Evidence of meeting #46 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 yellowknife.
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
Between 500 and 900 students.
On the other side of the river, there is also a school for the aboriginal reserve.
2:30 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
There is one aboriginal school, three English-language schools and one French-language school.
Is French immersion available in the English-language schools?
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
No. Those schools were given an opportunity to offer French immersion, but they refused. That explains the existence of the French-language school. Faced with a refusal on the part of Anglophones to offer French immersion, Francophones decided they had to have their own school.
2:30 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Pitre mentioned earlier that there is a labour shortage.
Are you having trouble recruiting teachers with the necessary skill set?
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
As far as recruitment is concerned, whether it is a teaching position or other kind of position, it is always difficult.
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
When we find qualified people, we do everything we can to secure their services.
2:30 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
And you try to retain them.
If I'm not mistaken, you have a budget of $60,000 a year for the school.
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
No, that is the Association's annual budget. There can be some add-ons, but our core funding is $60,000. If we're lucky, it may go as high as $90,000.
2:30 p.m.
President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
If we include in-kind donations.
2:30 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
We visited l'École Émilie-Tremblay in Whitehorse. There, in addition to teaching the French language, they also teach English as a first language.
What are your thoughts on that?
2:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
We want our children to be bilingual. We definitely want them to speak English.
My wife speaks English because she is English-speaking by origin. I want my son to also speak English without an accent. I would like him to speak both English and French without an accent. In any case, if he does have an accent, it will be my accent.
2:35 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Do you know whether French is taught in the English-language schools?
2:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
There are French courses, but the French courses they teach are similar to the English courses they teach in Gaspésie.
2:35 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
In what year do they start teaching those courses? Is it in Grade 1?
2:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
No, I don't think so.
2:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Excuse me. I would just like to ask those who are not using the translation system not to leave their headsets next to the microphone when they're speaking, because they make a very high-pitched sound when that happens. We want to bring our interpreters back to Ottawa safe and sound.
That was just a technical reminder. Please keep your headsets away from the mike when you speak.
Thank you.
2:35 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
I was interested to hear that the unemployment rate is higher among Anglophones than among Francophones. From experience, we know that Francophones are very often more bilingual than Anglophones.
Do you think that is one of the reasons why the unemployment rate is lower among Francophones?
2:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
That could be one of the reasons. On the other hand, bilingualism in the Northwest Territories is not really valued. It is to a somewhat greater extent than it was in the territorial public service, because of the court rulings calling for more French. Obligations in that respect are clearly not being met. So, from that perspective, I don't think bilingualism is a factor.
On the other hand, there is a high turnover rate among Francophones. People come here to work, but if something happens, they leave again, whereas Anglophones are more stable. There is also the fact that in small northern communities where the unemployment rate is high, people speak English. But when we come here, it is not to be unemployed. That is why our rate is two times lower.
2:35 p.m.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Given that there are 11 official languages in the Northwest Territories, do you feel that you are competing with the other official languages to receive services in your language?
2:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
It's possible. That is my perspective. It is not the absolute truth.