Evidence of meeting #127 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 university.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Ms. Adam, we all agree with this.
I want to add that Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière is private and Cégep de La Pocatière is public, and that they both hold fundraising campaigns every four or five years.
9:25 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
All universities hold fundraising campaigns.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
They look to raise $2 million or $3 million every five years. In fact, we already had the opportunity to talk about it.
Journalist Benjamin Vachet, who is here, wrote an article on the topic. While preparing the article, he interviewed the executive director of the university, who told him that, normally—it's true, he's right—the universities seek money to fund programs and scholarships, but not operations. What he said is completely true.
Under these circumstances, I consider that there could be different forms of funding. As I told you, there are firms that handle this. There could be funding for operations.
I'll say it again and I'll say it publicly. If Mr. Desmarais and Mr. Desmarais, the sons of a proud Franco-Ontarian, are watching us, they may end up giving money as part of a fundraising campaign for operations.
9:25 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
You're absolutely right. I would add that there's often a requirement for equivalent funding from the government, which amounts to 50%. I totally agree. In fact, it's one of the projects on the table in connection with the former fundraising campaign. We've even received offers from universities or foundations that are ready to support us since we don't yet have a charitable registration number.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We'll now hear from Mr. Fergus and Ms. Lambropoulos, who each have one minute.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here, Ms. Adam. As a representative of a Quebec constituency in the Outaouais area, and as an Anglo-Quebecer and francophile, I can assure that our community is 100% behind the university and the Franco-Ontarian community. We attended the demonstrations, and we'll continue to support you.
We're looking at what's happening across the Ottawa River and we're stunned by what Doug Ford's Conservative government is doing. In fact, he isn't doing anything. Did I hear correctly that you're ready to meet with his team to propose funding solutions, such as involving the federal government, the private sector and other community groups and organizations? Yet, you're being rejected by the other side.
December 13th, 2018 / 9:30 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
Until now, we haven't been able to meet with Minister Mulroney or Minister Fullerton. However, this hasn't prevented us from having conversations with their team, sending them documents and proposing solutions. These solutions include fundraising, a “carrefour francophone”, public-private partnerships and, of course, the federal-provincial solution.
I can assure you that I don't give up easily.
9:30 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
9:30 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
We received a call before this whole situation occurred, to warn us that more conditions would need to be met before the board is recognized and that more time would be needed to think about the project. This wasn't surprising, since the government had just taken office. In July, I received the call, but I didn't really have any quality time to explain the project. It's somewhat deplorable. If we had had some time, we may have been able to convey the full significance of the issue.
This isn't about adding another campus to an existing university, as is the case at Ryerson University, a wonderful institution that I love and that I consider a “mentor university” for the Université de l'Ontario français. Ryerson University and two or three other English-language universities have a new campus a few hundred kilometres from their base. However, in our case, we aren't talking about a satellite campus 100 or 200 kilometres from the main campus. We're talking about a brand new university.
We can't expect young people and people from central-southwestern Ontario to study in French 500 kilometres from home, in Sudbury, a place that I love and where I worked, or in Ottawa, even though I worked at the University of Ottawa. Without a francophone university in Toronto, most of these people will attend an English-language university, where they will stay and become assimilated.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you, Ms. Adam.
Thank you, Mr. Fergus.
Thank you, Ms. Lambropoulos for giving your speaking time to Mr. Fergus.
We'll finish with Mr. Blaney, who has three minutes.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Adam, former commissioner, thank you. Your presentation fills us with hope. It's the Christmas season, and we need hope.
You started your presentation by saying that this was a historic moment. It's true. We're turning a page in the history of Parliament, since this is our last meeting here in the Railway Room. I was here, not far from where you are now, when a shooter was on just the other side of the door on October 22, 2014. I'll have mixed memories of this particular room. I'll also remember this morning's meeting, Ms. Adam.
When I was elected as a member of Parliament in 2006, Chantier Davie Canada was bankrupt. On the website, its assets were being liquidated, and a handful of former employees who were receiving employment insurance were bidding on projects. In 2015, when I finished my term in the government, there were 1,500 employees and the Asterix ship, which is now the pride of the Royal Canadian Navy.
I'll use an English phrase to summarize your message for us this morning:
Where there's a will, there's a way.
This morning, we're seeing your commitment and we know that the project will continue. You can count on our committee to move forward in a creative way.
This morning, you proposed temporary funding as a solution. It would be a funding bridge to provide oxygen and to ensure that this project, which is already on track, remains on track. We're in the Railway Room, after all.
I don't know whether you have anything to add, but I want to thank you. We'll continue to support you. If you give us the number of your foundation, I'm sure that all the members here will be happy to put something for your foundation in their Christmas stocking.
9:35 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
I hope that Santa Claus will be very generous. Thank you.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Blaney has already written his cheque.
9:35 a.m.
Chair, Board of Governors, Université de l'Ontario français
Yes, it will be our first.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
This concludes your appearance, Ms. Adam. On behalf of all the committee members, I want to thank you for your presentation, comments and answers to questions. Don't give up.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We want to leave you with that message. Don't give up.
We'll take a break for a few minutes in order to go in camera to discuss the committee's work.
Thank you.