Official Languages Committee on Feb. 7th, 2018

[Éric Perreault]

What we have to take into account is that there have been some consultations. As Ms. Bertrand was saying earlier, the core funding did not end for RESDAC only. At the time, 23 organizations were working on essential skills and literacy. According to the strategy, funds allocated to those organizations would be made available through competitive bidding.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

How many organizations are left? I think there were 23.

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

That's what he just said.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

There were 23 organizations. Do they still exist?

[Éric Perreault]

Some organizations have closed their doors.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Why?

[Éric Perreault]

One of the reasons is that the funding stopped, yes.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Of the 23 organizations, how many have closed? Two, three or four?

[Éric Perreault]

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Okay.

Ms. Bertrand, what I especially take from your comments is that we can do more. That's what you said. At least you are open. However, I am seriously questioning your department's philosophy or strategy to stop funding and reassess it afterwards. Usually, this is done while the organization is providing services, not when the services no longer exist.

The former executive director of RESDAC now holds another job. RESDAC must then start from scratch and hire another person. The problem with project funding is that we hire people to work on a project, but we have to start from scratch once the project ends.

In my opinion, that strategy does not ensure continuity. For minority communities, the worst thing is that there is no continuity and the approval and support are broken. You have to know it, understand the reality of minority communities and become their champions in different sectors. I think it's really unfortunate. In my opinion, your strategy is absurd, and I hope it will be possible to find a much better approach.

I would like to raise one last thing—

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much, Mr. Lefebvre.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I only used five minutes and 21 seconds of my speaking time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You spoke for five minutes and 50 seconds.

Mr. Choquette, the floor is yours.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I would just like to say that Mr. Lefebvre's comments make a lot of sense and reflect my thoughts.

I do not know whether you can answer my question, but you should be able to. How many official language minority organizations do you currently fund?

[Éric Perreault]

We probably have about 15 projects.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

So it works by projects.

[Éric Perreault]

Yes, it works by projects.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Are those projects by and for official language minority communities?

[Éric Perreault]

First, I want to make it clear that those 15 projects are not necessarily in official language minority communities.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

That's why I specified it in my question.

[Éric Perreault]

Right now, I think two of those projects are under way.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

They are made by and for official language minority communities.

[Éric Perreault]

Yes.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Okay.

I know you may not have been there, but in general, when you think about financial changes, and before you make funding decisions, do you care about the impact that it can have on official language minority communities?

[Éric Perreault]

The answer is yes, with regard to the decisions made in 2014.