Official Languages Committee on Jan. 31st, 2013

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

Several sites are extremely important and moving. For instance, last October, a big ceremony took place in a site I mentioned earlier, that is the Queenston Heights national historic site of Canada. That ceremony took place on the very day of the 200th anniversary of the death of General Isaac Brock. Over 15,000 Canadians and visitors from abroad were on the site for this event. It is a very special place. However, there is another site that emphasizes this cooperation among the various populations of that time. I'm referring to the Battle of the Châteauguay national historic site of Canada close to Montreal, where major events took place in 1813. That site is also administered by Parks Canada.

There are also several other such sites.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I want to take this opportunity to thank the representatives of Parks Canada for the work they do in connection with the Bicentennial Commemoration of the War of 1812. That part of our history was not well-known in Quebec. I think that Canadian society is rooted in these historical facts and that we must indeed promote them. Parks Canada has done its work very well in this regard. We want this type of activity to be even better recognized over the next few years.

We are told that on the American side, this is more or less important. They do not necessarily wish to publicize this war which they lost.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Dion, you have the floor.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I think that the propaganda aspect of the government's approach was a great hindrance, but it remains an important event. We can learn from that and try to do things better in the future.

I want, first of all, to thank Mr. Ostola for being here and to tell him how much I feel that as representatives of the population, it is important for us to work with him so that the parks and historic sites remain jewels. We believe in this a great deal.

What do you want to do, exactly, for 2017? If we want to celebrate, special things have to happen in our parks. I understand that you are doing good work, but what do you want to do for 2017?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

In reference to the historic sites and national parks you mentioned, for Parks Canada, 2017 is a golden opportunity not only to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, but also to really take the time needed and the opportunity to generate interest and passion for our heritage, be it cultural, historical or natural. I think that Parks Canada is in a good position to support that effort and really encourage people to experience their heritage in an active way, take part in activities and learn about our natural history.

If we can do that and attain even part of that objective, this will be job well done.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Let's be precise. This is difficult because the government has not given any indication of the way in which it wants to celebrate 2017. Our exercise may thus be a little premature, but let us try to be imaginative, with an eye to the report we have to write. If we gave you a blank page, what would you like to see on it so that we feel that we are launching something?

We have to get ready. If we wake up in 2017 and start then without having laid the groundwork and without having prepared Canadians, we may fail.

What would you like to see us include in our report that is missing as we speak? What would you like us to recommend to the government?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

We would like Canadians to seize the opportunity, as I mentioned earlier, to really live and experience their heritage, and we would like to encourage them to do so, not only in 2017, but in the years leading up to it.

As we emphasized earlier, it's a process. Not only is it the commemoration of a given year, but there will be a series of events and anniversary commemorations of that will ultimately lead up to 2017.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

At this time, both the government and you are making efforts to ensure that Canadians know where the parks are and take advantage of them. You have information on the historic sites. What more must be done so that we do not fail in 2017?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

People talk a lot about anniversaries, commemorations, and so forth. I am thinking about the anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, of the War of 1812 or of Confederation. I think that there may be a way of linking these anniversaries and commemorations to draw a portrait of the country by taking a look at where we started, where we went and where we are going. I think that there is a way of using these celebrations to reach that goal.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

What type of player do you want to be in all of that? Would you recommend to the government that it set up a new structure in that regard? Are we already well-equipped? Will this happen naturally?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

Parks Canada is the ideal institution for these anniversaries and commemorations. As you know, we are present in all of the provinces and territories, either through our national historic sites or parks. I think that we are in a good position on the ground to really encourage Canadians to celebrate together, to celebrate with us and to see all of the changes that have taken place over these 150 years.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

What are you missing at this time?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

I think...

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Do you simply want the government to express its wish that this be done in a very active way?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

As I said in replying to another question, we already have a team in place throughout the country. These are people who are passionate about the history of Canada or about its natural history. They are ready to welcome Canadians. I think that we have everything we need to take part actively not only in the events of 2017, but also in the events leading up to it.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

So you are not asking for anything. That's good.

Could we think about something very striking that would get people's attention? For instance, we could decide that in 2017, people could get into the parks for free. Could we do something like that? There would be 10 times more talk about national parks if we did something like that.

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

As it happens, we are actively discussing not only the possibilities for 2017, but also the possibilities for the years leading up to it with Heritage Canada and Official Languages. What are the initiatives and activities we could undertake to inspire people to discover their heritage?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

You are looking for new initiatives.

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

I must say that we are always open to suggestions. Indeed, we receive some from the population and from our colleagues in other agencies and organizations. This ongoing reflection will lead us to 2017.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

As you gather these suggestions, what is your relationship with the official language communities?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

As I mentioned, in the past, in the parks and sites, we have had the opportunity of working and talking with specific language communities. We will surely have the opportunity of doing that again in the future. We want to know their point of view. These consultations will feed into our reflection on the approach we are going to adopt for 2017.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Galipeau, you have the floor.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much for coming here today, Dr. Ostola.

I want to tell you that I very much appreciated the tone and the drive of the questions that were just addressed by Mr. Dion. Unless I'm mistaken, Parks Canada already gives free passes for one year to all new Canadians. So what he's suggesting for all Canadians—well, the thin edge of the wedge is already there.

My first job was with Parks Canada, in Prince Albert in Saskatchewan.

I used to do interpretation in the museum.

I also answered the fan mail that Grey Owl received. He died in 1938, and in 1965 he was still getting fan mail. I read all his books and I answered the mail. Much of it had to do with conservation of the environment. That was always something very important with Parks Canada.

The Rideau Canal is something that's very close to us. It was built in the late 1820s basically as a military asset to protect us from a potential new attack from the United States, because 1812 was still pretty clear in our minds then. The Rideau Canal has now been designated as a World Heritage site. What's the consequence of that? Does it attract more visitors?

As well, mostly in areas of the province where there are not many francophones, what do we do to help visitors in both official languages?

[Dr. Larry Ostola]

Thank you very much for the question.

First, let me say that I'm delighted you had the opportunity to directly experience Prince Albert National Park, which is a wonderful jewel in our system of national parks.

When the Rideau Canal was designated a World Heritage site a few years ago, that was indeed, as it was in the case of Grand Pré—