Official Languages Committee on Oct. 29th, 2009

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Is it because they're recurrent that they're not in your analysis? I just want the public and the committee to see that there are a number of reasons there are delays. To not include them leaves not a full picture. I understand their recurrence, and they've been happening over years and years in different governments, etc., but from what I was told this week, by people in this room, there are in fact reasons there are delays. I just want to make sure we have a clear picture. Is that a clear picture, sir?

[Tom Scrimger]

The ability of certain groups that submit applications may cause delays in the processing of grants. If an application is incomplete, the officer definitely has to work with the organization for a number of weeks or months to ensure the application is complete. That also causes a delay.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Okay, so we need to help them.

I'm going to share my time with Monsieur Petit.

[Tom Scrimger]

This is a recurring issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have about one minute left, Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

My question is for Mr. Lussier, Mr. Scrimger or Mr. Chagnon.

The organizations have to complete forms to obtain multi-year funding, grants, and so on. It's like an income tax return. You know that's hard to do. Does the department offer information or courses to help these people properly complete these formalities and not to make too many mistakes?

[Louis Chagnon]

The officers in the regions are responsible for helping the communities as much as possible to understand the process and the requirements of an application, whether it's for multi-year funding or recurrent project funding. It's not equal from region to region; it depends on the ability of the communities. Whatever the case may be, there are indeed training sessions. There are even officers who go on site to speak with the applicants about application form content and the information that is required.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Petit.

Mr. Godin, you may ask a brief question.

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

Thank you.

Earlier we talked about delays and the fact that you hadn't informed the associations, organizations and federations. Is there a reason for that? You already knew that there would be delays and that they wouldn't be the same as in previous years.

[Hubert Lussier]

The groups were informed individually. I think Louis could attest to the fact that they were called and that they were told what the situation was. There wasn't any official statement announcing the delays. We hoped that, despite the particularly high volume of applications, there would be a way to resolve the bottleneck that appeared faster than usual, on time. However, as a result of the volume, that bottleneck was worse than we had anticipated. That's our mistake, and I accept part of that responsibility. We want to correct that situation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Godin.

That's all the time we have. We're going to see each other again next week. I want to thank our witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.