Evidence of meeting #92 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 students.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
It's a wonderful program, about four weeks long, during the city's summer festival. It's really great. I went there to review the program and talk to people. Funding is available through the Ministry of Education. It doesn't cover the full cost, but the school board could cover a portion as well.
That's certainly another opportunity available to teachers.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
3:10 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
When you do make it to Quebec City, you'll have to visit Drummondville. It's only an hour and a half away. You'll obviously have to try the poutine, which was invented in Drummondville, you know. We won that title long ago, although some still like to argue otherwise. In fact, we have a poutine festival. It's very popular, just like Les Trois Accords, a local band.
My name is François Choquette, and I am a member of the NDP and the vice-chair of this committee. I was first elected in 2011. I, too, used to be a French teacher, so, one day, I might be able to come here, to Alberta, to teach. That is unless the kids tell me they hate core French and French immersion. Then we'd have a problem.
Now I'll get to my first question. In British Columbia, we also heard that French as a second language and core French were not taught throughout the province.
What percentage of students don't take French as a second language classes or French immersion? Is it high? Does anyone know the percentage? Could someone get back to the committee with the figure?
3:15 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
I will forward the numbers to the committee.
3:15 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Okay, thank you. It would be interesting to see the extent of the challenge here, in Alberta, and in British Columbia, where we heard the same thing.
Furthermore, in British Columbia it seems that French immersion is considered to be an elitist program. It is appalling to hear that. You talked a bit about that. It would therefore be very interesting to include this program in the offerings by changing the Official Languages Act.
You mentioned that local school boards make the decisions. Can you tell us more about that?
Earlier I heard that these district schools would perhaps want to offer these courses, but that there are not enough teachers. What exactly is the problem? Are the districts willing to do so, is there a shortage of teachers?
3:15 p.m.
Assistant Principal, Grandin Catholic Elementary School, Edmonton Catholic Schools
Our school board was going to launch two new French immersion programs two years ago. We had to eliminate one simply because we did not have enough teachers to open a kindergarten to grade 6 school. Our board cannot even offer that.
3:15 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Therefore, there is a real shortage of teachers. I don't want to discuss it, but there is probably also a shortage of teachers of French as a first language for francophone students. You are looking for teachers for the French as a second language programs, but French schools want to keep their teachers. That must pose challenges and put incredible pressure on human resources.
What has happened to the Quebec-Alberta student exchange program?
3:15 p.m.
Associate professor of French and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages, University of Lethbridge, As an Individual
It was cancelled.
3:15 p.m.
Associate professor of French and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages, University of Lethbridge, As an Individual
I do not know why, but it was cancelled six years ago. It was someone from Lethbridge who looked after it. They work in Edmonton.
3:15 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
What exactly was this program? What was its goal? Did it work well?
Is anyone somewhat familiar with the program?
3:15 p.m.
Vice-President, Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta
I participated in this excellent program. It made it possible for me to spend one summer in Quebec and some Quebeckers came to Alberta to improve their English.
Personally, I can say that my French really improved that summer thanks to this immersion program held in a French environment in Quebec. It was also a good work experience in French. Several of my friends and some other students from the Campus Saint-Jean also participated in this program. It is unfortunate that it no longer exists.
3:15 p.m.
Vice-President, Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta
I believe it was an interprovincial government offered by the Alberta and Quebec governments.
3:15 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
All right.
You mentioned the huge human resources problem.
As I have some time left, I would also like to talk about the problem of materials that are tailored to your programs, that is, French immersion and French as a second language.
Why are there no materials? That is unbelievable.
Ms. Beattie, would you like to comment on that?
3:20 p.m.
French Program Coordinator, Edmonton Public School Board
Teachers have materials. However, unlike large school boards, small school boards often do not have access to educational consultants.
We are really lucky because we have six educational consultants who are responsible for just the French component. Together with the teachers, we can create new projects and new resources, and we can provide professional development.
I would like to add that educational materials in French are often more expensive than those in English, and can even cost twice as much. In addition, the educational materials are often translated and not adapted, which is an important consideration for second language learners.
3:20 p.m.
French Program Coordinator, Edmonton Public School Board
We have many French books. The level of French is geared to grade 7 students, but the content is childish. That is a problem because we are looking for authentic resources and they have to be suitable for the grade and age of the students.
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Choquette.
Moving now to Manitoba, you have the floor Mr. Vandal.
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Daniel Vandal, and I am the MP for Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital, a riding in the City of Winnipeg. I am a Metis member of parliament and I am proud to be a member of this committee.
I would like to start by congratulating our witnesses for their commitment to education in their community and to our language.
I really appreciate what you do.
The matters that we are discussing are very broad, and we do not have much time to discuss them. We only have six minutes. I would like to give the floor back to you so that you can provide the members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages with more information in order to help us with our report. We will be presenting the report to the House of Commons so that the government can respond.
What advice do you have for us? What message do you want us to give to the department and to the government?
We have five minutes. We will start with the representative of the Edmonton Public School Board.
3:20 p.m.
French Program Coordinator, Edmonton Public School Board
We really need teachers who can teach French. We also want to send the message that the French immersion program is not just for the strongest students. We really have to dispel the myth that French is not for everyone. In fact, French is for all students, no matter their level of learning. It has to be inclusive. That means that, from the outset, we need people who can counsel students in French, speech pathologists, and all those people who support us in French.
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Thank you.
Ms. Fedoration of the Edmonton Catholic Schools, you have the floor.
3:20 p.m.
Assistant Principal, Grandin Catholic Elementary School, Edmonton Catholic Schools
I would like to come back to the point raised by Mr. Nolette. French immersion students should be recognized as second language learners. For example, most of the time I speak French and rarely do I speak English. Consequently, I am not recognized as someone eligible for the program or as a bilingual person in Canada. It is important to recognize second language learners. It is also vital that we continue to offer language development opportunities for teachers and students in authentic contexts.
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Thank you.
Mr. Tryon and Ms. Wishart of Canadian Parents for French—Alberta, you have the floor.
3:20 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Thank you, Mr. Vandal.
I am a teacher and I also supply teach a few times a month for a rural school board north of Edmonton. It has a small immersion program in Sturgeon, which has seven teachers and about 100 students.
The challenge in rural communities is dealing with the lack of resources. We do not have access to professional development and, sometimes, we do not have access to Francophone communities, especially in the southern part of the province. Most Francophone communities in Alberta are located north of Red Deer, and there are no francophone communities in the south. There are no opportunities.