Yes, absolutely. Francophiles are invited and they're also present.
Evidence of meeting #42 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was yukon.
Evidence of meeting #42 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was yukon.
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
Yes, absolutely. Francophiles are invited and they're also present.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
That depends on the activity. Some activities are intended more for francophones, others for anglophones. I think it's 50-50.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
No, they aren't members.
If I may—
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
Earlier in my remarks, I spoke a little about the importance of having institutions and structural projects in a minority community. That's true for both anglophones in Quebec and in the other provinces and territories that have needs.
You have to have structures and permanent qualified staff, a core of people. Right now, we unfortunately have only project funding. Projects kill. There is staff turnover in the course of three- or six-month projects. That's fine, but we don't want that anymore.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
This year's budget is approximately $225,000 for the cultural sector, and we're getting about $75,000 or $80,000 from the federal government.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Director, Cultural and Youth, Association franco-yukonnaise
No. We're getting $75,000 from the federal government out of an annual budget of approximately $225,000.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Mr. St-Pierre, if I correctly understand what you explained, you said that the Yukon government doesn't let you take part in negotiations with the federal government. Did I understand you correctly?
11:15 a.m.
Co-Executive Director, Association franco-yukonnaise
You understood perfectly.
We had previously established a tripartite mechanism for bilateral agreements. That included the territorial government, the federal government and the community. We took part in it. It's understood that this is an agreement among governments, but we took part in it. Now we no longer take part.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Did the government explain why it doesn't want you to take part in the negotiations?
11:15 a.m.
Co-Executive Director, Association franco-yukonnaise
The very short answer is that it's a government-to-government agreement and there's no legal obligation.
11:15 a.m.
Co-Executive Director, Association franco-yukonnaise
Since the last round of negotiations. From 2003 to 2008, we took part in that series of meetings. However, in the last round, the renewal of the Roadmap, we weren't invited.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Co-Executive Director, Association franco-yukonnaise
Yes. We asked to take part.
The judgment by the Supreme Court of Canada in DesRochers v. Canada clearly states that federal government services must be developed based on the needs of the communities, as the communities have described them. It was understood that the federal government had to act accordingly.
So that same reasoning is applied to the territorial government because it's the federal government that's paying. There's ultimately an obligation. When I give my son $20 to buy shoes, if he comes back with a Nintendo game, that's not right.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you very much, Mr. Lauzon.
There's enough time left for a third round.
Ms. Zarac, go ahead, please.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. St-Pierre, earlier you mentioned funding delays. As you no doubt know, our committee has conducted a study on delays in program disbursements. Last week, our colleague Mr. Godin—who is on his way to join us—put the subject back on the table and the Minister of Canadian Heritage responded that the matter had been resolved and that there was no further problem.
So I'm taking advantage of our visit here to check with you as to whether the problem of delays has been solved. If not, what impact is that having on your organizations and especially on services to the community?
11:15 a.m.
Co-Executive Director, Association franco-yukonnaise
I'll give you a two-part answer.
You have to give the runner a chance. You have to be honest. And we made a lot of presentations in 2008. The delays had improved. We have to be honest; that improved. Now there's a process.
However, the process now involves a lot more red tape. Report writing is more demanding for staff. We no longer have staff. That's an adjustment that has to be made. We know that, when you shift from a bureaucratic system to another system, you have to get used to the system.
I think some good listening was done on that subject. You did a very good job. I believe the Senate committee also did a very good job in emphasizing the fact that that had to change. We saw an improvement.
