Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2011

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.

On the agenda

Development of Linguistic Duality in Northern Canada

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alain Bessette Manager, Éditions franco-ténoises, Aquilon et la Société Radio Taïga

François Pitre Chairman of the Board of Directors, Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Justin Carey President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River

Simon Lepage Vice-President, Association franco-culturelle de Hay River

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

Sylvie Francoeur Executive Director, Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Marie-Pierre Dupont Garderie Plein Soleil

Suzette Montreuil Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Marie Coderre Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

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

Marc Bilodeau President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife

Philippe Brûlot Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

4:05 p.m.

Marc Bilodeau President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife

Thank you.

Please forgive me for being late. The medication I took to keep me awake was a little too strong.

As Ms. Francoeur was saying earlier, we fought to secure a gymnasium and additions, both for the first and second option, which is now the subject of a lawsuit. We are awaiting the court ruling. We are there to help the parents of children who have the right to attend French-language school.

As I said earlier, we are pleased with what it is now occurring. We only hope that it will move in the right direction.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Thank you.

We are going to begin immediately with Mr. Bélanger.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Thank you one and all. Welcome to the committee.

I have two or three questions of a general nature which are intended to complete the profile we are attempting to develop. Is there a community foundation for the Francophone community here in the Northwest Territories?

4:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

Marie Coderre

The federation has a foundation for Francophones in the NWT.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

It's the federation.

4:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

Marie Coderre

But we are unable to take advantage of it. Richard Létourneau may be able to give you more information about that.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

It exists and you are slowly but surely building up capital.

4:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

Marie Coderre

Yes, it exists.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

We asked whether there was a foundation. She is thinking of the federation.

4:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

Marie Coderre

No, the federation has such a foundation. Other organizations gravitate around the federation and have links to it.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Yes. I understood that.

Has it been in place for a long time?

4:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife

Marie Coderre

Mr. Létourneau is in a better position to tell you that than I am.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Are there other groups, such as the scouts, guides, club Richelieu or other social clubs of that nature here in Yellowknife?

4:05 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Yes, they exist, but they are all Anglophone.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

So, we have seen everything that is available for the Francophone community.

4:05 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

That is what is available at school and through the youth committees.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

My next question is addressed to the representatives of the school board. Section 23 gives you the right to manage your institutions.

4:05 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Yes.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Do you manage your institutions? By that I mean, your schools, buildings, and so on.

4:05 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

The buildings do not belong to us. They belong to the government.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Do you hire your own staff?

4:10 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Yes, but they are employed by the government of the Northwest Territories.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

So, you have no budgets to pay their salaries.

4:10 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Philippe, could you answer that question?

February 9th, 2011 / 4:10 p.m.

Philippe Brûlot Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Yes. To pay the employees, we take money out of our general administration fund, which comes partly from the NWT government, to the tune of $3.5 million, and partly from the federal government, to the tune of $1.15 million.

I would like to add one thing. You asked a question about powers. One of the powers school boards and school board trustees are recognized as having is the power to develop policies. One of those policies is control over admissions.