Official Languages Committee on Dec. 14th, 2010

[Les Linklater]

It's between $800 million and $900 million.

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

How much?

[Neil Yeates]

Nine hundred million dollars.

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

And how much goes to official language communities?

[Neil Yeates]

I do not have that number here.

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

If I said $10 million, would that be about right?

[Neil Yeates]

Perhaps.

[Les Linklater]

I think, Mr. Chair, it's important to understand which communities we're talking about when we say “official language minority community”--given that Edmonton and Vancouver have significant francophone populations, for example, to what degree funding is made available in those communities.

We could look at what funding goes to, particularly settlement agencies in cities that offer services in French.

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

I would love to see that.

Would you propose to give us a breakdown as well?

[Les Linklater]

We can look at what we have in terms of the systems across the country. We have various arrangements by way of contribution agreements, grants, and that sort of thing, to the extent that we can identify contribution agreements for delivery of services in French.

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

I'm of the impression that you may have a situation here in which there may not be much more than the sum I've mentioned—$10 million—being directed towards these communities out of the $800 million or $900 million spent annually. If that's the case, then I think you're going to have to have a serious look at that.

Would you agree?

[Les Linklater]

Well, we will have to look at the detailed information that we have in Quebec. We won't be able to provide the information—

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

In this fund, does it include

—official language training, either English or French?

[Les Linklater]

I believe we have details on the courses offered in either English or French.

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

You're not sure. Does that come from the $800 million or $900 million? Does that come from settlement funding?

[Les Linklater]

Linguistic training, yes.

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

If I could, Mr. Linklater, I would be curious to get a detailed record from the department. I've tried to obtain information through a question on the Order Paper, but I never managed to. I want a detailed record; I do not want any games.

How much money is spent in Canada to provide new Canadians with official languages training? What language is taught and who gives these courses?

I have a feeling that, apart from one or two courses offered in Ottawa by the French-language teaching community, no other French-language courses are offered, except in Quebec, of course.

[Les Linklater]

Yes, they exist.

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

But getting that information is difficult.

As a parliamentarian, if I could ask you for a detailed, accurate report on the situation and if you could provide me with that, I would be delighted. That would be my Christmas present. Thank you.

[Les Linklater]

Okay.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Is Santa Clause real?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bélanger.

It is nearly time to conclude our meeting. We thank the witnesses for being with us here this morning.

Thank you very much. You manage a very important department. As Ms. Guay pointed out, at times we feel like we are involved in your operations. Of course we will be watching with great interest for your responses to the recommendations we have made, particularly concerning your targets for recruiting a certain number of French-speaking immigrants to settle in francophone minority communities outside of Quebec. Thank you very much to our witnesses.

I would simply like to inform committee members that on Thursday, after hearing from the witness, we will continue with the committee's work to begin our study of the far north. Until then, if you have any specific witnesses you would like to call to appear or if you would like to visit any specific areas, please let our clerk know. We hope to provide you with a preliminary agenda at that time.

Mr. Nadeau, would you like—

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Assuming we meet on Thursday, depending on what happens in the House of Commons, I had asked that we invite Mr. Handfield this Thursday. Has that been done? What needs to be done? I spoke to you about it earlier and you replied that the mission itself was important. I had no problem with that. Thursday is very soon. Has Mr. Handfield been invited? I think it is very important that he be here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Not for Thursday's meeting. Other witnesses could be called to appear at a subsequent meeting. As I said, I want to save some time for the mission. One department has already been called to appear. Mr. Handfield could be called to appear at a future committee meeting, Mr. Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

It relates to service in French, not to the report.