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

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

When the Minister of Education, who is also responsible for official languages, meets with other ministers responsible for official languages or the Francophonie from across the country, are you consulted?

4:10 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

No. This summer there was a sort of--

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

The ministers had a meeting here.

4:15 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Yes. We were invited to the dinner, but we were not invited to--

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

As for youth--

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

You don't have much time left, Mr. Bélanger.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

How much time do I have left?

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

You have 10 seconds.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Then I will simply say that I commend you and encourage you to keep up your work.

4:15 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Could I just let Mr. Bélanger know that I am from Mattawa?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

We can talk later.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

She answered my question.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Yes.

Ms. Guay.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to know the exact meaning of the expression “rights holder parents”. Can you tell us exactly what that means? We have heard a lot about this, but no one has explained exactly what that represents.

4:15 p.m.

President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife

Marc Bilodeau

It designates parents with children. It is to protect the children who are entitled to receive an education in French.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

So, these are children who have one French-speaking parent.

4:15 p.m.

President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife

Marc Bilodeau

Exactly, or a grandparent.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

If the children have a French-speaking grandparent, they have the right to attend French school even if their parents are Anglophone. Is that correct?

4:15 p.m.

President, Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife

Marc Bilodeau

No, not exactly.

4:15 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

Section 23 defines it in three ways. First of all, French has to be the language that you learned and still understand. After that, if the child attended a Francophone or French-language school—French as a first language—that child as well as his brothers and sisters are “rights holders”.

And what is the third way, Philippe?

4:15 p.m.

Superintendent, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Philippe Brûlot

I must have forgotten--

4:15 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

There are three specific categories. But it is important to understand that it does not imply that the parent speaks French.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

It's pretty complicated.

4:15 p.m.

Chair, Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Suzette Montreuil

I would just like to raise one other point. We feel that, despite the complexity, this is really basic. In some communities, such as Hay River, where there was no French-language education for many years, the loss of French is significant. So, we are trying to correct that. We are seeking people with Francophone heritage.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

You told us a lot about young people. I saw you yesterday, I think.