What recommendations would you like to make to the government?
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.
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.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
What recommendations would you like to make to the government?
3:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
As Ms. Fedoration said...
it is to recognize the fact that there is another community that supports French as a second language, and that some of the biggest champions of French second language education or French education are the English-speaking mothers and fathers who put their kids in French immersion and don't speak French at all.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
3:25 p.m.
National Board Member, Canadian Parents for French
With regard to the review of regulations, I believe that it is possible to identify rights holders, people like me, who come from an exogamous family and who are completely bilingual.
and to modernize the recognition of majority versus minority to be more inclusive of new Canadians who may have a second official language as their second language or third language—people like me.
I also think there's already language there. As guardians and protectors of language rights, then that could be extended to the second language.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
3:25 p.m.
Vice-President, Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta
In addition to what all my colleagues have said, I would recommend that the government invest in post-secondary education for two reasons. First, as we have heard, there are great and urgent needs that must be met. Second, this investment would support the mandate of school boards. Studies indicate that a student who has the opportunity to pursue post-secondary studies in French is probably more likely to complete grade 12. At this time, the options are limited.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
3:25 p.m.
Associate professor of French and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages, University of Lethbridge, As an Individual
I think we need to continue investing in French language instruction. Many people in the field dedicate enormous amounts of time to this issue. We also need to ensure the quality of the language. Obviously, new teachers need to be recruited, but sometimes our students have a language proficiency level that is quite low, which worries me. I am part of the problem, because I'm too kind when grading my students, so I'm contributing to this problem.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
3:25 p.m.
Instructor, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, As an Individual
I would say that we need to insist that school boards prioritize French. As I said earlier, they can choose whether or not to offer it, depending on parents' interest and budgets. I think it's shameful.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
3:25 p.m.
Professor, Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, As an Individual
Obviously, I'm a little biased. Investing in post-secondary education is absolutely essential. That's the key to success. We are training future teachers.
We talked about the shortages, but it's not just about the number of future teachers. It is also a question of quality.
I talked about the challenges related to language proficiency and cultural competency, because we have students in the immersion program, for example, and other students from francophone African countries who have specific and varying needs. We need resources.
I am one of only seven professors, only seven, currently in education at the Campus Saint-Jean. We need loans of service, teachers in the field who can come and meet with future teachers and share their experiences with them. This is very expensive. A loan of service costs $120,000 a year, just to give some idea.
Investments are therefore needed in post-secondary education.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Vandal.
We will now continue with Mr. Arseneault.
March 1st, 2018 / 3:25 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is René Arseneault, and I'm the member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, in northern New Brunswick. I am a proud Acadian.
I have a lot of questions for you, but your presentations were so clear that we're beginning to get a pretty good idea of how our report might look, following our tour around western Canada.
I want to try to get away somewhat from the kinds of questions we've been asking you. I would have liked to come back to them, but I won't have time.
Yesterday we heard that in British Columbia, school boards also seem to be independent of one another, and I must say, that surprises me. There is no single curriculum used across Alberta, from north to south and east to west. That's my understanding.
Are all the school boards independent? They can decide whether or not to offer French classes. Is that right?
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes. Every school board is truly independent. There are 62 or 63 school boards in the province. Of those, 42 offer French classes, in addition to the French school boards.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Okay.
I understand that there are religious school boards and non-religious school boards. Is that right?
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes. Here in Alberta, there are two types: public school boards and Catholic school boards.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Do they all fall under the same ministry, the Ministry of Education?
In terms of curriculum, is there a minimum every school board must offer?
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes, the provincial curriculum.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Okay.
However, you said that school boards could choose whether or not to teach French, whether or not to offer French classes.
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes, they have the choice. French is not a mandatory course; it is up to the school board.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Okay.
Are teachers' salaries the same across all school boards, regardless of whether the school board is in the east, or whether it's an English or French school board?
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes. In Alberta, the base salary is $69,000. It's nearly the same for everyone. It's simply a question of seniority. There is no language bonus.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Whether in Lethbridge or Saint-Albert, all teachers at the post-secondary level earn the same salary.
3:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French - Alberta
Yes, it's nearly the same.