, Department of Canadian Heritage
If we renewed funding for the last of the five years, it would not equal $1 billion, but approximately $800 million. Money was added in order to reach that amount.
10:10 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
You are responsible for official languages. You said that Radio Canada is not part of your mandate, but with regard to the official languages, this is not the case. If we are no longer able to provide services to francophones outside Quebec, we are not meeting the needs of our communities. Why is this not tied to your sector?
