Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I consider that a request for information. Initially, the various speakers on health, culture and immigration had their own separate timeslots. The plan was that each group would appear one after the other, however it was discussed and it was decided that all the witnesses would appear the same time.

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

Usually, when witnesses appear at the same time, they make their presentations one after another and members ask questions of whomever they want.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Have the representatives prepared speeches?

We would have needed a two-hour time slot, Mr. Godin, if you look at the time—

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

I simply wish to point out that it is regrettable. We ask people to prepare remarks. That requires a great deal of effort. Now they are here and they aren’t getting to make their presentations.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I understand.

I suggest we continue with the current format. We can consider other options during the break. There are witnesses this afternoon. More witnesses can be added, that’s another option. We can discuss this during the break.

On that note, I think we'll proceed. We do have these folks here should members wish to ask them questions. We'll leave things the way they are and revisit the issue.

Thank you.

Ms. Guay, the floor is yours.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I have a suggestion to make, Mr. Chair. If they all have texts, they can submit them to the clerk for translation. That way we can include them in our report and ensure that each group is properly represented.

I’m concerned about your centre, Mr. Létourneau. I visited it yesterday. It was very small. You weren’t able to purchase the other building. What exactly happened? Was it simply a question of money, of a $100,000 shortfall, or was there a lack of will?

You can speak frankly; this is a committee.

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

I have kept a close eye on this issue. Our offer was for $100,000 more and not $100,000 less.

As the president of the federation pointed out in his introduction, there was no consistency between the various federal services. Since we were only small buyers, there were a number of conditions attached to our offer. One of those conditions was to obtain funding prior to purchase. We took steps to ensure that we could make an offer. Our initial offer was for $600,000, the second for $1.2 million. The selling price was $1.2 million, which is what we put on the table.

We didn’t have an opportunity to discuss the new conditions. There was a telephone conversation in which we were told that the transaction was complete, that it was over.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Who bought the premises?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

It was a group with an aboriginal name, a company comprising a number of major proprietors.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I see. So it had nothing to do with the services you provide.

I’m aware that you engage in a lot of prevention targeting our youth. We met to discuss this issue yesterday. Are your services really in great demand? Do you get the sense that the federation is sometimes running on fumes?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

You'll have an opportunity to hear from the three employees in question. Their remarks will be far briefer since they will be giving an account of their respective areas of responsibility.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Perhaps you can briefly comment on this matter. I’d be interested in your point of view. You can have my remaining time. Go ahead.

[Jean de Dieu Tuyishime, Director, Réseau Territoires du Nord-Ouest Santé en français, Fédération Franco-Ténoise]

I would like to begin by talking about health. You have heard what the commissioner had to say about problems with health care and social services.

In the speech that I prepared, I focused on the fact that the government has no policy when it comes to the delivery of health care and social services in French. As a result, the services available are purely haphazard. There are services available at hospitals and health care institutions, but they are also mere happenstance. What’s more, the services provided are interpretation and telephone services. We recently lost our Health Line, which was also available in other languages. This service was cut, which lead to a further reduction in services.

The Réseau Territoires du Nord-Ouest Santé en français works in a partnership. The Health and Social Services Authority of Yellowknife, a body comprising many francophone clients partnered with us in launching a project entitled Enhancing French Language Services Within HSSA. This project is intended to help increase the number of health care services available in French. So there is some headway being made.

What is striking however is the huge problem with the recruitment, mobilization, training and retention of health care professionals and other employees. Not only is the community remote, it also has specific needs. That is why we are looking for some degree of consistency in our health care funding.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Ms. Guay, the floor is yours.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Dumas, Ms. Francoeur, whoever wishes to respond, please go ahead.

[Émos Dumas, Coordinator, Immigration et Franco 50, Fédération Franco-Ténoise]

Good morning.

The Centre d'accueil francophone Immigration des Territoires du Nord-Ouest provides a referral service for newcomers informing them of community resources and services available in French, health care, and youth services. A broad array of activities is on offer and everyone has access to services in French. Folks are informed about services available in French.

We try to foster loyalty at a community level among newcomers to the Northwest Territories in an attempt ensure the survival of the French language. We are aware that the population is transient in the Northwest Territories: folks stay for a while and then sometimes leave. If francophones decides not to stay—a great majority of the francophones come from other provinces and sometimes from abroad—we may end up losing our community. We really want to strengthen community ties and provide as many services in French as possible so that residents can live in French in the Northwest Territories. The centre’s mandate is to foster loyalty among francophones.

The same is true of seniors. We try to provide as many activities in French as possible and create French-language groups. I don’t want this to be perceived as the ghettoization of our small francophone community. We want to work together to ensure its survival. The challenge is to guarantee the survival of a francophone culture in an anglophone environment.

[Rachelle Francoeur, Coordinator, Jeunesse Territoires du Nord-Ouest, Fédération Franco-Ténoise]

Jeunesse Territoires du Nord-Ouest mission is to give young members of the Northwest Territories’ francophone community an opportunity to assemble and enjoy stimulating experiences while reaching their full potential.

There is no ongoing funding of the service. The ad hoc funding of projects makes it virtually impossible to plan regular events. This makes it difficult to encourage traditions among youth and help them to cultivate a positive attitude toward the francophone community.

They lack interest in the francophone community due to the gaps in infrastructure and programs. This has implications when it comes to youth participation levels, which sometimes makes it very difficult to meet the quotas set for us. Community isolation and geographical remoteness make getting together, something that is essential to building one’s identity, difficult. Transportation costs are especially high. Consequently, there are fewer activities, fewer participants, and a little less visibility despite the fact that Jeunesse Territoires du Nord-Ouest goes to a great deal of effort to build partnerships and provide young people with activities.

We are also a member of the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française. We participate at the national level. However, a major challenge for us is youth participation and this is due to a lack of funding for ongoing projects.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you so much. You have given us a better sense of the services you offer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Ms. Guay.

We would like to give you more time to speak. I’d like to thank committee members and the witnesses for being flexible. What you have to say is more important than the rules. The committee is eager to hear from you.

We shall continue with Mr. Godin.

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

Like Ms. Guay, I would really like to give you an opportunity to elaborate, if you so desire. We are here to listen to you and not for you to listen to us. We want to hear what you have to say.

You can use my speaking time as you see fit.

[Jean de Dieu Tuyishime]

I would indeed like to add something.

We primarily offer interpretation services. Interpretation in its current form is not an acceptable model for francophones. We've observed that it is more likely that folks will not use a service if they have to go through an interpreter either because they don’t feel very comfortable with interpreters or because there is a communication breakdown. Some folks who consider themselves bilingual make a choice one way or another and end up not understanding a message about health, for example. This can adversely affect the quality of the service and even jeopardize personal safety, not to mention of course—

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

For example, when you see a doctor, you think that what is said is confidential. The same is true when it comes to dealing with a nurse or other health care professional. The consultation is between two individuals.

With all due respect to our interpreters, whom we adore, when a third person gets involved, the patient feels intimidated. It is no longer confidential because someone outside the health care setting becomes involved.

Is that what you’re saying?

[Jean de Dieu Tuyishime]

Absolutely.

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

We were told in Whitehorse that some interpreters, those who are not interpreters by trade or are not familiar with the health care field, do not accurately interpret the message.

Have you encountered this problem in Yellowknife?

[Jean de Dieu Tuyishime]

I cannot comment on that because I haven’t necessarily had to use those services. However, a number of studies show that relying on interpretation services can be problematic, especially in a medical context. Sometimes people without medical backgrounds are called upon to interpret.