Official Languages Committee on Dec. 8th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

The floor is yours, Ms. Bateman.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My thanks to all the witnesses for their comments and the time they are spending with us this morning. I have some questions.

First, thank you to Ms. Doucet and Mr. Dubeau. We received a hard copy of your presentation. That was helpful and I found it very useful.

I gather that you received a direct investment of about $23 or $24 million. Now to the other witnesses; what amounts did you receive? For example, I heard that, in Manitoba, you received $3.2 million in various amounts from Western Economic Diversification. I assume that you also received investments from Heritage Canada. What is the grand total of those investments and who are your partners?

[Ibrahima Diallo]

We have many partners in a number of places, madam. So at the moment, I cannot give you the exact amount of the funding, especially as some vary with the project.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

For the projects we have discussed today under the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada, how much have you received and where did it come from?

[Ibrahima Diallo]

We received funding from several departments.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Yes, that is what I was asking.

[Ibrahima Diallo]

Health Canada is one example. There was also Public Works and Government Services Canada, I think, with the translation program I mentioned earlier.

So various departments fund us.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

You received funding for translation?

[Ibrahima Diallo]

Yes, we received funding for translation.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

But you did not translate your document for us? That is unfortunate; it would have been very useful for us to have copies of your presentation in both languages.

[Ibrahima Diallo]

Let me explain what that funding is, because it is very important for…

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, I would like to raise a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Just a moment, sir, someone is raising a point of order.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, when witnesses come to make presentations, there is no requirement for them to be bilingual. They give the documents to the clerk who arranges for them to be translated and then circulated to committee members.

In a bilingual Parliament, I would not like witnesses to feel obliged to provide their documents in both official languages. Some organizations would not have the money to be able to do it.

I just want to make sure that organizations understand that they are not required to do it, because it is Parliament's responsibility.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you for the clarification, but it is not a point of order. Ms. Bateman just made a comment.

You have the floor, Ms. Bateman.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

My apologies, Mr. Chair. I understand Parliament's responsibilities and those of all Canadians in terms of our two official languages. But it is always useful to have copies in both languages. I am a visual person.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The clerk will give you the documents in both languages when they have been translated.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Go ahead.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I return to my question.

Which federal departments have partnered with you through the roadmap? Are there any other partners?

[Ibrahima Diallo]

We have many partners. I already mentioned that Health Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada permitted the University of Saint-Boniface to offer a fully online bachelor's program, the first one in Canada, so that it can reach people anywhere in the world. This bachelor's program will soon be completed and it will allow us to prepare the next generation.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada is also working with our province, which has allowed us to have one of the best programs in terms of recruiting, attracting, integrating and retaining immigrants.

I only mention these three partners who have helped us to create successful programs.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

What is the total amount you received from the roadmap?

[Ibrahima Diallo]

From the envelope? I could not say. The essence of the problem is that, as an organization, we do not know. The money can end up anywhere without us knowing about it, unless the institutions receiving it tell us. I could not say how much the jurists have received. I think that there were presentations on justice here. It is done by sector.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

But you have the funds. For example, Ms. Doucet said that, in the roadmap, which is a five-year program, the investments came with regular increases.

I come from Manitoba, and I would like to know the exact amount you received from the roadmap. Unless I am mistaken, you have received other contributions, for example from Heritage Canada. However, I would like to know what investments with regular increases you have received from this program.

[Ibrahima Diallo]

Are you talking about the entire French-speaking community of Manitoba or only the Société franco-manitobaine?