Official Languages Committee on Nov. 6th, 2012

[Jessie Inman]

I can try to speak to it because I'm such a proponent of multiculturalism in Canada, as much as I am that we're a bilingual country made up of predominantly French and English people.

Immigration is something of great importance to Canada. We have new immigrants from around the world moving to this country every day, and we ask them to learn French and English. Many of them do. Many of them are better at it than people, perhaps like me, who were born here and raised in English and had to learn French.

One of the things I want to do as a project in 2017 is to have a swearing-in ceremony, perhaps on the steps of our plaza, or here in Ottawa—it doesn't matter where it is in Canada—where we would have a very special inauguration process for the many new immigrants who come into the country. We've really emphasized the linguistic duality of the country, so I've started to think about a project like that, and I would love to work with other institutions to do that.

That is just one thought.

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I have another question. As MPs, how will we be able to help organize the 150th anniversary celebration in our communities? How do you think we should contribute? Do you think we should play a leadership role, particularly regarding the official languages?

I'm working very hard in my community, at least in the Durham region, to implement a little bit of French, which is lacking promotion. It is important for us to understand that we are a bilingual country and that learning two languages is not a hindrance but an advantage.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Chisu.

Madame Michaud, go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Caron, I have two questions for you. I am going to ask you to answer quickly because I would like to be able to share my time with my colleague so that he can ask other witnesses some questions.

My first question is about digitization, on which you are putting so much emphasis. You are very proud of the work you have done. I can understand that it can indeed facilitate access to some documents.

But I am thinking of small, often isolated, rural communities. I am thinking of northern Ontario and of the riding of Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel that my colleague represents. You find small communities there that have difficulty accessing the Internet. I wonder how those communities will be included in the process; how will they get access to the documents?

Will the travelling exhibitions that you mention go there so that they have access to the content, or will they simply be left aside because they have no resources and no industry to provide them with Internet access?

[Daniel J. Caron]

I will answer your question quickly.

We are aware of what we are doing and that is why we are collaborating with the Canadian Museums Association and the Canadian Association of Public Libraries, where a lot of our exhibitions are shown. It is not just in museums. We work with libraries a lot, because there are a lot more of them. There are 2,400 libraries in the country.

We also do exhibitions in modules. That means that an exhibition is not shown in its entirety everywhere. So one part may go to one small community while another part may go to another.

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

I feel that, in terms of access, there is still work to be done. I do not think that working through museums or libraries, which small communities do not always have, will solve the problem I raised.

I have another question. One of the things you told us about was the establishment of a toolkit about meaningful stories. What do you mean by that? How are official language communities involved in the process? Are they consulted so that their voices can be heard? Can you briefly explain that to me?

[Daniel J. Caron]

I have no more details, but I can get some to you about this project in particular.

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

I would appreciate that because it is not very clear. I think that it is important that all official language communities be consulted and involved in the process if it involves questions of Canadian identity in the context of the 150^th anniversary of Confederation.

I will now make way for my colleague.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Good afternoon to you all. Thank you for being here.

I have two quick questions.

I would like to go back to the museums presentation. The subject was consolidating museum upgrading and the need to invest in infrastructure. As I read the recommendations in Canadian Heritage's 150^th anniversary report, I see nothing to that effect. Have you been forgotten? Did you point out the need to invest in infrastructure again when you went?

[Audrey Vermette]

We did, Mr. Labelle.

We also made the recommendation to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. We were not concerned about establishing a new museum, because some of our museums are in difficulty at the moment. If there is money for infrastructure, we recommended that it be put into existing museums. As Ms. Michaud mentioned, for example, there are regional and community museums. Some large museums have serious infrastructure problems as well. So we did make that recommendation.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I hope it has been heard.

Your budget was not cut this year. From the money you have, how much will be used to promote linguistic duality in the activities you are planning?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Dionne Labelle.

You can answer, Ms. Vermette.

[Audrey Vermette]

In terms of money, the projects to be undertaken still have to be decided. We have large national projects to propose for the years leading up to the anniversary in 2017. So, as we have said, it is important to secure partnerships with a lot of agencies and organizations across Canada, because the museums need the help and the financial support.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much to the witnesses for their testimony. It has been a vigorous debate, which is very helpful.

Le Canada included parts of Ohio—Detroit, the Ohio valley—away back when. Maybe that should be part of our celebrations as well. It would be very interesting, because Ohio was very important.

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

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

I would like us to continue until 1:30 p.m.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

It's not possible for me. I have meetings to go to.

Without further ado, thank you very much for your input. It has been helpful.

This meeting is adjourned.