Good morning, Mr. Chong, Monsieur Godin, Monsieur Dion, Monsieur Gourde, and members of the committee. It is a pleasure for the QCGN to be back before this committee today.
We are especially pleased to be joined today by Lorraine O'Donnell, the coordinator-researcher of Quebec English-Speaking Communities Research Network, QUESCREN, a joint initiative of the Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities, CIRLM, and Concordia University's School of Extended Learning.
QUESCREN is a dynamic alliance of researchers, community members, and institutions dedicated to developing research capacity related to Quebec's English-speaking communities. Significant community energy has been invested in creating and supporting QUESCREN, and there is no doubt that investment is paying off. Dr. O'Donnell has worked tirelessly to create an academic environment that is welcoming of research related to our community. Equally important, she has done so in a manner that includes the community sector. QUESCREN is allowing us to develop an organic capacity to generate research, creating an evidence base of value to practitioners and policy leaders.
The QCGN was pleased to see this committee undertake a separate study on preparations for our 150th anniversary of Confederation. A significant part of our history before, during, and since Confederation is rooted in the struggles, triumphs, and compromises of and between Canada's two official languages. Linguistic duality is not an add-on to our national story; it is the story.
We have reviewed the report of October 11, 2012, by your colleagues on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. The recommendations contained therein are arranged by activities: planning, legacies, participation, and museums. We will base our comments and recommendations to you in the same order.
On planning: if the Government of Canada creates an independent agency or corporation to plan, organize, and implement Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation, the QCGN hopes that such an organization would include representation from Canada's English and French linguistic minority communities. Canada's official language minority communities are living proof of linguistic duality, with Canadians living in both of our official national languages from coast to coast to coast. The QCGN often helps our public partners identify key community leaders suitable for similar undertakings, and we would certainly offer our assistance in this matter.
On legacies: English-speaking Quebec is blessed with a vibrant arts scene that is well organized and connected to the vitality of our community. We draw the committee's attention in particular to the English-Language Arts Network, a leading arts and culture sector community organization. ELAN works in six key areas that fit very well with the legacy recommendations of the heritage committee's report. We would urge the committee to remember that the arts and culture of English-speaking Quebec are unique, reflecting our special history as a linguistic minority. The stories of both Canada's French and English linguistic minority communities deserve equal consideration and equitable exposure during the anniversary's legacy projects.
The ESCQ is also very interested in benefiting from legacy projects to digitize Canada's documentary heritage as part of Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations of Confederation. This is an excellent way to enhance a community's vitality.
On participation: the English-speaking community of Quebec has established social media networks that could augment efforts to encourage participation in the 150th anniversary. We would also remind the committee of our network of community newspapers, many of which have online and web 2.0 channels.
Tourism is an important economic activity and employer in many English-speaking communities outside of the Montreal CMA, the census metropolitan area. Regions such as the Lower North Shore, the Gaspé, central Quebec, the Eastern Townships, and western Quebec are not only historically important to the story of Confederation but could directly benefit from tourism marketing initiatives focused on the anniversary. On the same principle, incentives to encourage Canadians to explore their country during 2017 can certainly be designed to steer people to the heritage of their French and English linguistic minority communities.
On museums: the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network, QAHN, is an umbrella organization engaged with its members in promoting preservation of the built, cultural, and natural heritage of Quebec. QAHN aims to advance knowledge of the history of Quebec's English-speaking communities by informing, inspiring, and connecting people through its activities. English-speaking Quebec should at once see and be seen in travelling exhibits and participate in museum projects, and our historical institutions should benefit from special marketing measures undertaken in support of the anniversary.
Linguistic duality has been a core Canadian value and must therefore be an integral part of our nation's 150th celebrations of Confederation. This is far beyond conforming to a law; it is about honestly representing our collective history.
The English-speaking community of Quebec is one of Canada's two linguistic minority communities. Our history predates Confederation by more than a century, and our story is an important and integral part of the history of Canada. We hope this committee's recommendations reflect this reality and lead to an anniversary that truly celebrates the heritage of both our official languages.
Thank you.