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.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
I will use the three minutes very effectively.
You put your finger on the problem. You said it is because the agreements are between the federal government and the various provinces, and that the provinces distribute the funding as they see fit. In the past, the federal government never wanted to hold the provinces to account. It is unbelievable. The federal government gives money to the provinces and recognizes their jurisdiction over education but, since it is federal money, it should be able to ascertain roughly how it will be spent. Any provinces that refuse to provide that information should be denied funding. That has never happened in the past.
Perhaps your department should do this now. I can tell you that Minister Duclos just did this with regard to funding for early childhood initiatives. A bilateral agreement was signed with the provinces, which stipulates that part of the funding must go to the community. When there was talk of adding this provision 12 months ago, some people said it was not possible and that they could not encroach on provincial jurisdiction. We can encroach on their jurisdiction. It has been done.
Let me tell you a little story. Nova Scotia has a preschool resource centre, the Centre provincial de ressources préscolaires. Roughly translated, here is what the centre wrote in a letter to me:
For over 20 years, the Centre provincial de ressources préscolaires (CPRPS) in Nova Scotia has been trying to obtain the funding that is provided to various family resource centres right across Canada [...] since 1993.
In 2012, the centre filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Official Languages. The Commissioner found that $2.1 million had been spent in the communities, but that nothing had gone to the minority communities. In his investigation report, the Commissioner noted:
Of the millions of dollars spent since the creation of CAPC, francophones have received very little: very little services, and very little aid to support their vitality and development. By offering early childhood services in English only, it is likely that young Francophones and their families face an increased risk of assimilation.
It was in 2012 when the Commissioner made that comment. This is serious. You wanted a consultation, and you got a good one here today. Take what you heard and share it with the minister. Once again, I am not blaming you personally at all, but you are following the rules of the game.
Our role is to make sure that the rules of the game are equal, because “equal” does not mean “fair”. One of the previous witnesses used an example that I really liked. There are three people of different heights. The one who is six feet tall can see a baseball game over a fence that is five and half feet high. The person who is five feet tall cannot see it, nor can the person who is three feet tall. In the interest of equality, we have to provide benches so they can all see.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Samson.
I would like to say a few things before we wrap up.
We do not talk about literacy very much, but we do talk about essential skills, among other things.
I know that, years ago, the number of illiterate people in Canada was very high. I would like to know the current rate of illiteracy in Canada. You may send the information to our clerk.
Roughly speaking, what percentage of people in Canada are illiterate, and what is the percentage in minority communities? I would like to be able to compare the two rates of illiteracy.
Moreover, the bells are ringing for a vote. So I will ask your permission to continue the meeting for a few more minutes.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
No, I have to be somewhere.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
We have to go vote. The buses do not come by here very often.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Yes, but we still have half an hour.
Is that okay?
Okay, we will continue then.
So I would like to know the rate of illiteracy in Canada as a whole. As I recall, the numbers were very high. I would also like to compare the national illiteracy rate with the rate in our official language minority communities.
Finally, I would also ask you to provide the committee with the bilateral agreements you have with the provinces and the territories—you mentioned those agreements earlier—, and of course the provinces' and territories' action plans so we can finish our study. Okay?
Please send the documents to our clerk. In the meantime, thank you very much for your testimony today.
Mr. Choquette, would you like to add something?
5:30 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Chair, I would like to make a suggestion to the committee.
In conversation earlier, I learned that we still do not have any witnesses for our meeting next Monday. It would be helpful to hear from anglophones in Quebec with regard to literacy and essential care. I do not know if it is too late.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
No, Mr. Choquette, it is not too late.
Talk to the clerk about it and we'll see what kind of group we can invite.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you once again.
The committee is adjourned. We will meet again next Monday.