Official Languages Committee on March 9th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Please take your seats. The meeting is about to begin.

Welcome to the committee.

We're sorry for the short delay. We had a vote to attend.

I think we'll try to do it in 45 minutes, so we'll make sure we go straight to the agenda.

You're most welcome.

We have the Quebec Community Groups Network with Dan Lamoureux, president, and Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general. Welcome.

Not to lose any time, please go ahead in your presentation.

[Dan Lamoureux, President, Quebec Community Groups Network]

Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee.

The Quebec Community Groups Network, or QCGN, is a not-for-profit representative organization that acts as a centre of evidence-based expertise and collective action on the strategic issues affecting the development and vitality of Canada's English linguistic minority communities, which we collectively refer to as the English-speaking community of Quebec. The QCGN's 48 members are also not-for-profit community groups, most of whom provide direct services to members of our community.

Some QCGN members work regionally, providing broad-based services. Some work across Quebec in specific sectors such as health or and arts and culture.

English-speaking Quebec is Canada's largest official language minority community at just over one million citizens whose first official language spoken is English. Although 84% of our community lives within the Montreal census metropolitan area, more than 210,000 community members live in other Quebec regions.

Bilingualism rates are high in our community compared to other English-speaking Canadian cohorts, with an average rate of 66% reporting knowledge of French and English during the 2011 census. That percentage increases among English-speaking youth to more than 80%, reflecting the investment our community has made to ensure our children can live and work in French in Quebec.

The English-speaking community of Quebec has not equitably benefited from the Government of Canada's official languages strategy, nor does our community have an equal voice in the national official languages discussion.

There are three reasons for this.

First, English is not a threatened language. A key purpose of Canada's official languages approach is to advance the equality of status and the use of English and French languages within Canadian society to have French and English from sea to sea to sea. We achieve this in large measure by supporting the development of English and French linguistic minority communities, but policy-makers and leaders often make the assumption that because the English language is safe, English linguistic minority communities need less attention.

Presumptions unsupported by evidence are made about the English-speaking community's vitality. The significant difference within our diverse community of communities is not externally well understood. Our linguistic minority community is not fighting to preserve a language, but it is working hard to maintain a presence in Quebec and preserve our culture and identity, which is unique and distinct from Canada's English majority. English and French linguistic minority communities ensure Canadians have an opportunity to live, work, and play in either or both official languages across our country.

Second, the degree to which English and French linguistic minority communities benefit from Canada's official language strategies depends on the co-operation and engagement of a community's home province or territory. Most areas of public interest that affect our community's vitality are provincial in nature. They include health, administration of justice, and education, to name a few. Federal institutions carrying out their duties to ensure that positive measures are taken to enhance official language minority communities do so while respecting the jurisdiction and powers of the province.

Quebec does not recognize Canada's English linguistic minority communities, and as a result it is the only province or territory without a strategic, legislative, regulatory, or policy framework within which to communicate with and support its official language minority community. Thankfully, this seems to be changing at the political level. The QCGN is grateful for the support and outreach of individual MNAs and ministers.

We have reason to be optimistic that the Government of Quebec will eventually recognize and work with its English-speaking community in Quebec's relationship with the Government of Canada.

The third point is this. The histories of Canada's English and French linguistic minority communities are very different, and unsurprisingly we are dissimilar in structure and capacity. English linguistic minority communities are all located within one province, and our community sector organizations are local or provincial in nature and scope, as are most sector umbrella organizations. Very few have the capacity to engage at the national level, and only one, the QCGN, is funded to do so. As a result, even when a community is present at the national table, it often lacks the policy background and support to effectively engage.

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General, Quebec Community Groups Network]

Canada's official languages strategies since the 2003 action plan have increasingly attempted to address the needs of English-speaking Quebec. Awareness of our community and the obligation of all federal institutions to take positive measures that enhance our vitality is growing. The levels of support we receive from individuals in the Government of Canada are, on the whole, outstanding. We know there is a sincere wish to help us in most federal institutions.

However, some programs remain inaccessible to our community for the reasons outlined by our president. This inaccessibility precludes English-speaking Quebec from receiving equitable federal support and benefit from Canada's official language strategies.

To be clear, the QCGN is not advocating for a bigger share of the current pie for English-speaking Quebec. What we are saying is that because the needs of English-speaking Quebec have not been equally considered by the Government of Canada, the pie is too small. Supporting Canada's English and French linguistic minority communities is not a zero-sum game; the vitality and interests of each are symbiotic, and they should never be placed in competition.

How do we think the committee might help English-speaking Quebec?

First, study how federal institutions can meaningfully consult with Canada's official language minority communities. Talking is not consultation. We expect tangible results that bring real benefits to members of our community and contribute in a meaningful way to our community's vitality.

Second, explore new ways to financially support our community. For the past five years, the QCGN has been actively advocating for and supporting Employment and Social Development Canada's social financing initiative, which we were pleased to see included in the current road map.

While we are still waiting for these funds to be made available to our community three years after the initiative was announced, we welcome ways to work in partnership with the Government of Canada and new stakeholders such as the private sector. We would also like to explore the establishment of community-managed development foundations seeded and sustained by the Government of Canada, an approach that depoliticizes the current grants and contribution system and makes predictable and organic funding available to the community sector.

Third, find ways to make support for Canada's English and French linguistic minority communities flexible and responsive to the unique needs of each community. One size does not fit all. In the words of Senators Maria Chaput and Andrée Champagne:

...the government needs to recognize that since the realities and challenges experienced by the English-speaking and French-speaking minorities are sometimes similar but sometimes different, each minority must be treated in a way that takes its specific needs into account.

Finally, we would encourage the committee to reach out to the Government of Quebec, and not just on matters related to la Francophonie. This committee can play a leadership role in highlighting the benefits to all Canadians in general, and to Quebecers in particular, of the Governments of Canada and Quebec working together to support the vitality of English-speaking Quebec.

[Dan Lamoureux]

We were very pleased to hear that the committee is planning to visit English and French official language minority communities.

In 2010-2011, your colleagues in the Senate conducted a study on the vitality of English-speaking Quebec that included an extensive visit to our communities. We urge you to read the recommendations from that report. The clerk has forwarded you the link.

We must work together to dispel the myth surrounding English-speaking Quebec. Although the Eastern Townships have been mentioned, we would also encourage you to visit Quebec City, eastern Quebec, and our other regional communities. Help us dispel the myths that continue around our community, and focus federal institutions on the needs of English-speaking Quebec.

Thank you for inviting us here today. Please know that the committee and its members can count on the full and continued support of the QCGN.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much for your presentation. That was great.

I think I'll start immediately with questions. I'll go with Monsieur Généreux.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Many thanks to Mr. Lamoureux and Ms. Martin-Laforge for their presentation.

You talked about the fundamental differences between English and French minority language communities. What were you referring to exactly?

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

One major difference lies in our trajectory as a community.

We have been in Quebec for hundreds of years and the English-speaking community has built its own institutions. The institutions have been there for many years, built by the community, not the Quebec clergy at the time. Our ways of funding ourselves, funding our institutions, working with our youth come from a different place, because there was no help from government.

In the French-language communities

outside Quebec, there were clearly no institutions. In the rest of Canada, English-speaking communities found a different way to survive.

You can't compare what happened in Quebec to the English-speaking community to what happened to the francophones in the rest of Canada. That's important in policy-making and program support, because you don't have the same kinds of programs when a community has diminished in size or its institutions have diminished as a result of legislation and what has happened in the province.

A well-known Franco-Ontarian once said to me that in Ontario, for example, francophones are not seen as a threat but perhaps sometimes as a nuisance. I don't even believe that, because I think that in Ontario now, francophones are seen as being a very important contribution to the province.

In Quebec we are still, unfortunately, seen as a threat. It goes to Mr. Lamoureux's point about the fact that we speak English, and that is a threat. People forget that we have communities. I think, Mr. Généreux, that would be the most important difference. What are we protecting? We're not protecting a language. We're protecting a historic community and protecting people from other provinces and immigrants who want to come and join that community, not just the historic anglophones.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I think that in the city of Ottawa right now, it seems that francophones could be a threat right now. Everybody could be treated.... We're a threat, yeah.

I think you have associations in the Gaspé region and the Eastern Townships. But aside from Montreal, where are your association's biggest groups located?

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

The Eastern Townships is a big one. The Îles-de-la-Madeleine is far. It's tiny, but it's important. I think that Quebec City is a fascinating example, because the number is small but the influence is large.

[Dan Lamoureux]

I was going to say also the Lower North Shore, Blanc-Sablon, Baie-Comeau, toute cette région-là. Each one has its own specific character. There is Rawdon in the Laurentians, and the Huntingdon-Howick area.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

You said earlier that your relationship with the Quebec government wasn't easy. Do you feel you are somewhat excluded?

[Dan Lamoureux]

Four years ago,

we opened the doors with the Quebec government of the day. I think with the Parti Québécois and the Liberal Party as well, we've been able to open the doors to have a dialogue with the respective MNAs. I think they're starting to understand better our concerns as a minority community. The Government of Quebec still does not recognize us as a minority community, and therefore we do not have the same benefits as our francophone partners in the rest of Canada. We're struggling to find a minister who can help us with funding, with our concerns. We're basically quite alone when it comes to our relationships with the Province of Quebec.

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

May I add something?

I think what's important as well is that in Quebec, less than 1%—I think it's 0.9%—of the fonctionnaires are English-speaking, so while sometimes political will might be there, you know, it's partisan, or it changes every four years or whatever. You know very well that policy-making is the basis for getting anything done, and there's no legislative framework to get into policy-making. With no legislative framework, at least if you have kind of a policy framework you have a chance.

I have to say that we're starting to see some changes now, especially with the youth policy framework for Quebec, but it's hard work. It's really hard work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you.

It is now over to Ms. Lapointe.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you kindly.

I welcome you here today.

I will speak to you in French, but I would encourage you to speak to me in English.

Earlier, you were saying that Quebec's English-speaking minority was given less consideration. Could you elaborate on that, please?

I'd appreciate it if you could keep your answer concise, as I have more questions for you.

[Dan Lamoureux]

The anglophone communities in each region have their own particular concerns. For the townshippers, it might have been when the hospital in Sherbrooke gradually became unilingual French. In Quebec City, with the Saint Brigid's hospital there, they've been able to maintain a bilingual presence within the hospital.

Among our anglophone youth, about 80% are bilingual. They want to remain and live in Quebec. One of my sons is in Calgary and the other one I hope will stay in Montreal, but they realize as a minority that we should be able to speak the majority language. That's the reality.

So there's been a different mindset. It has changed, because we want to remain in Quebec but still have our language when we're sick and still have our language to get together for education or for worship. We still want to maintain that part.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Very well. Thank you.

As I told you earlier, my riding, Rivières-des-Milles-Îles, is located in the Lower Laurentians region, which is home to anglophone minority communities you are no doubt familiar with.

You said that every community has its own distinct needs. You talked about Quebec City and the Eastern Townships, where Mr. Paradis's riding is located. I'd like you to comment on the various considerations affecting communities in the Lower Laurentians—the distinct requirements and the health care needs of seniors.

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

I'll give it a shot.

You know, we have 10 regional members. There are some places in Quebec where there's not enough critical mass to have a good understanding of English-speaking Quebeckers. There's not a lot of work happening in Drummondville, and there's not a lot of work in some other places. It's not because we don't want to, but because we don't have the capacity.

The federal government is the only one that funds community groups that work in English. It's the only one. Our funding has not changed in over 12 years. It is a very finite fund. Many places have an emerging group of anglophones or people who would like to do something, but there's no funding to help them organize and mobilize.

As you know, it's not always easy to mobilize. You can't mobilize from Montreal to your.... It doesn't work.

You have to be on the ground, in the community.

So I would say to you that there's just not enough money for grassroots organizations to work locally.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

My riding is home to the 4 Korners centre, which you are no doubt familiar with. I know the federal government gives the centre significant funding, but you're saying that—

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

It's project funding. It's not core funding.

In the rest of Canada and in Quebec there are groups that get core funding. That is really important to our groups. Core funding is given to 22 groups in the the QCGN. The pot is small, and you can imagine that nobody wants to give anything up. There's a bit of a jockeying for position about who gets what, and how, and whatever. The English-speaking community has many needs. The group 4 Korners does wonderful work, but they don't get core funding. They need core funding.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Very well. Thank you.

I'm going to switch topics.

Next year will mark Canada's 150th anniversary. What kind of support do you think your organization could provide, in order to ensure the celebrations in Quebec are bilingual?

[Dan Lamoureux]

I know that in Sherbrooke, they asked—

Is it the Quebec games? No, it was the Canada Summer Games that were held in Sherbrooke a couple of years ago. The Eastern Townships English community helped with offering bilingual services to those athletes who attended. I think English-speaking Quebeckers would be willing to help in making sure that anything that happens in the 150th anniversary is bilingual.

I want to add one little thing. Last year one of our new members was from Rawdon, up in the Laurentians. A small group of anglophones, through their schools and their church, got together and formed a community to make sure services were provided for their seniors, and everything else. This organization does not receive any funding. It was just a group of people within that area who came to us and asked to become a member, just to get some services.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much, Ms. Lapointe.

[Sylvia Martin-Laforge]

Come and visit.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Come and visit.

Monsieur Choquette.