Evidence of meeting #59 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.
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
We can have them translated and adapted.
I would like to mention that prior to this, with AIIC we had no problem regarding French-language resources.
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
It is because we gave permission to an entirely different company located outside of Canada to sell us its exam.
Director, School of Nursing, Laurentian University
In the past we had resources available in both languages to prepare our students for the exam. Now there are no resources in French.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
If we brought back the Canadian bilingual exam, this would solve the problem of the lack of resources in French at the same time, correct?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Well, that's brilliant.
I have a question about the $450 amount that francophones have to pay in order to take the test. Do anglophones pay the same fee?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Yes they do. It's a universal fee.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Okay.
In short, returning to the Canadian bilingual exam seems to be the clear, specific solution.
You probably have already proposed this solution to the nurses' corporation. What was their answer?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Which organization are you referring to?
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I mean the organization that chose to adopt the American exam. Which organization was it?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
In fact it was all of the professional corporations of each province that voted for the adoption of this type of exam to sanction access to the profession.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I see.
What was the reason for that decision? Did the American exam cost much less? Would it cost much more to have a Canadian exam?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
It is a computer adaptive exam. It's done on a computer. It's modern technology. The technology as such is good, but the problem is the content of the exam.
NDP
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
I think we could do the same thing.
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
In addition, less Canadian money would be going to Americans.
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Quite so.
Director, School of Nursing, Laurentian University
But in spite of everything, people tell us that there is nothing wrong with the American exam. They deny that there is any problem whatsoever with this exam.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
We are often told that the francophones are the ones who have a problem.