Evidence of meeting #15 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was quebec.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
We'll give the last couple of minutes—we have about two or three minutes left—to Madame St-Denis.
Liberal
Lise St-Denis Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Ms. Kenny said that it was a little different in Quebec and that the minorities are still favoured there.
Why is knowing French still a problem for some anglophones in certain age groups in Quebec? How is it that there is this situation in the anglophone community?
Executive Director, Youth Employment Services
I think, to start with, a good portion of our clients are bilingual. I could answer several ways. A lot of people are coming from other countries. They've been invited and accepted into Quebec even though quite often they don't have the language skills in English or French, but they chose English as their second language.
I think Quebec is considered a wonderful place to live. It's got a low cost of living, people enjoy the way of life there, so it's attracting people. I think everybody recognizes that you need to be bilingual, but I think we also have to recognize there are still a lot of senior citizens living there who don't have the language skills, people with disabilities, families who have kids who are disabled and can't learn a language. There are circumstances where people just cannot become bilingual.
I don't know, John, if you want to add to that.
President, Board of Directors, Youth Employment Services
We understand that all our young people who are working in Quebec and are seeking employment don't have a right to do business in the language of their choice. They have to do business in the language of their employers, the language of their clients, and the language of business, if you like. But equally there are disadvantaged people. There are people who by age and by temperament will not or cannot use the language. There are pockets of anglophones who are looking for a nostalgic return to other times, but they are certainly a small minority of our population.
Liberal
Lise St-Denis Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
There is something that hasn't been discussed at all. I think it would be important to, but it's too late. Acadia has the largest francophone minority in Canada outside Quebec. No one spoke about the situation, of the development or operation of co-operatives. No one raised the problem. However, it is a very poor community that needs a lot of help. No one mentioned it.
President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
In fact, Ms. St-Denis, I was speaking on behalf of all francophone and Acadian communities. If I'm not mistaken, the same is true of CMC. We represent all these communities.
I would like to clarify something. The government will invest $100 million over the next five years into the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018. I understand that the government is implementing strategies in relation to that $100 million. However, it is being done without consulting organizations like the FCFA, our friends from YES, which is an important organization for Quebec's anglophone community, or the QCGN. They were not at the table to decide how to spend the money that is to be used for their economic development. I would really like us to recognize that something isn't working. It is important that all departments ensure that everyone is consulted.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
On that note, we will stop there.
Thank you very much for your testimony.
This meeting is adjourned.