Official Languages Committee on March 6th, 2014

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Speaking as a mother and as someone who is truly grateful to their French immersion teachers, I can say that linguistic duality has opened up doors for me. And I am certain that it will do the same for anyone who chooses to invest their time and effort in that regard.

In Canada, linguistic duality goes to the heart of who we are as Canadians. It reflects our nation's two languages, which are spoken from coast to coast to coast. It reflects all those who are deeply committed to supporting not just Canada's two languages, but also the cultures of those language communities.

Some parents wonder whether they should send their kids to a school with an immersion program. Let me take this opportunity to, once again, encourage them wholeheartedly to do so. Not only will it open doors for them professionally, but it will also elevate their zest for life, while exposing them to a whole new outlook on the world. It's the best thing that ever happened to me, and I want to thank my French immersion teachers for all their hard work. It's thanks to them that I can speak French today.

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

Minister, you speak with a great deal of passion.

When did you decide to learn French? You didn't speak any as a child, did you?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

No. It was my parents' decision. Where I'm from, in Winnipeg, we had French-speaking nuns who promoted the French language to English speakers. My parents, both unilingual anglophones, decided to follow their lead.

It was tough. The schools didn't welcome us with open arms, far from it. Some francophones didn't even want to let us learn French, because they were worried that we'd steal their jobs, assimilate them and so forth.

But the more time that passed and the more progress we made, we became a part of the francophone community more and more. People realized that we, too, could help bilingualism flourish. As I said, I now belong to the French-speaking family. Some still think it's wrong of me to say so, but I disagree.

It's important that my children continue to learn French. As students, they were in immersion programs. And I hope my grandchildren will be as well. Perhaps one day, we'll learn a third or fourth language.

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

I know how committed you are to the issue of official languages. Everything you've done since arriving in Parliament proves that. I am sure that you aspire to leave some sort of legacy when it comes to official languages, to leave behind something that symbolizes your efforts.

From that perspective, what would you like to say to Canadians?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

What a fantastic question!

In Louisiana, in the States, a person who speaks French is considered a francophone. In some communities here, however, that is still a point of contention. When I call myself a francophone, some francophones whose parents are both native French speakers still tell me that I'm not a francophone. What's more, they're insulted that I consider myself part of the francophone family.

My dream, the legacy I'd like to leave behind, is for all French-speaking Canadians to consider themselves part of the francophone family. We'd no longer have all this debate about whether they were francophone or not. Anyone who speaks French, who has made that kind of commitment, who is part of the family and who is helping the language to flourish should be recognized as such.

Thank you for the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Ms. St-Denis, go ahead.

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

I am going to try to illustrate the difference between theory and practice. We have impressive programs, but what is really going on?

Last night, I attended a dinner put on by the Forum for Young Canadians. It was part of an event where young people from every province come to Ottawa for a week. I was at a table with some young Quebeckers. They said that 90% of the week's activities had been held in English. Participants from Montreal spoke more English. But the young person from my riding told me her English wasn't great and she found it difficult. She wasn't able to take full advantage of all the activities.

So we have something of a contradiction. We create programs like Forum for Young Canadians and they look great on paper and in reports, but they aren't actually doing what they're supposed to.

When it comes to young people, are we really doing enough to promote the benefits of speaking both official languages? The young people I had dinner with yesterday didn't seem to think so.

In other words, is the program subject to any follow-up or verification? Speeches are supposed to be given in both languages, but the workshops held throughout the week were in English only.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Ms. St-Denis, thank you for your question.

I am very proud of our government for investing not just in programs like Forum for Young Canadians, but also in programs such as Explore and Odyssée. As the roadmap clearly demonstrates, we have many exchanges. And it's important that we offer our youth those kinds of opportunities, opportunities made possible by our government's investments.

Coming back to the Liberals, I want to point out that I was in Montreal last week for the Montréal, Cultural Metropolis event. It was wonderful. Hundreds of people were there. And you know what? Participants told me that the Liberals held their convention in Montreal and that Mr. Trudeau gave a speech and only 7% of it was in French. A speech was given in Montreal and only 7% of it was in French. I couldn't believe it.

We all make mistakes. I realize that and it is understandable, but we have to make things better together. I would never single out one person, because the problems are common to us all. But I encourage each and every person to make every effort possible to speak to young people in English and French.

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

As we speak, which French-language cultural industries funded by the federal government are in danger of closing their doors for good because of budget cuts?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

On the contrary, we—

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

The first example that comes to mind is Radio-Canada's presence in the regions. Budget cuts were made and French-language radio stations in the regions have practically been wiped out. That isn't the case in Montreal, obviously. That is one consequence of the budget cuts.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

First of all, I would say that our government has focused on cultural investments. Canada is the only G7 nation to have kept up its direct funding for artists, following the global recession. We have also kept up our direct funding for museums, sports and official languages. Not a single cut was made in the area of official languages.

But there is no hiding the fact that the global recession resulted in a deficit, as it did in every other country around the world. We had to find ways to protect jobs. Canada's arts and culture sector generates 630,000 jobs and contributes nearly $50 billion to the economy ever year. It's a major driver of economic growth. And that is why Prime Minister Stephen Harper is so committed to supporting arts and culture, and our government will continue to do that.

Turning to CBC/Radio-Canada, I can tell you that the corporation has a budget of over a billion dollars. That money comes from taxpayers because the broadcaster is important to our society. It manages its money as it sees fit. Hubert Lacroix and I met a number of times, and he told me that he was willing to do his part after the global recession. He said he had enough money to carry out his plans for 2015. We work together, yes, but CBC/Radio-Canada makes its own decisions.

You should be asking Mr. Lacroix your questions about CBC/Radio-Canada.

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

You mentioned grants that you give out. Your report lists dozens upon dozens of small programs. You hand out grants for activities involving three people, and no follow-up is done to ensure accountability. You measure neither the direct nor indirect effects of the funding you give out to numerous small groups of individuals, small programs. Are these small programs making things better for francophone groups? Or is the thinking that it's better to run them even if they don't do much?

Don't these programs warrant better evaluation so you can determine which ones are really making a difference for Canada's francophonie?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

First of all, I'm not aware of any cultural programs that target just three people.

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

Look at volume II.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I don't know of any.

The cultural program Juste pour rire has a budget of about $1 million. Another event we support is Montréal en lumière. I was there last week. It attracts thousands of people. Funding for the festival comes from our department and the roadmap, obviously, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts. Thus, we support opportunities that enable people to take part in activities in the minority language, and that applies not just to English in Quebec but also to French in the rest of the country. Both the QCGN and ELAN receive funding as well.

I repeat, Canada is the only G7 nation that did not make cuts in the area of official languages, and we should be proud of that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Ms. Bateman, go ahead.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the minister, who hails from Manitoba, for appearing before the committee. I would also like to thank our witnesses, Mr. Lussier and Mr. Gauthier.

Ms. Glover, ever since you became minister, you have stressed the importance of focusing on young people. You feel very strongly about that, as do I.

I quite liked the answer you gave Mr. Godin. You are a product of French immersion programs. I have two children in immersion. I see it as a valuable investment for young people.

What is your department doing to help young people outside Quebec, those in the rest of the country, learn the French language and culture? And I'm not necessarily referring to your investments in French immersion. No doubt, you have many other programs.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Thank you.

We have exchange programs that immerse our young people in everyday community life so they can practise their second official language. Explore is one such program. Students leave their community to spend time in another region. We also support SEVEC, a tremendously important initiative. Parents who aren't familiar with these programs should take the time to learn about them and to sign their children up to take part. Feedback from the students is always positive.

We also provide support to Parlement jeunesse. And as you know, one is always held in Manitoba, but students are also brought here to Parliament. The goal, of course, is to get them involved and educate them.

We also help fund the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne. The games benefit students tremendously, giving them an opportunity not just to use another language, but also to connect with people and make friends while being active and healthy. Competition during the games can be intense, but that's good for young people right across the country.

I want to tell you, Ms. Bateman, that your French is incredible. Congratulations. You are someone who really seized the opportunity to learn their second language. Your French has come such a long way since we first met.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Yes, definitely.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

That's wonderful. You are living proof that investing a bit of time, seeking out help and practising speaking French works. Congratulations.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you.

On the topic of the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne, could young Manitobans, for example, participate?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Yes. I'm not sure which teams participated the last time around, but any student who speaks French is eligible, whether they are taking immersion or learning French as a second language.

In fact, participating in the Jeux de la Francophonie outside Canada really drives young French speakers to excel at the sport they have chosen. Time will tell.

I urge the committee to attend the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne and cheer on our young people. It's really a golden opportunity.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

How many young people participated in Explore? You may not have the figure with you, but—

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I believe I referred to 7,800 at the beginning of my presentation.