Official Languages Committee on Nov. 17th, 2011

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

So Radio-Canada is a very important for you. The cutbacks might probably have an impact on your activities, is that correct?

[Denis Vaillancourt]

Radio-Canada is definitely an important partner for Ontario's francophone minority. We criticized the cutbacks, for example, when the Windsor station was closed. We would like it to come back because we need that picture. It's obviously essential for the community that Radio-Canada, which is an instrument at our federation's disposal, to be there to support a francophone presence with a local flavour. Although there are national programs, and some focus a little too much on Montreal, others provide that perspective.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you. I believe you've highlighted how important Radio-Canada is in advancing linguistic duality and building our national identity.

[Denis Vaillancourt]

That's undeniably the case.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I believe that's quite clear.

In your presentation, you also mentioned that your community has developed a community strategic plan. Can you tell us more about the priorities set out in that plan?

[Denis Vaillancourt]

We're talking about activities. This major component comprises five courses of action. We want to expand the francophone space. Once again, the objective is for the francophones and young francophones of our community to consider that speaking French and requesting services in French adds value. So we want to expand the francophonie. That starts with the schools. The niche we are more interested in is early childhood. In the past, we've asserted that we had language rights, particularly the right to education, and those rights are exercised from birth. If there is a child care service, we watch that very closely.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Pardon me, Mr. Vaillancourt. Is there an interpretation problem?

Please wait just one moment while we figure out what's going on.

Pardon me. You have the floor.

[Denis Vaillancourt]

So we must expand the francophone community in all regions of Ontario. That's obvious; it's being done. There are concrete examples, such as the monuments to the francophonie which promote that. French-language health centres, cultural and community centres and francophone legal clinics have been established. We support those initiatives.

Another initiative concerns the visibility and development of the use of French.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I apologize for having to interrupt you over a question of time. Are those priorities currently reflected by the Roadmap?

[Denis Vaillancourt]

Yes, they match up well. We've also taken that into account.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

You have one minute left.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

A little earlier you mentioned, with regard to youth, that you would like to be more involved in decision-making regarding funding allocation. If I correctly understood, your organization was not really consulted before the Roadmap was developed?

[Sylvain Groulx]

In fact, our organization took action when the Action Plan for Official Languages was being developed and during planning for the Roadmap. However, those are actions that our federation took. There was no consultation as such.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

So government stakeholders took no proactive steps to determine your needs.

[Sylvain Groulx]

That's correct.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I believe you're in a good position to know what might be important.

This is an interesting discussion, but I will keep my questions for later because I'll have the opportunity to speak to you again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Ms. Michaud.

Mr. Menegakis, go ahead, please.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

As you know, we are studying the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality. It's very important for us to meet with you and to hear your comments. Thank you for being here today and thank you for your presentations.

Mr. Couture, I'm also very impressed by your remarks. So my first question is for you.

Cultural programs are important for our young people. How has the Roadmap supported cultural programming? What improvements would you like to see?

[Alexis Couture]

I'll begin to answer that and then ask Sylvain to finish.

I can say that would be, on the one hand, everything included in the cultural programs item that is funded out of the cultural envelope and that is developed through the cultural networks aimed at young people. That constitutes a whole development plan.

On the other hand, the cultural sector has been specifically targeted by the youth network across the country because it's through culture that you manage to target young people's interests. We can all agree that you don't build identity with a mathematics textbook. Instead, it's through music, theatre and culture in general. The federation and its members have made a major effort in this regard.

I'm going to ask Sylvain to continue on this topic.

[Sylvain Groulx]

Culture is definitely important for youth. However, our organization doesn't work just in this area. It can be said that the Roadmap definitely touches on all important aspects and that culture is always included in youth projects. With regard to culture in general and cultural organizations, we believe that an effort has been put into the Roadmap. But we would hope to see more, knowing that youth derives considerable benefit from this contribution by culture in building their identity. Consequently, if additional efforts were made in culture, they would definitely be welcome and beneficial to that clientele.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Could you give us a few examples of cultural programs?

[Alexis Couture]

Examples of cultural programs that have been implemented in recent years include young artist development programs in a number of provinces. In particular, they include Frogstock in Nova Scotia and Accros de la chanson and Art sur roues in New Brunswick. There are other programs in Ontario that were mentioned earlier, including La Furie in Manitoba and also some programs in Alberta. So there are a lot of young artist development programs.

In addition, we always make sure to include a cultural component in all the activities of the federation and its members. They may be evening cultural, theatrical or musical performances in the context of the proceedings of the Parlement jeunesse pancanadien, or improvisation or music at the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne, an event for which a whole cultural component is planned. We make sure a cultural component is included in our activities. Our organization has to present a variety of activities to reach the largest possible number of young people. As a result, by keeping the door open to culture, we make sure we do it as best we can.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

Cultural programs are also very important for our seniors. So I'm putting the same question to you, Mr. Vaillancourt.

[Denis Vaillancourt]

The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario has a large contingent of seniors. So it is important for them that we provide cultural group activities. Our seniors were builders who, more often than not, had to wage battles for their language and to obtain their services. They are bequeathing a number of services, institutions and community centres to young people, and to our generation in Ontario.

This morning, we suggested that, if we had to increase one envelope, we would target arts and culture, which enrich life and raise the profile of our language. It's important for us and for seniors, who have made their careers in French and who want to continue living in French.