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.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
They also attend the daycare centre. But that really isn't enough.
Bloc
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
That's right. If we want our children to learn French at home, one of the two parents has to stay home.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
Exactly. In the Territories, there are some interesting activities which are organized for children outside of the daycare setting. We don't want to deprive our children of these activities, so we participate, but everything obviously takes place in English. I speak French to my son at home, but on the outside, we don't use French. All the other Francophone children are in the same position.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
So, he speaks English when he is involved in outside activities. Otherwise it is very difficult to preserve his language.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
It's extremely difficult. In my case, it's even more difficult because my wife is English-speaking and has a tendency to return to her mother tongue; however, families where both parents are Francophones also have to make a determined effort.
I even know of a family that has been living in the NWT for six or seven years and whose two children, who are now both teenagers, have difficulty speaking French.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
We saw your Language Commissioner for the Northwest Territories this morning, and she doesn't speak French. Do you have any contact with her and do you talk to her about the status of French?
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
I, personally, have never done that.
Director, Réseau Territoires du Nord-Ouest Santé en français, Fédération Franco-Ténoise
I met her more than once in Inuvik. We met with her in Inuvik and we also talked about our Francophone reality, particularly with respect to health care. She also talked to us about what First Nations people are facing.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Yes, we also heard about what it's like for the aboriginal population, but you have your own reality, and I think an effort should be made in that regard.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Our Commissioner of Official Languages speaks both languages and has a perfect command of both languages, French and English.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
That would certainly help.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I imagine that when you hold meetings, you have to have an interpreter there in order to communicate with the Commissioner. That is somewhat surprising.
Director, Réseau Territoires du Nord-Ouest Santé en français, Fédération Franco-Ténoise
The meetings take place in English.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
The meetings are in English, but if someone does not speak English, that is a problem.
And there is also a problem in the school setting. You only have one school, which covers both the primary and secondary levels. You say there are 100--
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
There are 123 students.
Bloc
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
Yes, the demand is there. The daycare would help to increase the number of students that attend school which, in turn, would improve the quality of education. Furthermore, if the NWT government were meeting its obligations, we would have a better school. School board officials you will be hearing from this evening will address that with you. They are currently in court to see that their rights are respected, because it is clear that the government is racist and is stubbornly refusing--
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
There is a French-language daycare centre in Whitehorse. In fact, there is a waiting list. The phone never stops ringing.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
Yes, we have a study--
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
The children keep going after that and attend the French school.
Now these people are in court.
Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River
Yes.
Our market study is ready. It was commissioned by the Francophone association, which is hoping to have a daycare. We are ready. The need if there. It has been documented. All that is lacking is the funding, because you don't get very far with only $60,000.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
No, that is not enough.
I note that there are 19 members of the Legislative Assembly and that they are practically all aboriginal, if I'm not mistaken.