Evidence of meeting #43 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.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
So, you are not really all that familiar with this type of project. Do you have the name--
1:40 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
I read in an e-mail that it was through Status of Women Canada. It's a new type of funding for what are called blueprint projects—I haven't seen the name in French.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Let's hope it will meet your needs.
You talked about irregular translation. I find that strange. You seemed to be saying that they ask you if you need something translated. Does that mean it doesn't happen automatically?
1:40 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
No, absolutely not. In the last three months, four important reports have been issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, one on social inclusion, one on housing in the Yukon and another one on acutely intoxicated persons and the homeless, to name only those. Those are the three main reports. They have not been translated into French. There is a fourth report on policing services in Yukon.
They told us that we had not requested a translation. We asked whether the documents would be translated. We were then asked which part we would like to have translated. We answered that we would like the entire thing to be translated. In the case of the policing services report, the summary was translated, but not the whole report. Perhaps it will be, but you never know. If we don't apply pressure to receive a translation, it will not get done.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
You talked about the will to do certain things. Do you have the sense that the government does not have the will to provide those services?
1:40 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
Not really. I think the government does things because we push them to do those things; otherwise, they would not.
1:40 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
I presume it is both. When it comes to translation and services in French, budgets are not unlimited. Nobody has one. As for the reports, they have to select the ones they will have translated. With grant applications, they ask if there is one part that is more important than the other. I'm asked to answer 45 questions, which I answer, but then they end up reading three of my answers. It's frustrating to do the work and then be told they are only going to read three pages.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
If you had to set priorities in terms of the problems facing women, what would they be?
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
With respect to domestic violence, it would be services in French, services provided by police officers and assistance for victims.
Right now, there is a Francophone woman who works at the transition house for women. That organization has been putting a lot of pressure on governments, which has meant that there are now services in French. However, it's always precarious. Maybe that person will find another job and won't be replaced immediately, so that for six months, there will be no one. So, I would say the priorities are the justice system and health care.
If young families don't have access to adequate health care services in French, they will not necessarily stay here. If a child has a serious health problem, they won't have access to services in French. As a result, they will have trouble making themselves understood and obtaining services.
1:45 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
This morning, we heard that there is a fairly high percentage of people who speak both languages, and who are not necessarily Francophone. Do you think some of them might be able to provide services? Are there enough bilingual people to meet the needs?
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
In terms of the number of bilingual people, I don't have an answer to that.
I know there are bilingual health care professionals and other professionals who are either Francophone or speak French but who will not want to be identified. Perhaps it's the ministry they work for that will not let them identify themselves.
As Mr. St-Pierre was saying this morning, the school has about 20 teachers. Within the Francophone community, there are about 20 of us who work in French. So, I think it would be possible to hire people who speak French. It's a question of wanting to do it.
1:45 p.m.
Conservative
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Good afternoon, Ms. Houde. My questions are also addressed to you.
You referred to a new program under Status of Women Canada called Blueprint Projects. I don't know exactly what it is. We will inquire and find out more about it.
Are large amounts of money available? What exactly is involved?
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
I didn't have time to study it in detail, but I believe it's fairly--
Actually, I was really surprised, because last year, there was a basic fund available to support the women of Canada. I don't remember what it's called.
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
It was becoming increasingly vague. The deadline for filing an application was no longer indicated.
Then, last Friday, much to my surprise, I received an e-mail saying that there is a new funding program, called Blueprint Projects, which is intended to support programs that are already in place.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
That would be good news for you, if you were able to receive money to help you carry out your activities.
Do you also work with women seniors?
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
We did for a long time. Les EssentiElles had a program called “Vieillir en santé” for a number of years. Last year, a new program was introduced, called “Le regroupement Franco50”. It is intended to bring together people—not seniors, because you're not a senior at the age of 50—who are 50 years and over in Yukon.
We are a feminist organization. As director, I recommended to my board of directors that the project be turned over to the community, because the group in question includes men and women. So, I recommended that it be entirely turned over to the community.
We are always trying to provide assistance to women seniors, but we don't necessarily have a specific program.
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
No. We organize specific activities that address them more directly. I know we have established a partnership with the Catholic committee under a program called “Scrapbookez votre vie”. So, we try to attract older women and bring them together. That is done in collaboration with the Comité catholique.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
In terms of health care services, I imagine it's fairly difficult for older women to be served in their language. It is a well-known fact that the population is aging. So this is certainly an issue you will be facing in the coming months and years.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
You already are.
You were saying that you have a program aimed at children aged zero to one. After that, they are left to fend for themselves.
1:45 p.m.
Executif Director, Les EssentiElles
Yes, and that's what the families are telling us. There is nothing else out there for them. There are no other activities in French. They can participate in Anglophone programs, but if they want to continue to pass on their language, that becomes difficult, even more so if the spouse is English-speaking.
Sometimes, at home, if the spouse does not speak any French at all, the couple will use English, which means that the only time the mother and her child can speak French is when they are in the presence of other Francophones. There are no groups offering programs or activities like “repas-répit” or “matin-maman”.
