Official Languages Committee on June 3rd, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Ms. O'Neill-Gordon.

Mr. Godin has left the room, so we will begin the third round with Ms. Zarac.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to thank all our witnesses for being here today.

My question is for Mr. Duncan, which is a follow-up to your discussion with Mr. Godin. You mentioned that the community makes decisions about linguistic diversity. But I would like to remind everyone that Canada is a bilingual country. Perhaps you could answer with a simple yes or no, because I have several questions.

Do you not agree that, in a bilingual country, the decision-making responsibility rests with the government and that it is up to the government to promote linguistic diversity?

[Howard Duncan]

I certainly believe the government has a responsibility for the linguistic duality of the country. As you well know, there are many programs under way for exercising that responsibility.

But I think we need to understand that in a situation of the sort we're talking about here, the social realities are not entirely determined by government policy. There is only so much that any government in the world, at any level, can do. We need to understand the dynamics, many of which play out in the local community.

There's a saying in the immigration world, around the world, that integration is local. Yes, national governments can create conditions for success—

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

But we can also create ghettos. That's why we have to make sure that we contain in a way that we don't create ghettos: don't you agree with that?

[Howard Duncan]

Absolutely. Nobody likes ghettos--

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

But I have other questions.

I have other questions I would like to explore.

I made a quick calculation. You are currently receiving more than $1,600,000. That funding comes from 13 different departments. You quickly listed the priority areas you are working in.

Does each department provide a specific amount? Is it difficult to operate that way? Would it be simpler if the process were different?

[Howard Duncan]

The different ministries provide different amounts, but the set of six priority areas is determined by consensus among all of them.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

So, it's not tied to a specific area. That's great; that gives you more flexibility.

You also said that you receive an additional $1 million a year from other sources. Could you quickly indicate what those other sources are?

[Howard Duncan]

The other sources could be other government ministries.

These are the researchers themselves in the universities. They get them from other programs of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council—

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

So, this is money the researchers receive.

[Howard Duncan]

Exactement.

Or they get them from provincial governments or foundations. There are many sources they can draw from.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

So, that is not funding from the Government of Canada. Fine, thank you.

I have a question for Mr. Nadeau. I kept it until the end because I realize the answers will have to be a little longer.

You are the envy of many provinces because you have been given $10 million. However, you mentioned that you only recently began accessing the money. One of the questions I prepared was about what you had been doing with the money thus far. However, I imagine you haven't really had the time to do much.

Since there isn't much time, and given that you have to prove that a project is effective before it can be accepted again, my question is somewhat different. I would like to know if you will have time to prove that the $10 million will be used effectively and that you need the $10 million to continue your activities.

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

I believe so, because even though the agreement was only signed with them in February—we indicated that in our material—they moved ahead. Also, the lady in St. John I talked about earlier is now working thanks to that funding. We were also able to hire Anne-Lise with the money. Some time was wasted, unfortunately, but we are determined to use the money and use it wisely.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Did anyone tell you why it took so much time to break the logjam?

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

Well, it's related to administrative details and petty turf wars. I can't tell you exactly why, but I do know that we lost time as a result.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Fine, thank you.

Do I have any time left, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have 30 seconds left. Manage them well.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Duncan, in the course of our meetings, we have often heard that there is a need for balance. Did you make that recommendation because you are an advisor to the government and are tasked with making recommendations? Is this an idea that came from the researchers, because it's very important if we want to maintain some balance in our minority communities? That means assigning certain percentages. Is that a recommendation that has been made by researchers?

[Julie Boyer]

What do you mean by “balance”?

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

For example, the minority community represents 33% of the population in Nova Scotia, and there is a need to ensure that we will keep it at that minimum level, or the same percentage. In other words, we have to ensure that 33% of Francophones emigrate to the province.

[Julie Boyer]

Yes.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Is that a recommendation that has been made?

[Julie Boyer]

Are you talking about maintaining the demographic weight of the minority communities?

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Yes.

[Julie Boyer]

Yes, that is absolutely true.