Official Languages Committee on May 23rd, 2018

Evidence of meeting #104 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Issues Related to French-Language Training in the Field of Nursing in Canada

MPs speaking

Denis Paradis
Alupa Clarke
Bernard Généreux
René Arseneault
Paul Lefebvre
François Choquette
Sylvie Boucher
Darrell Samson

Also speaking

Cynthia Baker  Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
Ashley Pelletier-Simard  Director of Bilingualism and Translation, Canadian Nursing Students' Association
Sylvie Larocque  Director, School of Nursing, Laurentian University, As an Individual
Michelle Lalonde  Professor, School of Nursing of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
Liette-Andrée Landry  Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Shippagan campus, Université de Moncton, As an Individual
Pierre Godbout  Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton, As an Individual

4:40 p.m.

Voices

Yes, they are here.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC

They are here? That's perfect, that's what I wanted to know.

Thank you.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Thank you.

Mr. Choquette, were you finished?

4:40 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Yes.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

I would point out to the witnesses that, if they want to conclude their testimony, they can send an email to the clerk of the committee. Please do not hesitate to do so.

I will now turn to the members of the committee.

We had planned to have people from the College of Nurses of Ontario and the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, but we have to postpone that. We will try to invite them next week. The clerk will try to contact them for that purpose.

May 23rd, 2018 / 4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS

I just have one question for the witnesses, Mr. Chair.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Go ahead, Mr. Samson.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS

Has a complaint been filed with the federal Commissioner of Official Languages?

4:40 p.m.

Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton, As an Individual

Pierre Godbout

Yes.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS

Did he agree to address the complaint?

4:40 p.m.

Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing

Dr. Cynthia Baker

He said that he couldn't deal with health and education issues. Our problem is in both of those areas.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

The problem—and this is particularly the case in New Brunswick, an officially bilingual province, like Canada—is that each province delegates authority to an association of nurses. It is a matter of provincial jurisdiction. New Brunswick has a remedy. I don't know whether it's being used, but I know what the first item on the agenda of the next annual general meeting would be if I were a member of your association.

The problem, in Ontario and Manitoba, is that francophones are in the minority and there are no laws that protect bilingualism. Perhaps there are, but the fact remains that we have to work on the laws. Contrary to what Mr. Choquette says and hopes, but with whom I nevertheless agree, we cannot impose a pan-Canadian exam on associations that fall under the jurisdiction of each province individually. The authority is delegated to the provinces of the associations.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Thank you very much, colleagues.

My thanks also go to the witnesses.

Once again, I'm sorry that we were pressed for time.

The committee will meet again next Monday. The meeting is adjourned.