Official Languages Committee on June 16th, 2009

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I wanted to ask a question about another matter.

I'm going to give you the opportunity to tell us where you think we could make improvements in order to advance matters. This has been going on for years—in fact, more than 10 years. Do you have any suggestions? Where could we improve the process?

[Suzanne Bossé]

I think we've already named a few options. I agree with you: advancing 25% of funding to offset funding approval and payment delays is an excellent option. However, that funding has to be paid. It's one thing to receive a letter in April informing you of that 25% advance, as we said in our presentation, but the money still hasn't been paid today. It's important.

We mentioned earlier that the multi-year agreements were very important. As for the contribution accords, yes, they have to be signed. I know of one case in particular in which the accord isn't signed. They still have to be received. That's what we were saying earlier. The contribution accords haven't been sent. The contribution amounts haven't been confirmed. We can't even plan.

Do you want to add something, Diane?

[Diane Côté, Director, Community and Government Liaison, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada]

There's an enormous number of steps and processes that have to be followed at the Department of Canadian Heritage, at the regional and national levels. There are two or three stages at the national level alone before a project gets to the minister's office. From there, it has to follow the reverse path. In any case, there are an incredible number of stages for each project or programming.

There's also another factor that makes the matter more difficult. The Department of Canadian Heritage is a department that has about the largest number of contributions and grants in government. This year, all its programs, not just the Official Languages Program, were at the renewal stage. I also find that somewhat unacceptable. The department should be able to stagger its programs somewhat so it doesn't have to be done all at the same time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That's definitely a point to take note of, so that the expiry dates are not all the same because that causes a backlog. It should be arranged in sequence, staggered.

[Diane Côté]

Absolutely. There are other things that I wanted perhaps to mention—

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Do it quickly. I'm a bit short of time, but go ahead, you are the witnesses. We're here to listen to you.

[Diane Côté]

It's just another brief note. The deadline for some organizations, particularly at the national level, is in November. However, in the provinces, it's before that for most organizations. The deadline for some organizations is in September and October. That's the case of the organizations we're talking about.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Perfect.

We're going to start our second round. We were able to do a good round; it was quite exhaustive.

Go ahead, Mr. D'Amours.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First, it's all well and good to try to blame others, but the opposition isn't the government. That may not be good for you, but I believe that people on the government side haven't understood that they are the government. They have formed the government since January 2006. If they want to talk about elections, I'm going to remind them that they're the ones who triggered the election in September 2008. So they should stop blaming the opposition and accept their responsibility.

It's all well and good to study the situation, but personally... I think that Ms. Bossé, from the FCFA, said that programs had to be accepted or approved again by the Treasury Board. Between you and me, that's not the organizations' problem; it's the government's responsibility to do things accordingly so that you aren't ultimately penalized. I think this is really a matter of common sense. If the government withholds approvals, takes the time it wants, and is forced to transfer matters left and right, ultimately you're the ones who aren't entitled to funding because they haven't done their homework. It's not your responsibility; it's not your fault. The government must accept its responsibility in that respect.

How much time has the entire matter of the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality taken? In principle, it should have been in place on the day the other plan expired. But they took their time, and today all we hear is that the Roadmap has been announced. However, we're looking for something concrete. Where does it stand? In what organization? In what region of the country? People are waiting to know when they'll get their funding.

Ms. Bossé and Ms. Côté mentioned earlier that applications to Canadian Heritage have to be submitted at the provincial level in September and October. This is now late June. That means that organizations and groups applied in September, but may not yet have received any money, or even an answer, in July. We're talking about a system that makes absolutely no sense. You aren't one of the new groups; they know who you are; they know what you want, what your objective is. You're trying to promote both official languages through your respective organizations, in your respective regions. However, the only thing we hear is that the money isn't there. It's deplorable to see these kinds of situations. It's up to the government to shoulder its responsibilities. This government has been in power for nearly four years. It's all well and good to say that some people are new, but the government itself is starting to get old. Four years later, they're still trying to blame the opposition for their own inaction and inability to do the necessary work to ensure that our organizations can be properly respected.

My remarks are probably more of a comment, because there comes a time when we get frustrated for you. We would much prefer not to have you appear before us, in the Standing Committee on Official Languages, to tell us what your problems are. If the government had taken action or was taking action, you wouldn't be here explaining to us what has to be done to save you. You would have your money. Your applications would have been approved, you would have received your money, your projects would be implemented, and the communities and groups would be benefiting from them. However, we're still struggling before the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Why? Because the government isn't giving you the money you need. Why doesn't the government simply approve your application and hand over the money you need?

Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have a minute left.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

In view of what I consider a crisis for the organizations, we're going to submit a motion to the clerk, in both official languages, concerning today's subject. We're going to ask the committee to re-examine this matter. Let's summon the people from the departments and the ministers responsible so that we can clarify the situation. Perhaps we have to put them under the lights once again, a second, a third time. Perhaps someone has to finally wake up. We're going to introduce this motion which, I'm sure, we'll be able to debate in a while, since it concerns today's subject. It will be in both official languages.

These kinds of situations have to stop. We have to find solutions for you. When the ministers reappear before us, they'll probably get fed up and make sure their departments work. They alone are responsible for the mistakes made. They have no one else to blame. They can't blame the opposition or the officials; they have only themselves to blame.

Mr. Chairman, we can debate this motion later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. D'Amours.

[Suzanne Bossé]

Could I make a comment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You'll have a chance to do that.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I nevertheless have a few questions to ask.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. D'Amours has used his speaking time. Every parliamentarian has the privilege of using it at his or her discretion.

[Suzanne Bossé]

This is new for me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Ms. Guay, go ahead, please.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm going to ask you a few simple questions. We see the problem is serious. The parliamentary session will be ending soon, likely this week. No doubt you know how things work here in summer: everything runs in slow motion.

What could we do to help you now, so that you don't see any of your organizations shutting down, going bankrupt or laying off employees? I see you are really in serious difficulty and that this has been going on for years. You no doubt often need qualified staff, but it must be hard to recruit them. These people don't want to get involved in an organization that offers no financial security or can't guarantee long-term employment.

Give us some ideas of what we can do, as parliamentarians, to press the government before the House adjourns for the summer in the next few days. That way, we could immediately take concrete action that might help you this summer. Then we could see you again in the fall so to give you some news.

I'm going to hand over to you.

[Lise Routhier-Boudreau]

The applications have been received and, from what we understand, have been analyzed. The cheques now have to be signed and mailed and the agreements sent. We don't know what office they're in now.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

You don't know at all?

[Lise Routhier-Boudreau]

No.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

But you file your applications with Canadian Heritage?

[Lise Routhier-Boudreau]

Yes.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

All right. We're going to look into the matter and see what desk they're lying around on.

Apart from that?