Evidence of meeting #85 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 théberge.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
The Netflix investment falls under the Investment Canada Act, pursuant to which everything is confidential.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Three seconds ago, it did not exist; now that information is confidential. It is mind-boggling.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Mr. Mulcair, I'm sorry, but your time is up.
Mr. Lefebvre, you now have the floor.
Liberal
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Your time is up as well, Madam Minister.
Mr. Lefebvre, please go ahead.
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Madam Minister, thank you for being here with us today.
You have raised a number of topics. For my part, I would like to ask you two questions.
You just announced that the roadmap will be extended beyond March 31, 2018. Why did you announce that? Why is that important for communities?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
A number of organizations were worried about future federal support for the official languages. I want them to know that we understand their situation and that we will be investing more in the official languages. The former Conservative government, on the other hand, had made many cuts.
We want to modernize our approach. Knowing that some of the concerns pertained to immigration, we want to make sure that new francophone immigrants are integrated into linguistic minority communities. It is complex. Moreover, the communities do not necessarily have all the tools they need to integrate these newcomers for the long term.
As to early childhood, we have to make sure that children can start learning the minority language quickly, right from the start. We have to prevent the assimilation that can occur in linguistic communities. These situations are part of the new reality of linguistic communities. They are facing tremendous challenges, to be sure, and we want to help them.
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
Thank you for making that announcement today.
You also listed your department's investments and the concrete steps it has taken in the past two years. On page 4 of your introductory remarks, it says, “and so forth”. There is actually one thing you have not talked about: the investments in cultural spaces. For 10 years, the previous government slashed those investments. I am from a minority community in Sudbury, in northern Ontario, and I know how vital these cultural spaces are for minority communities.
What investments has the current government made and does it intend to make in cultural spaces across the country to continue to support these communities? These investments are very important.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I was pleased to be with you to announce the government's investment of over $12 million in the Place des Arts de Sudbury. A hundred or so people were there for the announcement. It was the best news of the day in Sudbury. The francophone community had been waiting for that investment for years.
We have made other investments in cultural spaces for linguistic communities, such as the Centre culturel Aberdeen, in Moncton, which is crucial for the francophone community. We also invested in the land of la Sagouine, in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Who is not familiar with la Sagouine? We also invested in the new arts district in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia. There is a nice French-speaking Acadian community in that part of Nova Scotia, in Cape Breton. We wanted to support it.
These are four great projects to which we have provided millions of dollars in support.
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
And that is just in the last two years. Congratulations!
Mr. Chair, I would like to give the rest of my time to my colleague, Mr. Arseneault. So we are going back to Acadia.
Conservative
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Madam Minister, before I get to my question, I have to tell you that a few seconds ago, representatives of the QCGN wrote on Twitter that they had indeed been consulted during the nomination process for the commissioner of official languages, contrary to what our colleague suggested.
After the holidays, we will be conducting a study that will include the topic of early childhood across the country. Our committee will also be travelling out west.
In your consultations in the field, what have you heard about how we can improve conditions for official language minority communities?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
As I said earlier, we have good allies on the official languages around the table, whether they are from the NDP, the Conservatives or the Liberals. We review all of your reports. Right now, we are reviewing your report on Air Canada, and we will be providing the government's response on that.
The committee's work helps me exercise horizontal leadership, in the same way as our government does.
As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I work constantly with my colleagues—and sometimes I push them a bit—to make significant investments in the official languages. Regardless of the subject, whether it is immigration, early childhood or even the reality of community organizations across the country that do their utmost to support the vitality of our linguistic communities, we have to examine the situation. I look forward to reading your work.
In short, the next generation is strong. In 2019, the Official Languages Act will be 50 years old. That means three generations of children who have grown up under the act. I have seen some continuity across the country, but it is fragile. I hope you will be able to meet a lot of young people working in this field.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Thank you, Madam Minister.
Mr. Généreux, you have six minutes.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Madam Minister, I would like to go back to Netflix, because there is something that concerns me.
You said earlier that there will be $25 million to create content in French. Twenty-five million out of $500 million is 5%. Is that right?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Actually, $500 million will be invested in the production of original Canadian content in both English and French. An additional $25 million will go towards market development to give francophone producers greater access to the $500-million, five-year, investment.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
What is the percentage of francophones in the country?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I know that we have great artists, whether we are talking about Jean-Marc Vallée, Denis Villeneuve, or Xavier Dolan. Our creators are among the best in the world when it comes to television—
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
That wasn't my question.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
—and film production. I have no doubt that francophones will receive—
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Ms. Joly, my question—
Liberal
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
What is the percentage of francophones in the country?
I'm not asking you for a list of artists. I know who they are. I am asking you what the percentage of francophones in the country is.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
As I repeatedly said, the Netflix investment isn't perfect, but—
Conservative