Official Languages Committee on Dec. 8th, 2011

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you. I am asking that question because, during the last Parliament, this committee began a study on linguistic duality in the North. We have already spent $100,000 in taxpayers' money on this study. However, no decision has been made to complete it and present it to Parliament, which would be the normal thing to do. When work is done, we submit a report.

What do you think? Do you have any comments to make?

[Éric Dubeau]

Ah... yes.

[Voices]

Ha, ha!

[Éric Dubeau]

We are for transparency in every sense of the word. I can tell you that, back home, in the arts and culture world, when you take on a job, you evaluate it and you report on it at the end.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Well said, thank you very much. I apologize for taking the time to raise this issue, but we need to do this in public. Otherwise, the public will not know what is going on, or what is not going on.

A short while ago, Ms. Bateman asked a question regarding Manitoba. It clearly demonstrated that it is difficult to find out the source of funding. This raises a lot of questions. Is it coming from the roadmap or other programs? Were there programs in existence before and that are now in the current roadmap? Do we have more funding, less funding or about the same amount of funding as before? Is it targeting the right things?

This question goes to all the organizations. Since the roadmap was launched, have you seen changes, insofar as it is possible to do so, in the source of the funding? Have you noticed whether there is less or more funding than before?

The people on the left can start, followed by the others.

[Gabriel Arsenault]

Is there more funding than before? I do not think so. I know there is money going to Prince Edward Island. For example, as part of the Canada-community agreements, I know that approximately $850,000 has been divided among community organizations. This amount has not changed in five years, whereas, because of inflation, the cost of living is higher today than it was five years ago. We know there is money from the official languages program for education. However, I could not tell you if part of the funding is coming from the roadmap or another source. It needs to be a bit clearer.

[Marie-Claude Doucet]

The roadmap has created a significant leverage effect. That is to say it has made collaborations possible with provincial ministries, which is a new element. It is a positive change. We have indeed lost money in certain programs. Now, whether this money was taken and placed elsewhere or whether it is only the program title or its source that has changed, I am not able to say this morning. However, the funds that are there allow for things to operate properly, especially in regards to the cultural development fund and the Music Showcases initiative.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

Mr. Menegakis, you have the floor.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome and thank you for being here today. I want to thank you for your presentations as well, they were very interesting.

I would like to begin with the CBC/Radio-Canada issue, because I do not want any misunderstandings to persist.

The responsibility for the CBC and Radio-Canada rests in the government structure with the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. That's Minister James Moore. Individual members can voice their opinions and say whatever they like, but the position of the government is represented through the ministry.

I'd like to quote the very recent comments of Minister Moore to the heritage committee. He clearly said:

CBC, through their board of directors, has approved their 2015 plan. This is a plan that we support and that we have been pushing for and hoping that the CBC would implement for a long time: staying in the regions, digital technology, and protecting their mandate to ensure that it's all Canadian programming.

Those are the three things that we wanted the CBC to do, and they've done it with their 2015 plan. … In the budget, they will have enough funding to deliver that plan.

That is the government's position. There is zero intention, plan, or discussion on the government side to abolish Radio-Canada. Any comments to the contrary are just personal opinions that we can characterize using a wide variety of words. The fact of the matter is that as a government we understand the importance to the francophone community that Radio-Canada plays, not only in Quebec, but particularly throughout Canada, and this government will not abolish Radio-Canada.

It might make micro-political good talk for people to bring that up, but it's not the intention of the government. I feel that you represent very important organizations and you should know what our intentions are.

I wanted to thank you very much for your presentations today. I found them very important, particularly when you spoke of cultural programs in Orleans, in Manitoba, and throughout Canada. I think they're very important for our youth and our seniors. I was encouraged to hear that the road map we are studying now is a $1.1-billion investment for our government, a very important investment. One of the major reasons we are studying it in midstream is to see what its impact is, so I'm encouraged to hear that it has helped and will continue to help.

Your ideas are very important to us. We're going to take them very seriously on the government side, as I'm sure all members will, and I want to thank you for being here.

That's the comment I wanted to make. I'm sure I'm out of time, as I'm looking at the clock, Mr. Chair, so I will end it there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Menegakis.

I have a question. The analyst asked me to ask the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française a question. I therefore have one question and three follow-up questions. It is for the analyst's report.

What link is there between artists in minority language communities and the community media, that is to say the community newspapers and radio stations?

In your opinion, do community radio stations and newspapers showcase the artistic productions of official language minority communities?

Should Canadian linguistic duality be recognized by the Government as a cultural vehicle?

In what way does the tandem of community artists-media promote the economic development of official language minority communities?

[Marie-Claude Doucet]

I will begin by answering the first part of the question.

The link between community media and artists in minority francophone communities is very important because it is often the first vehicle these artists are given to broadcast their talent, their works, etc. It must be preserved. It is more difficult for artists to break through, to access the mass media. This link with community media becomes very important in promoting their development.

I will let Mr. Dubeau answer the other part of the question.

[Éric Dubeau]

First of all, I thank you for asking the question.

The link is quite clear, relevant and close. This is to say that, for artists and artistic organizations, the community media are a primary ally in terms of showcasing their talents. Without these partners, our communities would not know if there is a show on a certain night in Cornwall or in any of the other 37 communities that have a cultural centre. Neither would they find out about what is new in book publishing or in music or film releases, etc. It is therefore a very important ally.

When someone asks what the economic benefits are, it seems clear to me that the action of our agencies, the community media and our communication companies have a considerable effect on access to the cultural product, whether it is a show, a visual arts exhibit, a new book, a music CD or another product. They are primary allies.

Regarding whether the government should recognize the importance of cultural entities although these partners are not members of the cultural federation - I am taking the liberty of venturing into some dangerous territory here I know - it is clear that we feel that you should recognize them. In my opinion, an investment in these partners can only be beneficial for the arts and culture community.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Thank you, witnesses, for your presentations. Your testimonies will help us greatly.

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

Could I have just a minute, Mr. Chair?

For the committee work, there is only Mauril Bélanger's motion. However, he has said he would not be going forward with it. In that case, perhaps we could continue with this meeting until 10:45 a.m.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Would you like to discuss the school board's letter?

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

No, it is not on the agenda. We will discuss it next week.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

We therefore have an additional ten minutes.

I will give the floor to Mr. Menegakis for two minutes.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

I asked, Mr. Chair, at the outset of the meeting that we allow 15 minutes at the end of the meeting for committee business, and there's something I would specifically like to discuss in committee business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, then we'll do that, because it is on the orders of the day.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

A point of order. Should we submit a notice regarding what we will be discussing, even if it is in camera?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I won't allow any motions to be put, other than the motions you've given notice of or motions that are not substantive in nature, such as those to go in public or in camera. So other than those two types of motions, I won't allow any motions to be put.

However, we do have committee business on the orders of the day. Therefore, if members want to have a discussion about committee business, as it appears they do, then I will allow that to take place.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I am going to ask for a recorded vote on the motion to continue the meeting in camera.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No problem.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to add that the motion came from a member. As long as the MP does not wish to go forward with his motion, the committee cannot consider the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Agreed, but we can have a general discussion because there's interest in doing that.

We thank the witnesses for their testimony. It's been valuable and interesting today.

We will adjourn for a few minutes to let the witnesses leave the table.

Thank you.