Official Languages Committee on Feb. 27th, 2014

[Isabelle Salesse]

We have already started discussions on employment and social development issues with a national group. We proposed a pilot project on official languages to see how things would work in a minority group, what possibilities would exist for co-operation with the government, and what the potential results might be.

Ideally, we would not like to move to social finance. But if the government decides that it is the way to go, they will absolutely have to consider the realities of minority situations and they will have to work with them to find solutions. It must be said that social finance does not do away with the government's responsibilities to official language communities. So solutions are going to have to be found. I do not think that the government has solutions at the moment, but I think that they are aware that they have to find solutions and that they understand the need to continue and deepen the discussion.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Two minutes.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

You have a one-stop shop model too, as you mentioned. Can you talk about the advantages of that model?

[Isabelle Salesse]

In my opinion, there is practically no downside to the model. We are all located in the same building. All the services come under the same organization. So we have an administrative manager, an information technology person, receptionists and a secretary, all full-time. That would not be possible if each of those organizations were independent. The operating costs would be much too high for each organization to be able to offer all the services. As I see it, there are nothing but advantages to being together.

There is also better synergy and co-operation, because we are not fighting for the same sources of funding. We consolidate our monies. If one sector is in a little more difficult financial situation, as is always the case for the cultural division, the overall image of the organization still remains positive, because we can help each other. Some services have more funding and can take on certain costs that another service cannot.

In my opinion, it is a win-win situation, especially for the community. The community has only one place to go and does not have to worry about turf wars, so to speak. Having a one-stop shop really gives us advantages all along the line.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Over to you, Mr. Gourde.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

What is the situation with broadband and Internet networks? Is it working well? Could more be done? We have it all over the place here, but in the Yukon, it must be a major challenge.

[Isabelle Salesse]

It is better than it was; it is faster now. As I see it, the problem is still the costs for users, which are clearly higher than those in Vancouver and elsewhere. For example, no plan offers unlimited access to the Internet. Access is limited. The more bandwidth you want, the more megabits, I forget what it is called, the more it will cost you.

It could all be faster. A videoconference at peak times may or may not work well. The same goes for Skype. It really could be better.

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

After work, what kind of social life do you have in the Yukon? That can be a determining factor in the decision to stay in a place or to leave. Of course, we all have to work in order to live, but what do you do for the rest of the day, the rest of the week and on weekends?

[Isabelle Salesse]

In the Yukon, all we do is work.

[Voices]

Ha, ha!

[Isabelle Salesse]

No, no. Actually, the Yukon, and especially Whitehorse, has a very flourishing cultural life, strange as that may seem. For a small community of 25,000 or 26,000 people like ours, there are lots of cultural activities.

There are shows all the time in our arts centre, either local shows or by artists from outside. The francophone community puts on shows as well. We often collaborate with other anglophone organizations, given that we do not always have the means to bring people in from the outside. But we do collaborate to promote or recruit groups or shows from outside.

We also have cinemas. They are extremely uncomfortable, but we still have them.

There is lots to do outdoors. We have an incredible cross-country ski centre right downtown.

We have the Canada Games Centre, a legacy from the 2007 Canada Games. You can do every kind of sporting activity imaginable there. It really is a very beautiful centre and it is affordable.

We also have an Alpine ski centre. It is a small one, located 15 minutes from downtown.

We also have a lot of sports groups: soccer, football, all kinds of sports. There are a lot of cross-country ski clubs. A girl from the Yukon just competed in the recent Olympic Games in Sochi.

Certainly, there is less culture than elsewhere, but for a small community like ours, there is an awful lot.

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

What ties have you established with Yukon's aboriginal community?

[Isabelle Salesse]

Further ties still need to be established, but we are seeing a change on the part of aboriginal groups. In fact, they recently asked us to collaborate with them on a project to mark National Aboriginal Day, which will be held on June 21. It's a show that a Métis artist from Quebec would like to put on.

I think the way to develop closer ties with aboriginal groups is through culture and tourism products. Whitehorse has a wonderful aboriginal cultural centre. We actually just signed an agreement with the people there to fund, through CanNor, a French-language cultural tourism product for the cultural centre. More and more, we are establishing ties with aboriginal groups.

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

You mentioned first-generation francophones, meaning those who were born in Yukon, who decide to do their schooling outside the territory and return afterwards. No doubt, they feel a strong sense of belonging, but I am curious as to what draws them back to the place where they were born.

[Isabelle Salesse]

I would say the reasons are many and vary from person to person. But, clearly, a young person who has always lived and gone to school in Yukon and then leaves to attend the University of Ottawa, for instance, experiences quite a shock. There are more students on the University of Ottawa campus than in all of Yukon. It's a difficult adjustment for most of them. Their roots are in Yukon.

Why do people go back? There are always those who, at some point in their lives, choose to go back to where they are from to live, simply because it is home, whether you are talking about Yukon or somewhere else. I think young people go back because Yukon is home to them. The quality of life is pretty good. It's a nice place. If they decide to raise a family there, the living is easy; they don't have to spend an hour in the car just to take the kids to soccer. Skiing doesn't cost a fortune. There are many benefits to living in Yukon that would make someone want to start their family there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Salesse and Ms. Bernard.

Ms. Perreault, do you have any quick questions?

[Manon Perreault, NDP, Montcalm, QC]

Yes.

In light of everything we've heard today, I was wondering if we could put forward a motion to have the committee take a trip to Yukon.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

That requires a notice of motion.

[Manon Perreault, NDP, Montcalm, QC]

Do you need it in writing?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No, but—

[Manon Perreault, NDP, Montcalm, QC]

That's not necessary? Okay, then I am giving notice of a motion that the committee take a trip to Yukon. I think it would be very worthwhile.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We can discuss it next week. Okay?

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Or we could vote on it now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No, not now. I need the notice of motion to deal with it.