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.
Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
There's a lot of controversy around that because, based on a highly restrictive vision of things, the government says that the schools still have room to take in a lot more rights holders. For example, the government will say that in Hay River, there is only a handful. We're talking about only a few dozen, whereas the town is full of people who have been assimilated. It has been extensively colonized by the Métis.
So, we use a remedial and broad interpretation, as recognized under section 23.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Since we don't have an answer to that question, I will ask another one that would normally have been a sub-question to the first.
How many students are there in the French-language schools?
Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
In our two schools, we currently have 197 students.
February 9th, 2011 / 4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
How many students are there in total in all the schools? I'm trying to determine the proportion. We are talking about 197 students out of how many? Are there 5,000 students in the Northwest Territories?
Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
I believe that is approximately the number I have heard, but you must understand that we don't have all those students.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
You were unable to answer my first question.
Can you tell me whether, in addition to those 197—I suppose they are all rights holders—there could be another 200 or 500 rights holders?
Mr. Bilodeau, you seem to know the answer to that question.
President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife
As we said, we have no figures on that.
However, because I know a lot of Francophones in a lot of different communities, I can tell you that parents do not send their children to l'École Allain St-Cyr for secondary school because there is no gymnasium. So, we don't have those Francophones with us. That's automatic.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
And you have no way of counting those rights holders?
Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
I can tell you that for the court case involving l'École Allain St-Cyr in Yellowknife, the number we are using is 465. That is based on the principle of the target school population developed by the sociologist Angéline Martel. That's not the maximum number of children. It's about half, somewhere between the maximum and what we have. That is the figure we are looking for.
It's not 465 students. It's 265.
Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Yes.
Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
So, it's 265 for Yellowknife, and 220 for Hay River.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Thank you, Mr. Montreuil.
Before I am cut off, I would like to address two issues that I believe you referred to.
Ms. Coderre, you talked about agreements signed with your funders. I presume you're talking about the federal government.
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
We are talking about Canadian Heritage, the Arts Council, and the SAIC.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
There are two problems, from what I can tell. First of all, under the existing agreements, the money your funders have agreed to pay you arrives late. Is that a recurring problem?
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
Absolutely. For regular programming and the regular, set project…
Conservative
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
I have no idea. It's because of government bureaucracy.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Is it because the reports do not contain all the necessary information?
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
No.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Or could it be because those reports got buried on someone's desk somewhere?
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
Not while I've been in charge.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
When I talk about someone's desk, I'm not talking about yours. I'm referring to your funders.
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
I have no idea. I am not in their office, obviously. I have absolutely no idea how the process works.
Conservative
Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON
This is a question that has come up previously in this committee. It was last year or two years ago. We were told that the problem had been corrected. So, I don't like to be told that something has been corrected if it hasn't.
Thank you very much for giving us this information.
Executive Director, Culture, Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
It was a pleasure.