Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Létourneau.

Ms. Zarac will begin the first round of questioning.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning. Thank you for being here today.

My first question is for Mr. Létourneau and concerns the federal government’s contributions and transfer payments for official languages. Given that there are 11 official languages in the Northwest Territories, do you know whether these envelopes are earmarked for Canada’s official languages, French and English, or whether they are divided between the Territories’ 11 official languages?

[Richard Létourneau]

It was my understanding that for several years the funds allocated by the federal government were for services in French, but that a portion of these funds was returned to Ottawa every year. I believe that this was the explanation we were given throughout the court case. I don’t know whether Léo-Paul can give you a more clear-cut answer.

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

Were the funds returned to Ottawa because they were not spent?

[Léo-Paul Provencher, Executive Director, Fédération Franco-Ténoise]

Yes, when the Programme de développement culturel et communautaire was in place. Approximately $1.6 million was paid out over a ten-year period through this program. The federation and its services received $145,000 per annum in funding. This was shared between 10 to 12 organizations. As far as the remaining funds are concerned, I think that it is up to the territorial government to respond. I believe that there are bilingual services officials at the departments who allocated these funds, perhaps for translation purposes, but I’m not sure of the details.

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

Are you saying that the funds are returned to the federal government because they aren’t spent? Couldn’t the funds be allocated to activities or programs?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

You’d be right in saying that we did not send back a cent of the $145,000. However the NWT court case that went before the Supreme Court revealed that out of the $1.6 million, $5 million that wasn’t spent—and I’m referring here to the territorial government—was returned to the federal government over the lifespan of the program.

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

Thank you.

We visited your premises yesterday and immediately noticed that you are short on space, especially in light of all the activities and services you provide. I find it passing strange that your offer was refused and that a lesser offer was accepted.

Was the complaint filed with Commissioner Jerome or Commissioner Fraser?

[Richard Létourneau]

It was submitted to Commissioner Graham Fraser just shy of two years ago. It will be two years from now in one month.

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

You didn’t go through the local commissioner?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

This was a matter for the federal government to decide. The building belonged to the federal government.

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

And you have received no response whatsoever in the past two years?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

We spoke on several occasions to a number of analysts. We submitted all the information required to back up our complaint, but there has been no comprehensive review or findings. We were only contacted a few times over the course of the process.

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

When was your last meeting with the commissioner or the analysts?

[Léo-Paul Provencher]

Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question because I was absent for 10 months. I have only been back for a short time.

[Richard Létourneau]

Francophone representatives from the three territories came to Ottawa and met with the official languages coordinators for each department. Mr. Graham Fraser was in attendance. At that time, we gave a short speech in which we drew the commissioner’s attention to this matter. He claimed that the issue had been dealt with, but made no further comment.

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

Which means that the process is not complete.

We’re inclined to draw comparisons with the Yukon because we just visited Whitehorse. If you look here at the linguistic continuity index, the situation is quite worrisome. In the Northwest Territories in 2001, there were 1,000 people whose mother tongue was French, whereas in 2006 there were only 995. The linguistic continuity index is dropping sharply in the NWT. It went from 0.598 to 0.462.

Do you think that that is cause for concern? Do you get the sense that assimilation is upon us? How do you interpret these figures?

[Richard Létourneau]

This issue was researched during the court case. We were told that the assimilation rate in the Northwest Territories was 64%. This calculation was based on a period of roughly 20 to 25 years.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have one minute remaining, Ms. Zarac.

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

Thank you.

And yet, you provide services to fight assimilation. I understand that you cover every area where change is possible. What are your recommendations to the committee?

[Richard Létourneau]

Our recommendations deal with our two top priorities. To begin with, we need help getting a community space. I think that is the top priority. We determined that it was a priority about 10 years ago. In fact, when I came to the Northwest Territories about nine years ago, it was already a hotly debated issue. We have been working on it ever since. There have been a number of governments, red and blue, and yet this issue has gone unresolved. We would really like the matter to be addressed, and we would appreciate some support.

The other issue concerns our negotiations with the territorial government to obtain funding for our Official Languages Act implementation committee and to move ahead with our other endeavours. We have two experts who share their expertise with us, Mr. Bastarache and Ms. Dyane Adam. Not only do they provide assistance to our section of the committee, they help our territorial government partners who benefit not only from their expertise, but also from a less expensive and more centralized model for the provision of services that are better suited to remote regions such as Yellowknife.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That is excellent.

Thank you very much, Ms. Zarac.

Mr. Godin, the floor is yours. It is actually Ms. Guay's turn.

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

A point of order has been raised.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

My apologies, you’re right.

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

When I raise a point of order, it means it’s my turn.

We have listened to one presentation. I thought that the other groups would also make presentations. Does the federation speak for everyone? Could please clarify this?