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.
5:05 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes, we generally look at that, because we still have a number of target populations.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Okay. I was wondering because you mentioned it yourself.
The officials from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages said that you had not complied with part VII of the Official Languages Act. They gave you three months to implement two recommendations. As I understand it, you accepted the two recommendations, which is very good, and you are starting to implement them.
Can you please tell us in detail how you intend to successfully implement the two recommendations from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages?
5:05 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
This is what we are doing right now. We have a consultation planned for mid-March. We are preparing for this consultation together with a committee from RESDAC, and with people who are not necessarily from RESDAC. We are not imposing the style of consultation; we are deciding that in cooperation with these groups.
We plan to meet for two days in mid-March specifically to set the course for the future together and, in the process, reevaluate the policies pertaining to OLMCs and the funding criteria.
We will discuss the negative impact that eliminating core funding may have had on RESDAC and try to determine together how to move forward.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Clearly, you will be talking about core funding.
The Official Languages Action Plan is on its way. Your role was not necessarily related to the old Action Plan. If memory serves me well, literacy was not included in the old Action Plan. Is that true?
5:05 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
We were part of that action plan, but the intent was primarily to work horizontally with our other partners. Right now, the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, or OLES, is planning to work with the communities, whether that is under the action plan or not.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Are you currently in touch with Canadian Heritage officials on a daily basis to find out how things will work under the new Action Plan?
You will be holding a consultation in mid-March. You said that literacy was included in the Action Plan. Are you asking whether funding will be forthcoming? Have you decided to operate on the basis of projects as opposed to core funding? Are you talking with Canadian Heritage or Treasury Board to find out what is going on?
5:05 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
In the case of the OLES, the program has its own funding, so it does not necessarily depend on the Action Plan.
5:05 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
So we can make progress on literacy and basic skills in conjunction with the other programs, but not necessarily...
5:05 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I have heard that you have money left over at the end of every year. So there is money in the pot, ready to be invested in official language minority communities. How is it that you know that you have money left over to invest in the communities and yet you are still waiting for the outcome of other consultations? I understand there is a certain process to be followed.
5:10 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes, of course. There are processes to be followed.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
It is not a question of money, though, since you have the money.
5:10 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
No, it is not a lack of funds that is stopping us.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Okay. It is important though to understand where things stand.
You seem to be on the right path. What are your timelines? There will be consultations in March. What will be happening until then?
5:10 p.m.
Director General, Employment Program Policy and Design Directorate, Department of Employment and Social Development
In the meantime, of course, we have our projects that are currently running. We also work by call for proposal or targeted solicitation. We will continuously provide funding for organizations to do innovative work, or to test innovative approaches for literacy and essential skills, to help scale up and introduce good approaches that have good results in other communities.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Ms. Bertrand, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I do not have much time left.
You will be consulting the communities and RESDAC. When will you come back to the committee to tell us about the proposals you come up with? Will it be in June?
5:10 p.m.
Director General, Employment Program Policy and Design Directorate, Department of Employment and Social Development
With the engagement in March, I would say that it would be the summer. It takes time, as we have internal processes, of course, to develop options and ideas and briefings, etc., but I would think that by the summer we would probably have a better idea of the next steps.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
According to my figures, from 2003 to 2014, the department spent $1.5 million every year on literacy in our official language minority communities. Of that amount, do you know how much went to RESDAC and how much went to other organizations?
5:10 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
When RESDAC had core funding, it received approximately $600,000 per year. It also received funding per project and the rest could be allocated to other organizations in the linguistic communities.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
That was part of the $1.5 million in funding.
In 2015, that amount fell to $1 million. What happened to the remaining $500,000?
5:10 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
The $1.5 million was actually an average. Expenditures varied from year to year, depending on the stage of the projects or the time required for their approval. It is not always like clockwork, unfortunately.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Based on the information you presented, it was just noted that official language minority communities have greater needs than other communities.
People are calling me at home, in Saint-Boniface, asking what is going on and why they have to let their employees go. I do not have an answer for them.
What is your answer?
5:10 p.m.
Manager, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Department of Employment and Social Development
We follow the department's internal process for project approval. We go as fast as we can.
