Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2011

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

The second issue relates to the projects you submit and for which you have not been promised any money. Perhaps the committee should recommend that there be a sunset measure introduced with respect to response time. I understood you to say that in some cases, you would prefer to be given a negative response than to be told “maybe”.

[Marie Coderre]

Clarity is always preferable.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Earlier, Ms. Montreuil gave us a delightful surprise when she said she was from Matawa. And you, Ms. Coderre, where are you from?

[Rachelle Francoeur]

From Quebec City.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

So you attended high school in Quebec City.

And you, Mr. Bilodeau?

[Marc Bilodeau]

In the Saguenay.

[Rachelle Francoeur]

Fort-Coulonge.

[Philippe Brûlot]

I spent one year in France, three years in Quebec and two years in the United States.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

And where did you go to high school?

[Philippe Brûlot]

I did one year of high school in France, three years in Quebec and two years in the United States.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Where in France?

[Philippe Brûlot]

At the end, I was in Toulouse.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Thank you very much.

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have one minute left, Mr. Galipeau.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Mr. Généreux will be very pleased to use that time.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

You are far too generous.

Ms. Coderre, I am somewhat familiar with Canadian Heritage's programming. I know that applications are submitted on a semi-annual basis. In other words, one in the Fall, and one in the Spring. Since there is no such thing as a perfect world, there has to be a starting point and a cut-off date—in other words, for activities planned in April, the application has to be submitted in September, something that you are already doing. Of the applications you have submitted to the Canadian Heritage, how many have been rejected?

[Marie Coderre]

Thus far, none.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I see. I am happy to hear that, because in Northern Canada, there certainly are not hundreds of you asking for money from Canadian Heritage. A very large number of applications are made to that department under all the different programs. I regularly see a listing for my riding indicating that the amounts allocated are less than what was requested. So, if you asked for $50,000, don't be surprised to only receive $35,000, $40,000 or $45,000.

[Marie Coderre]

Absolutely.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

The pool of money is the same, but the number of applications is growing exponentially.

[Marie Coderre]

The problem is that this is national funding. So, there is a lot of competition. But people do not consider the fact that we live in a remote area. Having lived in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife, where I currently reside, I can tell you that when there is zero cultural vitality, social problems immediately come to the fore.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

And if--

[Marie Coderre]

It is really important to mention that. Our winter lasts ten months of the year. We're isolated. There are 110 different ethnic groups and they have to live together. If there is nothing out there, it's a real disaster.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I want you to understand that I fully agree with what you're saying.

[Marie Coderre]

They really have to consider the fact that we live in a remote area. That's important.