Official Languages Committee on June 16th, 2015

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I would like to talk about something we have not yet discussed.

Many cuts have been made to Radio-Canada's radio service, totalling $150 million. Some 3,500 positions will be eliminated by 2020. As a result, the Téléjournal air time has been cut by 30 minutes.

Francophone communities outside Quebec have access to national radio and television. That helps them preserve their language and meets their need to watch Radio-Canada programs that are not rebroadcasts or recycled reports as a result of the reduced air time. The public broadcaster must continue to provide adequate service to the communities that need it to preserve their language.

In addition, anglophone communities outside Quebec that wish to learn French need Radio-Canada to speak quality French. A number of NDP members even said they learned French by tuning in to Radio-Canada. Radio-Canada's presence in communities ensures that the information provided on radio and television is neutral. So the small francophone communities outside Quebec cannot be deprived of the programming from the public broadcaster.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Gourde, please proceed.

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

I would like to say that an event will soon be held where these issues will probably be discussed. I am talking about the 20th Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie in which the Government of Canada and all the provinces will participate. These issues and all the services provided by all governments to francophone communities across Canada will be discussed there.

After that ministerial conference, we will be in a better position to carry out an even more worthwhile study. At the moment, I think the study is premature. For the time being, we will vote against the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Seeing no further debate, I'll give the floor to the clerk for a recorded vote.

The vote is on the motion as presented by Mr. Nicholls.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 3)

Seeing no further business, I wish everybody a good and safe time over the summer and all the best in the upcoming campaign.

This is the end of the committee for the 41st Parliament.

Thank you for all your participation over the last four years. I wish you all the best.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.