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.
Liberal
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
In French it is the CCORPI. In English it's called the CCRNR, the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators.
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Yes, it is.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
So that is the case for all of the provinces, including Ontario?
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Edmundston Campus, Université de Moncton
It includes all of the provinces and territories with the exception of Quebec.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I can understand Quebec's particular position.
In other words, Mr. Godbout, Quebec saw the trap of this American translation, from a distance.
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
Quebec's regulatory organization is a part of the organization we've just mentioned, but Quebec did not adopt that exam.
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
Long ago, Quebec abandoned the Canadian organizations that regulate nursing practice because of a lack of services in French.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
In 30 seconds, can you tell me if our training institutions, our universities, exerted pressure on these organizations? If so, what were these pressures, and what was the result?
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
Our province is in a particular situation in the sense that our association represents all of our nurses, including the francophones. As you know, 33% of the population of our province is French speaking.
Liberal
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton
Yes. Some of the members of our association are francophones. We have been there for them from the beginning. Because of this particular situation, the director general of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, whom you will be meeting later, worked with us to find a solution. The issue is quite complex, but the fact remains that the success rate on the exam is not increasing. That is the problem and we have to do something. We are probably going to find a way soon to replace that exam, but that is where we are at for the moment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Godbout.
We will now hear from Mr. Choquette.
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank all of you very much for being here today. I am glad you brought this problem to us. We have just finished our study of the new action plan, and health care in French is one of the sectors we need to invest in. When there are barriers that stand in the way of the provision of services in French, the federal government absolutely must be involved, because it plays a role in this action plan even if health is a provincial matter.
I want to focus on your recommendations. The first is that the translation of that exam be adapted to our needs. Is that correct?
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
No, not entirely. We recommend a bilingual Canadian exam, but not necessarily the one we had in the past. The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, which I represent, is ready to work with the regulatory organizations in order to come up with an exam that is truly bilingual.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I understand that you want a bilingual Canadian exam. So that is your first recommendation.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
You feel that the American exam is useless because it is too far removed from our reality, is that correct?
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
First, there is a lack of consistency between what is tested and what is taught. Second, we can already see that we will have an ongoing battle with the United States to obtain translations; up till now they have not complied with our request.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I have understood the first recommendation well. However, whether we have a Canadian exam or an American one, we will still have the problem of the lack of resources in French, particularly preparatory materials.
What is your recommendation to make more French-language resources available?
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
We could have them translated.