Official Languages Committee on Nov. 25th, 2013

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Again, I notice that the hub for aerospace is in the Montreal area and that there is a lot of technical work being done there. That must fuel a number of jobs for that area.

Would you like to comment on that?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

Quebec offers more training in those sectors.

There's still a long ways to go before more post-secondary programs are available in French. Right now, not every program is available outside Quebec. If the number of students goes up, then we need to accommodate them by providing greater access to certain programs not currently available.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

Thank you very much, Mr. Daniel.

Madame Brosseau.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank all the witnesses for their input. I'm new to the committee. I find our discussion extremely worthwhile. French is very important to me. My son will be turning 13 soon, and he's in French immersion.

I'll begin with you, Ms. Lalonde. Did you appear before the committee on the topic of the new Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-18?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

Yes.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I'd like to hear what you think of the roadmap and whether it meets your expectations.

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

I'll begin by saying that I'm the director general of the Consortium national de formation en santé. It was in that capacity that I appeared before the committee on the roadmap. The new roadmap focuses on training sectors. Under the roadmap, similar funding will be allocated to areas such as health. We were very pleased to learn that, with the new roadmap, our funding over the next five years would be the same as it was in the previous five years.

The roadmap also sets out training funding in the area of justice, which is another important sector for francophone minority communities. In fact, access to justice services in French is just as important as access to health services in French is.

The roadmap continues to make investments in education. I think the roadmap continues to meet the needs of francophone minority communities, but still has room for improvement. Many needs persist, and we must continue to meet them.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I have a question for both witnesses, if they don't mind.

What social factors represent challenges for students wanting to continue in French immersion?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

At the post-secondary level?

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes.

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

One challenge is being able to study in an environment with other francophone students. It's a new situation for those continuing in immersion at the post-secondary level.

There are a number of possibilities. For example, we offer scholarships to students who wish to complete their post-secondary education in French immersion. In order to receive the scholarship, the student is required to work in the francophone community. That's another challenge. In addition to what they're learning in their program, it's important for them to be involved in the francophone minority community.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Ms. Lalonde, is this the first year you've offered scholarships?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

We've done it for two years now.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

How many scholarships do you give out every year?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

Currently, the government gives us enough money annually for twenty-five $5,000 scholarships for students enrolled in a university program and pursuing their studies in French. The scholarships are awarded in their first year of university. It's well known that students who start out in French tend to continue the rest of their university education in French. The scholarship represents an important incentive. And by working and being involved in the community, they get to see just how useful their studying in French is.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Do you know how many students apply for the scholarship?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

We never have enough scholarships, that's for sure. If that's what you want to know, I can confirm that right off the bat.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

More money, then—

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

There are never enough scholarships for everyone who applies. But on top of the scholarships we happily receive from the government and award to students are the ones the universities, themselves, offer.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Can students use the scholarship to study at any university in Canada?

[Jocelyne Lalonde]

Yes, all over outside Quebec. The scholarships are available in the 14 universities who belong to the AUFC.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Very good.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

[Scott Moreash]

Mr. Moynihan talked earlier about the number of English-language learners who are part of our French immersion programs, and we've just done some quick calculations of our own here at the table. We see that one in four students in grade 1, for example, at the beginning level of French immersion, also receive support in their endeavours to learn to speak English. Certainly, that would be a factor in the number of new Canadians whom we have the privilege of serving in our district. It is very high. The complexities of learning French as a second language while at the same time learning English as a second language is, in all likelihood, a factor that affects their choice of immersion programs.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I think it was mentioned earlier that there are 31 primary immersion schools and only three to four secondary schools that offer immersion. Is that right?

[Shawn Moynihan]

That's correct.