Official Languages Committee on Feb. 7th, 2018

Evidence of meeting #89 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 communities.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Review of literacy and numeracy support programs in Canada

Review of support programs for official language minority community media

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Carol Jolin President, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario

Marie Hélène Eddie Doctoral student in Sociology, University of Ottawa, As an Individual

Bryan Michaud Policy Analyst, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario

Monika Bertrand Director General, Employment Program Policy and Design Directorate, Department of Employment and Social Development

Éric Perreault Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development

5 p.m.

Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development

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.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

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

February 7th, 2018 / 5 p.m.

Liberal

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

That's what he just said.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

There were 23 organizations. Do they still exist?

5 p.m.

Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development

Éric Perreault

Some organizations have closed their doors.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Why?

5 p.m.

Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development

Éric Perreault

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

5 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

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

5 p.m.

Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development

Éric Perreault

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you.

5 p.m.

Liberal

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—