Official Languages Committee on Feb. 21st, 2019

[Guylaine F. Roy]

The person with whom my employee spoke was an assistant deputy minister in the Government of Ontario. But it is not…

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

In the Department of Canadian Heritage, who talks with the Ontario Government people?

[Guylaine F. Roy]

Go ahead, Mr. Racine.

[Denis Racine, Director General, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage]

It is the staff in the Official Languages Branch. As part of the federal-provincial relationship, we talk to the provincial representatives for the initiatives in education or teaching.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Forgive me for interrupting you, Mr. Racine. But since this is a crisis and a unique situation, should the communications not come from higher up? Should they not come from you, the deputy ministers?

[Guylaine F. Roy]

The first thing I would say to that is that no one is higher up than my minister.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Yes.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

After the decision, my minister said clearly that she was very concerned and that she would like to meet with them.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

The minister did not meet Ms. Mulroney face to face.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

In her first letter, she asked for a meeting with her.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Yes.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

That was a first letter.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

What was the answer? Was there one?

[Guylaine F. Roy]

I am not aware if Ms. Mulroney provided a written response, but as I understand it, there were conversations between the ministers.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

There were telephone conversations between the two ministers.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

However, I was not present during those conversations.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Okay, but did you personally have conversations with the people in the ministry, with Marie-Lison Fougère and George Zegarac, who came to see us two weeks ago?

[Guylaine F. Roy]

In managing the program, my officials communicated clearly with the Government of Ontario officials on a number of occasions. I supported my minister very actively, as you can see with all the interactions we had and with all the work we did in connection with the $1.9 million to help the university.

I had very frequent reports on what was happening. We were clearly very active. We called and communicated with the two deputy ministers. We talked about education, but also about francophone affairs. It was clear that those officials had no mandate from their minister to…

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I understand, but the FCFA, the AFO and everyone involved are asking the federal government to show some leadership.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

Yes.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

We can see that you are making an effort, but it might be said that you are not going as far as you can. You send letters, but you do not pick up the telephone yourselves. There is leadership, but it might be said that it does not go as far as it could.

You deputy ministers should be contacting Ontario's deputy ministers at least once every two weeks to tell them that your offer is serious. I understand that the request must come from Ontario and that the officials may not have the mandate. The fact remains that, in your work, and certainly in Minister Joly's, because you get your direction from her, you have to demonstrate strong leadership.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

My answer to that is that Minister Joly has demonstrated very strong leadership. As soon as the decision was made, she was clear on her position. She immediately wrote to Minister Mulroney to ask for a formal meeting in clear terms. I am not aware whether she received a reply to her first letter.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

It would be incredible if she did not reply. That is unacceptable.

[Guylaine F. Roy]

I am talking about the minister.

First, I think that the ministers did talk to each other. You said that there were no telephone calls, but they did speak to each other. I was not there during those conversations.

Second, in her second letter in January, Ms. Joly explained to Minister Mulroney that the federal government was able to go up to 50% and, if it could help, we would provide money for the first years.

The federal government's leadership in this matter is very clear. We showed that very clearly by putting $1.9 million on the table. I can tell you that my officials worked tirelessly on the matter and I followed it very closely. Nevertheless, the request has to come from the provincial government, because education is a provincial responsibility.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Choquette.

Mr. Arseneault, the floor is yours.