Evidence of meeting #18 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 business.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Welcome, everyone, to the 18th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Today is Thursday, April 3, 2014.
We are here, pursuant to Standing Order 108 to study the economic situation of Canada's minority linguistic communities.
We have six groups with us today.
We're going to begin with the Department of Industry, along with the federal economic development initiative for Northern Ontario, but before we do, Monsieur Godin....
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
On which date does the commissioner appear to talk about the main estimates?
Conservative
Krista Campbell Director General, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of Industry
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning.
Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the economic situation of official language minority communities.
My name is Krista Campbell, Director General of Strategic Policy at Industry Canada, and this is my colleague, Lucie Perreault, Director of Programs and Corporate Services at FedNor.
We're also joined here by representatives of Canada's regional development agencies, who will be able to provide some valuable on-the-ground insights.
My remarks might be a little bit long. You have copies of the remarks and I've shortened them in a couple of places.
Industry Canada is proud of the progress that has been made in promoting the development of francophone and anglophone minority communities in Canada.
As you know, Industry Canada is mandated to help Canadians to be more productive and more competitive in the knowledge-based economy, thereby improving the standard of living and quality of life of all Canadians.
To fulfill our mandate and responsibilities towards official language minority communities, I will be speaking to you about three major voletsat Industry Canada: first, our commitment to the economic development of official language minorities communities, which is entrenched in our mandate; second, the targeted coherent approach to economic development for the communities that is provided by the road map and the economic development initiative and; lastly, the key asset that official language minorities represents in the federal tourism strategy.
Let's talk about commitment first of all! This is the standpoint from which we recently undertook to work with RDEE Canada and CEDEC on drafting the first economic development plan for official language minority communities.
Our participation in this wide-ranging initiative will focus particularly on a study of trends in enterprise ownership in official languages minority communities.
The research we have funded will be used in part to help RDÉE Canada and CEDEC raise awareness among business owners and communities to determine what actions need to be taken. The recommendations and conclusions that will emerge from the economic development plan will be shared with the regional development agencies and FedNor to ensure they are taken into account in relevant programming.
In the same vein of business development, the Canada Business Network, part of Industry Canada, offers webinar sessions in collaboration with national agencies representing official language minority communities.
Canada Business Network's objective is to promote the growth and prosperity of enterprises by providing them with the resources they need, including a broad range of intelligence on the services, programs and regulations established by governments.
As part of the 2009 economic action plan, the government committed $5.1 billion to science and technology initiatives. The knowledge infrastructure program, for example, a component of the economic plan, provided financing to support deferred maintenance, repair and expansion projects in universities and colleges.
These investments will help attract new students and offer better educational experiences to tomorrow's highly skilled workers. Industry Canada was able to allocate nearly $65 million to French-language institutions outside Quebec and more than $86 million to English-language institutions within Quebec.
On March 28, 2013, the Government of Canada announced that it was renewing the Roadmap for the next five years. The economic development initiative (EDI), one of its economic components, is delivered by Industry Canada, FedNor and the regional development agencies.
The amount committed totals $30.5 million over five years, and Industry Canada gets $6.05 million.
The EDI has enabled us at Industry Canada and our partners in the regional development agencies to apply a targeted and logical approach, coast to coast, for the economic development of official language minority communities.
While FedNor and the regional development agencies deliver programs in the regions, Industry Canada coordinates research and economic development, national consultations and assessments.
The EDI takes account of regional needs and thus enjoys a certain flexibility.
In terms of research, you may be familiar with a study entitled Canada, Bilingualism and Trade, that was carried out by The Conference Board of Canada in partnership with RDÉE Canada and CEDEC, and funded by Industry Canada as part of the EDI road map. We have copies that we can provide to the clerk.
For Industry Canada, this study is an important example of how research can influence policy development, and emphasizes the value added—for example, in this instance—that bilingualism represents when it comes to trade.
Coming back to the direct impact of the EDI, here is an example: in northern Ontario between 2008 and 2013, beneficiaries of the 51 projects funded report that a total of 208 jobs were created and 384 were maintained. Quite apart from job creation, the EDI contributes to the vitality of official language minority communities in northern Ontario.
Moreover, FedNor has taken further measures for mobilizing official language minority communities. FedNor has winnowed the results of the contextual study undertaken by the Institut franco-ontarien, among other studies and polling reports, so that the priorities of official language minority communities are better reflected in its new EDI programming.
What is more, FedNor is preparing to launch a new initiative: FedNor's Dialogue Day with the official language minority communities in northern Ontario, to be held every two years.
Lastly, I would like to talk to you about the tremendous asset that official language minority communities represent in the federal tourism strategy, coordinated by Industry Canada.
With the backing of official language minority communities and of the Transat Chair of Tourism at the University of Quebec in Montreal, we have undertaken a range of research to gain a better understanding of tourism development opportunities in official language minority communities. This is one of the things that has enabled RDEE Canada to develop a national tourism strategy for official language minority communities, enshrined in a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian Tourism Commission.
The objective of this strategy is to integrate certain existing tourist attractions in francophone communities into the “signature Canadian experiences”. CEDEC Is doing the same thing, with financial support from Industry Canada.
In conclusion, I would say that Industry Canada is a partner of choice when it comes to economic development of official language minority communities. We maintain a regular dialogue with community leaders, like FCFA and QCGN, through our follow-up committees, which are standing consultation mechanisms that provide us with a better understanding of the issues facing French- and English-speaking minorities. In recent years, just under $200 million has been invested through various programs in the economic development of official language minority communities. This shows that Industry Canada takes its obligations seriously when it comes to economic development of minority language communities.
We're pleased to be here and to answer your questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
We will now turn the floor over to Ms. Fairman and Mr. Robineau, both from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Kimberly Fairman Senior Advisor to the President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
My name is Kimberly Fairman. I am senior advisor to the president of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, or CanNor, Mr. Patrick Borbey. I am accompanied by Mr. Yves Robineau, CanNor's Chief Financial Officer and Director of Corporate Services. He is also our official languages coordinator.
First of all, I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Official Languages for the invitation to appear here today to discuss CanNor's work as it relates to fostering the economic development of official languages minority communities in Canada's north.
Let me begin by briefly speaking to our agency's raison d'être.
Created in August 2009 with its headquarters in Iqaluit, CanNor is the only federal department with an exclusive mandate for Canada's three northern territories. With a presence in each territorial capital and a liaison office in Ottawa, CanNor works to help develop dynamic, diversified and sustainable economies north of the 60th parallel, while improving socio-economic outcomes for those who live and work in the north.
CanNor delivers a number of economic development programs, which focus on growing key areas of the northern economy, such as resource development, tourism, fisheries, cultural industries, as well as support and development of small and medium enterprises.
Two of CanNor's programs specifically apply to the francophone community. They are Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) and the Economic Development Initiative (EDI), as part of the renewed Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities.
As a designated institution under section 41 of the Official Languages Act, CanNor supports socio-economic development of official language minority communities across the north.
With 3% of the total northern population, the francophones are active participants in the local economy, experiencing high employment rates and higher than average levels of income.
Our agency has consistently engaged in close collaboration with francophone associations and francophone economic development organizations in the three territories. This collaboration allows us to understand and respond to economic development needs of official language minority communities.
Since its creation in 2009, CanNor has invested more than $2 million in francophone-related economic development projects across the territories through its SINED and EDI programs.
With CanNor's funding contributions, territorial francophone associations, together with their partners, are developing services and tools to support local employment, attracting investment from Quebec and France, as well as fostering economic integration of newcomers, entrepreneurship and community economic development.
CanNor supports the talent, experience and knowledge of its francophone community partners to contribute to social-economic development of francophones in Canada's north, creating opportunities for prosperity and a promising economic future.
Mr. Chair and members of the committee, thank you again for this invitation to appear before the Standing Committee on Official Languages. We would be pleased to answer your questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
Now we will hear from Ms. Guimond, of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
France Guimond Director General, Operations-Manitoba, Western Economic Diversification Canada
Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you. I am pleased to appear before your committee today.
My name is France Guimond. I am the Director General, Operations—Manitoba for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).
As you know, WD is the regional development agency responsible for promoting the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy, for facilitating federal economic activities in the west, and for reflecting western Canadian interests in national decision-making.
As our minister has stated: “Our goal is to let the world know that the west means business”.
It is well recognized by my department that, by achieving the objectives of the Official Languages Act, and in particular Part VII, we can help western francophone communities contribute to a vibrant and diverse regional economy.
Under the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018, WD continues to deliver the $3.2 million Economic Development Initiative (EDI) for western Canada.
Under WD's own programming, we provide ongoing core funding for the francophone economic development organizations (FEDOs), with an annual funding of more than $2.1 million.
WD received an exemplary rating from the Commissioner of Official Languages in his latest review of the department's management of its programs, and the Commissioner has said that the francophone economic development organizations, or FEDOs, are the best practice and a model.
WD regularly communicates with our FEDOs and with a wide range of francophone stakeholders in the west, including postsecondary institutions and francophone organizations. This allows WD to take into consideration the economic development priorities of official language minority communities in the west with regard to entrepreneurship, skills training, innovation, and trade and investment.
Moreover, senior management is committed to enhancing the vitality of the French language by supporting participation of WD staff in an official languages twinning program to maintain their language skills.
A few years ago, WD created the official languages lens to ensure positive measures are undertaken during project development. The official languages lens allows project officers to take into account official language minority communities' priority areas, thereby contributing directly to francophone community development.
A recent project that benefited from the official language lens is the Manitoba Music Industry Association. In 2013, WD provided nearly $1.4 million towards a $3.4 million targeted international trade initiative. The project includes an initiative that will help support the global expansion of francophone music SMEs in the west.
if you permit, I would also like to provide two EDI success stories from the previous Roadmap.
In 2009, WD invested $840,000 in the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM, for a project that supported three priority areas for official language minority communities in Manitoba: youth retention, entrepreneurship for new Canadians, and community economic development. CDEM worked with over 133 youth on a number of entrepreneurship initiatives, supported 63 new immigrant start-up businesses, and contributed to the development of nine green community economic development plans.
A second great example is the Francophone Tourism Smartphone Application project, through which four western FEDOs collaborated to promote francophone tourism in Western Canada. The project involved implementing a French smartphone application to promote francophone tourism attractions and French-speaking tourism businesses in western Canada. As of March 2014, the application has been downloaded almost 6,000 times and used over 25,000 times by users from North America, Europe and other countries.
By way of summarizing the overall results of WD's EDI, our investment of a little less than $3 million leveraged approximately $4.6 million, or about 160%, in other investments for OLMCs.
Going forward, WD will build on our past efforts and successes by using our programming and economic development initiatives funds to strategically leverage other funding.
WD will continue to undertake targeted outreach to and consultations with francophone communities as we launch new initiatives and ensure that projects take into consideration the impacts on OLMCs.
WD will continue to focus on building SME capacity and supporting business and economic development projects that ensure these communities continue to flourish.
Thank you for your time today. I am ready to answer your questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Ms. Guimond.
I now give the floor to Ms. Anzolin and Mr. Chayer, from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Susan Anzolin Acting Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Good morning, Mr. Chair, and committee members. Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you.
My name is Susan Anzolin. I am currently the chief financial officer. I have previously been the director general responsible for community programming at the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, or FedDev Ontario. I am joined by Paul Chayer, who is our person responsible for official languages.
FedDev Ontario was launched in 2009—a time marked by global economic challenges and a time when southern Ontario was experiencing economic hardship. Our role was to address immediate needs and contribute to job creation, focusing on activities to strengthen the southern Ontario economy.
The agency was renewed through Budget 2013. Today, we work strategically and collaboratively to be an agent of transformative change.
We are pleased to be here today to share lessons learned and ways we are working to meet the needs of official language minority communities in southern Ontario.
Francophone communities are an important component of our region's economy. More than three-quarters of Ontario's francophone population lives in southern Ontario—the largest outside of Quebec—and continues to grow through immigration.
In 2009, we were learning about the challenges these francophone communities face, and we adjusted our delivery of the economic development initiative to better meet their needs.
We conducted studies and engaged various francophone organizations, and learned three important things.
First, a lack of educational and entrepreneurial opportunities in francophone communities (especially small and rural communities) drives youth away.
Second, francophone immigrants struggle to launch businesses partly because of language barriers.
Third, francophone businesses have limited access to financing and business counselling information in French.
We engaged Ontario francophone economic organizations to support the delivery of key strategic projects. We work hard to ensure that official language minority communities have access to funding opportunities available, which includes all our programming.
Furthermore, FedDev Ontario will continue to engage the francophone community to address their issues so that our efforts are relevant to their specific needs. Their success is ultimately ours.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Ms. Anzolin.
Now we'll have Monsieur Tanguay and Madame Goulet for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Serge Tanguay Director General, Regional Operations Branch, Operations Sector, Canada Economic Development
Good morning. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for welcoming us here today.
My name is Serge Tanguay. I am Director General, Regional Operations Branch at Canada Economic Development. I would like to start by introducing my colleague, Hélène Goulet, Acting Director General, Policy, Research and Programs Branch.
During our appearance, we will present an overview of the status of English-language minority communities, or official language minority communities in Quebec, and explain how the agency provided assistance.
There are close to 1 million anglophones in Quebec. This minority represents 13% of the total population of Quebec.
The socio-economic status of official language minority communities is comparable throughout Canada. However, the isolation of anglophone communities in the regions makes it more difficult for them to become an integral part of local business networks. This is precisely the type of situation that makes the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality particularly meaningful.
Now let me say a few words about the agency.
The agency's mission is to promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those in which slow economic growth is prevalent or opportunities for productive employment are inadequate. As the Official Languages Act requires federal institutions to deliver the road map, the agency has done so in Quebec by such means as the economic development initiative, or EDI. The evaluation conducted by Industry Canada in 2012 of the road map noted with respect to the agency that the agency had achieved several of its established targets, that the EDI has resulted in positive benefits, and finally that dialogue among the agency, OLMCs, and fellow partners had been successful.
Since 2008, through the economic development initiative (EDI), the agency has funded 34 projects in nearly 80% of the official language minority communities identified in Quebec. This has resulted in investments totalling $22.9 million.
Apart from the EDI, the agency supports official language minority communities through its regular programming. In particular, the agency has signed agreements with 58 organizations that are committed to providing access to their services in both official languages. These agreements are a success factor for the promotion of Canada's linguistic duality.
In addition to providing funding, it was crucial for the agency to maintain ongoing dialogue with official language minority communities, to understand and respond more effectively to their needs and priorities.
Since 2010, some 50 meetings and discussions have thus been held, such as with anglophone communities on the Lower North Shore, the Dobson-Lagassé Entrepreneurship Centre in the Eastern Townships or the Gaspesian British Heritage Village in the Gaspé Peninsula.
I would also like to mention the “dialogue day with the English linguistic minority of Quebec” project, which allows ongoing dialogue between OLMCs and government representatives.
Another fine example of success stems from consultations held with CEDEC, which led to the implementation of the small business support network in seven administrative regions of Quebec. Among other things, this initiative made it possible to organize 92 events and four webinars relating to regional entrepreneurship, reaching more than 1200 participants.
In conclusion, we are committed to generating investment and creating jobs through the EDI, but also through our regular programs. In 2014-2015 alone, the agency plans to invest more than $2.6 million through the EDI.
Rest assured, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, that the agency plans to continue working with community stakeholders and to maintain the best practices established in recent years. This enables the agency to be well acquainted with the needs of official language minority communities and to monitor their changing priorities. It also promotes partnership with other donors.
I will be happy to answer your questions. Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
To conclude the presentations, we will hear from Wade Aucoin, from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Wade Aucoin Director General, Policy, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First, like all my colleagues before me, I would like to begin by thanking the committee for inviting ACOA to appear before you today to talk about what the agency is doing to support official language minority communities in Atlantic Canada.
I will deliver my presentation in French but will be happy to answer any questions in English or in French.
The ACOA is an economic development agency serving the four provinces of Atlantic Canada. The Honourable Rob Moore is the Minister of State responsible for the ACOA. Like the other regional economic development agencies, ACOA manages its own budget and programs.
Our mandate is to create opportunities for economic growth throughout Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive; by working with communities to develop and diversify local economies; and by championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. This includes providing services to official language communities under the Official Languages Act.
From a human resources perspective, the agency's staff is capable of serving the public in both official languages. Over half the positions at ACOA are classified bilingual.
We have a very vibrant francophone community in Atlantic Canada, living in all four provinces of our region. Acadians and francophones make up approximately 12% of the region's population. This also represents about one-third of Canada's French-speaking official language minority population.
Most Atlantic Canadian francophones live in New Brunswick, which has a francophone population of more than 235,000 people—just under 32% of the province's total population.
According to the 2011 census, francophones and anglophones in Atlantic Canada have similar wage profiles, although younger francophones tend to have higher average wages than anglophones.
In recent years, census statistics showed that the unemployment rates tended to be lower for francophones than anglophones in most provinces of Atlantic Canada.
ACOA contributes significantly to the region's francophone community with project funding coming from the agency's business development program, Atlantic innovation fund and innovative communities fund. In total, between 2009 and 2013, ACOA invested more than $200 million in regions of Atlantic Canada with a strong proportion of francophones, on both commercial and non-commercial projects, under these programs.
ACOA was also very pleased to be involved in the Government of Canada's first Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages from 2008 to 2013 by delivering the Atlantic component of the economic development initiative. In total, the agency invested $6.2 million in support of 47 projects throughout Atlantic Canada under the first EDI, leveraging an additional $6.6 million for total investments of $12.8 million. ACOA is committed to maintaining this level of funding under the new 2013-18 roadmap.
The 2012 evaluation of the EDI in Atlantic Canada concluded that the initiative's results were largely attained in the following areas: increased community capacity, dollars leveraged and number of companies having strengthened their capacity for development.
These contributions to official language minority communities by ACOA have not gone unnoticed. In fact, in 2010-11, the Commissioner of Official Languages gave the agency an exemplary mark for its performance in support of positive measures for the development of OLMCs in Atlantic Canada.
ACOA has also established partnerships with other federal and provincial departments and with regional organizations such as the Community Business Development Corporations, or CBDCs.
Under a new funding formula, ACOA provides operational funding to CBDCs, including an allocation for bilingual services in areas with sufficient demand for services in French.
The agency has also undertaken special projects with CBDCs in predominantly francophone areas. In New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula, in 2012-2013, ACOA funded a project aimed at improving business skills of entrepreneurs. In the Restigouche region of New Brunswick, in 2012-2013, ACOA funded a project aimed at enhancing the IT skills of entrepreneurs.
ACOA also works to help develop industries that are important for Atlantic Canadian OLMCs. Take New Brunswick's maple industry for example, keeping in mind that over 80% of the association's members are located in official language minority communities in northern New Brunswick.
Under the 2008-13 roadmap, ACOA invested $295,000 to help the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association grow its membership and improve its marketing and export readiness. The association grew from 30 members to 125 and at least two members have begun exporting internationally.
This work is complementary to the assistance provided by the agency to maple syrup producers in support of productivity improvements, modernization and equipment purchases.
In carrying out its activities, ACOA endeavours to take into account the nature and the specific needs of the official language minority communities in each of the four provinces.
The agency will continue to work with francophone businesses, leaders, community groups and other OLMC stakeholders to support economic development initiatives that will strengthen the economic outlook of French-speaking people in Atlantic Canada.
Mr. Chair, I will be happy to answer any questions that committee members may have.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
We now move on to questions and comments from committee members.
Mr. Godin.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As you know, we don't have a lot of time and we have a number of witnesses. I think it would be nice to spend four hours with you, instead of just two. It would be nice for us, anyway. The idea is not to bombard you with questions, but to have a good discussion with you on economic development in our regions.
My first question is for you, Mr. Aucoin. You said that the unemployment rate tended to be lower for francophones than anglophones. You know that I am from a region where 80% of residents are francophone. In my opinion, the only real reason for this is that our francophones have gone to work in Alberta. Economic development isn't the reason. Would you agree?
If what you say is true, I would like you to provide some evidence by sending the clerk some supporting documents. I would really like to know which sectors your agency has contributed to in order to reduce this unemployment rate because our fish processing plants have closed, the pulp and paper mills in Miramichi, Dalhousie and Bathurst have closed, the Brunswick mine is closed. It's distressing.
So when you say that the unemployment rate has dropped, it's certainly not because ACOA has created jobs for everyone in our communities. Would you agree with my comment?
Director General, Policy, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Thank you, Mr. Godin.
The remarks I made in my speech are accurate, but New Brunswick is the exception to this trend when comparing the rate of unemployment between anglophones and francophones. Indeed, the unemployment rate among francophones in New Brunswick is slightly higher than the average for anglophones.
As I mentioned, we are working hard to foster economic development in the northern part of the province and in all the OLMCs in New Brunswick. However, we recognize that there are strong trends in a number of rural regions, including regions in northern New Brunswick.
We remain focused on our mandate, which is to foster the development of small and medium businesses, to foster the development of community infrastructures and to work with community groups, including the CBDCs, to encourage investments and improve the development of businesses.
We are most definitely aware of the significant challenges in your region and in others. I can assure you that we are continuing to work hard to improve the economic situation.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Actually, I want to make sure you don't think that everything is going well in our regions. Every day, two airplanes leave for Alberta, not to mention the two more that leave from Moncton. I wouldn't want anyone to think that everything is going well and that we are living in paradise. People in our regions are leaving.
Still, it is a paradise. I invite you to visit, even if there is a lot of snow. If it melts, we'll be able to send you some maple syrup, but the sap isn't running yet.
I'll ask my other questions. If you don't have time to answer, I would appreciate it if you could send your answers to the clerk. It is important.
In terms of implementing the roadmap, what mechanisms do you use to plan the economic development for a community?
How are communities consulted on this? Who takes part in these consultations?
Do you all provide services in both official languages when you deal with organizations that receive funding from the economic development initiative?
Do you have enough analysts to provide services in French in predominantly English-speaking regions and in English in Quebec?
I'll give you another example, Mr. Aucoin. I don't want to look like I'm picking on you, but people in Newfoundland and Labrador tell me that key individuals in ACOA who can help them in French are in Moncton. We aren't talking about northern Ontarians being helped by southern Ontarians, or another region of Manitoba when the person is elsewhere in the province. In this case, people are required to trust individuals in another province.
I would like you to answer my questions, which are also for Industry Canada. However, if you don't have a chance to answer, I would ask that you send your responses to the clerk. It's important for our study.
Director General, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of Industry
I'll start with the first part about the planning tools and the consultations with respect to building economic development plans for official language minority communities.
At Industry Canada, our role is foundational with respect to some of the research that is done for supporting a better understanding of what the conditions are for official language minority communities, how various tools are effective in building economic development plans, and best practices with respect to what communities, businesses, or individuals could be doing to support official language minority community economic development.
Over the five years of the “Roadmap”, there were a considerable number of studies done. All of the studies that have been finalized to date have been made public; I think there are a couple that are still being finalized. We have used this work to both inform and work with the regional development agencies to ensure that they have the information, suggestions, and ideas before them in terms of their own planning for their specific programs and services, as well as using these research projects as tools with the communities that we consult with regularly.
We have two regular consultation mechanisms. One is the biennial—every other year—consultations with the official language minority communities, both the anglophone communities and the francophone communities. These are valuable opportunities for bringing groups together. Our regional offices and regional development agencies participate, sharing information.
The communities had noted that meeting every other year does not provide necessarily enough of a continuity of dialogue, so we've also implemented follow-up committees that meet on an ad hoc basis more regularly throughout the year, potentially a couple of times. We try to use conference calls and technology to be efficient in terms of bringing communities together at different points so that there's a more regular dialogue that goes on with the communities to share information.
With respect to services in both official languages, Industry Canada has been, as many departments have been, the subject of audits. We have had a number of recommendations made with respect to what we, as a department, could be doing to ensure that we provide services in both official languages.
We have done regular reviews of our own work as a result of an audit that was focused mostly on Part VII, official language minority communities and economic vitality, but we went a bit broader and looked at official languages throughout the department.
We implemented both an action plan and a policy statement on official languages, so these have been very foundational with respect to ensuring that we have good tools to go out to our employees to explain to them things like linguistic duality positive measures and what your obligations are.
I'll leave it at that at this point.
Conservative
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank all the witnesses for being here this morning.
My first question is for Mr. Tanguay, but can certainly be for all the witnesses, if they wish to answer.
Since 2006, I have had the opportunity to make a lot of announcements in the regions of Quebec for the Economic Development Agency of Canada. Quebec has a well-established network in its various regions, and we have employees who are very committed to economic development. We have had some successes. In fact, most of our announcements are about success stories. However, some files sometimes seem to take longer to get going because of challenges, and we are learning from those challenges.
Do you think that there are more challenges for our minority communities when the time comes to launch projects? Do you think it depends on the leadership in the community or the leadership of the entrepreneurs? There are challenges, but there are also advantages. For example, economically speaking, being an anglophone is an advantage in Quebec for exporting.
Could you explain what these leaders can do to make their projects successful and to deal with the challenges they face?
Director General, Regional Operations Branch, Operations Sector, Canada Economic Development
Thank you for your excellent question.
The anglophone community in Quebec is distributed as follows: 80% of anglophones are in the greater Montreal region, and 10% are in the three major urban regions, which are Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Gatineau. The remaining 10% are in the more remote rural regions, and that last segment is the most difficult to reach and consult.
The advantage of Economic Development Canada lies in its organizational structure. We have business offices in all regions of Quebec. We have an immediate point of contact with our business offices and they can provide services in both official languages in most cases, which allows us to connect with these groups. It often helps us to consult the community and to help promoters and clients develop and implement projects.
The other advantage that came out of Industry Canada's most recent summative evaluation, and that stems from the network of business offices, is that our communication mechanisms and approach with the OLMCs are very good, and we are doing this in various ways. For example, we have the dialogue day, which was just mentioned. We held one two years ago. The event was an opportunity to bring together some fifty organizations representing the OLMCs and government representatives. It is an excellent forum for connecting with the communities and to help us better understand their needs. In fact, it is the preferred mechanism for reaching out to our OLMCs.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
What observations can be made from the approved projects and the rejected projects? What are the advantages and challenges facing entrepreneurs in official language minority communities? How is it that some entrepreneurs are successful and some are not? How could entrepreneurs who are having difficulty be better supported?