Evidence of meeting #13 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean Johnson  President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Alain Dupuis  Director General, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dalton.

I'll now give the floor to Mr. Arseneault for the next six minutes.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Before I begin, I want to congratulate my fellow New Brunswicker. I haven't heard him speak often, but his French is excellent. I'm pleasantly surprised, given that he comes from a part of the province where he didn't have the opportunity to benefit from French immersion.

Congratulations, Mr. Williamson, on your excellent French. Many people in New Brunswick could learn from you.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB

Thank you.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Johnson, on May 14, during the pandemic crisis, your organization issued its first report. Of course, we know that the questions were probably asked in March or April, well before the report was released in May.

All Canadians and non-profit organizations panicked, and your organization was no exception. We didn't know how the measures would be implemented or how the army of public servants would be used to get the job done. I'm speaking from the federal government's perspective.

Yesterday, I read your January report, for which the surveys were conducted in the fall. I noticed, and correct me if I'm wrong, that all your members and all the people whom you represent said that the current federal government stepped up to the plate. I'm providing a summary, since the report is quite long. In addition, all organizations spoke of a timely response and expressed a high level of satisfaction with the federal government's programs.

Up to this point, have I understood your report correctly?

5:10 p.m.

Director General, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Alain Dupuis

The report says that 80% of the assistance received by francophone community organizations came from the federal government and partially met their needs. That said, it's also necessary to understand from our report that the assistance must continue. If we were to lose the support provided for wages, rent or other items, the organizations would be in crisis. The support has helped prevent a crisis: 80% of our organizations still have most of their staff in place.

That said, as we move forward, funders will need to be increasingly flexible.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

I understood this, Mr. Dupuis. Sorry for interrupting you.

I'll address the motion. I'm conducting a little macroeconomic analysis. The FCFA, like non-profit organizations and businesses in Canada, has received federal assistance. This assistance has helped keep the patient alive, so to speak.

Let's look at the context of our current study. It's about how provincial governments have dealt with the challenge of providing information to minority language communities and the impact on these communities.

I want to know what assistance your members have received from the federal government compared to the assistance that they haven't received from their respective provinces. You have members in several provinces. How has this affected the ability to provide information to people in francophone communities outside Quebec?

How has the federal assistance made it possible for your members to take on this communication role in order to help our language minorities? According to your survey, your members haven't received any provincial assistance. How has this affected their ability to provide information to people in OLMCs?

5:10 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

This pandemic situation has demonstrated that several provinces consider that the francophone communities issue falls under federal government jurisdiction. Several provinces haven't made any financial investments to support the advancement of our communities. It's sad to say, but I think that's the reality.

I'll stop here.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

When we met with Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages, not New Brunswick's commissioner, he gave us some ideas on how we could help these communities.

Once again, I'll refer to the context of this study, which is crisis communications. The pandemic is a crisis. He told us about many opportunities for the federal and provincial governments to help each other, for example, to avoid duplication.

With the federal assistance that your members said that they received during the pandemic and in their current situation, how could they use this assistance to implement the Commissioner of Official Languages' recommendations for crisis communications?

5:10 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

I'll let Mr. Dupuis answer that question.

5:10 p.m.

Director General, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Alain Dupuis

Of course, when serving the public, our members who received assistance were able to purchase personal protective equipment and, to some extent, provide services remotely. That's good.

In terms of whether official languages are included in the crisis plans of governments, including the federal government, the answer is no. We've seen this at all levels. However, they should be. You have heard this recommendation, and we support it. Canada's Emergencies Act must include a reference to the Official Languages Act.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Absolutely.

5:10 p.m.

Director General, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Alain Dupuis

On a broader level, the federal government must ensure that the provinces fulfill this role and incorporate official language elements. If the province can't fulfill this role, the community organizations should be able to play the role for the public.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you, Mr. Dupuis and Mr. Arseneault.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Thank you.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Mr. Beaulieu now has the floor for six minutes.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for your presentations, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dupuis. It's very useful.

When we hear you speak about the organizations and the results of your study, we understand that the situation is serious.

Let's go back to 1971, to the early days of the Official Languages Act. At that time, outside Quebec, the percentage of French spoken at home was 4.3%. In 2016, this percentage was 2.3%. Statistics Canada predicts that, by 2036, 1.8% of the population outside Quebec will be French-speaking.

Just look at the status of French in British Columbia schools. There have been Supreme Court victories. However, it's necessary to keep returning to court to get the judgments enforced. We must have a realistic picture of the situation if we want to see change. Reversing this trend will require major changes. I want to hear your views on this issue.

One factor at stake is the “where numbers warrant” principle. It's completely absurd. When the use of the French language declines in a given area, French-language services are cut back. This requires an imaginative approach to find criteria to inflate the numbers. However, when the numbers are inflated, it gives the impression that everything is fine. The “where numbers warrant” criterion should be changed so that services are available to combat the decline of French and not cut back in response to a decline.

What are your thoughts on this?

5:15 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

We're currently working very hard with the federal government on the immigration issue. A great deal of work still needs to be done in this area. On that note, Canada is the only country that uses immigration to maintain the demographic weight of French-speaking communities in all its regions. This also creates a good opportunity to diversify our approaches to doing business and to strengthen the position of French across Canada.

You spoke of statistics and the “where numbers warrant” principle. I'd say that this issue was widely considered a few years ago, when the Treasury Board made changes and redefined the criteria for a healthy, vibrant and engaged community. We're talking about cultural centres, schools and things that didn't exist when the act was created in 1969.

While the demographic weight is declining, the number of our communities is increasing. We must never forget this. That's why we're working so hard to modernize the act and strengthen the position of our communities with a wonderful diversity of people from around the world. This places Canada in a strategic position to become an economic leader not only domestically, but also internationally. We've embraced a vision for bilingualism, and our communities are making this vision a reality. We need the government's help to support our communities. We're the cornerstone for advancing a Canadian vision.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

In my opinion, the best way to increase francophone immigration and to thereby strengthen francophone and Acadian communities is to look at Quebec's approach, which has produced good results. It involves giving more points for knowledge of French to people from around the world who want to immigrate to Canada. This makes it possible to select more French-speaking immigrants or people from French-speaking communities. This has been done in some places. Do you think that it will be done more often?

5:20 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

We're very much in favour of this decision. It confirmed that the minister was really listening to our comments and our requests. It also showed that the minister was strongly motivated by a desire to find solutions. This was one way to do so, and yes, this applies to francophone immigration to Canada.

So you're talking about Quebec's perspective. For us, it's one factor. We want to do even more. When it comes to immigration, we consider that the concept of “by and for” is becoming increasingly significant.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Boulerice now has the floor for the last six minutes.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm very pleased to see you again, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dupuis. Obviously, like everyone else, we would prefer to see each other in person. Thank you for being here and for the information that you're providing.

I want to address the report that you're presenting. However, I first want to focus on the future and the preservation and vitality of francophone and Acadian communities. You have often said that your priority was the modernization of the Official Languages Act. It seems that we'll have to settle for a white paper. Once again, a major overhaul of the act and the passage of legislation are being postponed.

What are your thoughts on this?

5:20 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

We are surely disappointed and concerned that the bill will not be introduced in the next few weeks. We will certainly look carefully at the contents of the white paper, but it is still not a bill. The concern we have right now is about rumours that there may be an election. If there is an election, it will destabilize the security of the communities on the issue of modernizing the law.

We hope that the white paper will be something very brief, because at this stage we are in the process of refining the content of a bill that could be tabled as soon as possible. In our opinion, it's a question of political will. We want to move quickly in that direction.

We're counting on each and every one of you to put partisanship aside and champion the progress of this bill, which our communities really need.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Johnson, I share your disappointment. I think we are witnessing the can being kicked down the road. We don't need more consultation, we need a bill and a modernization of the law.

However, since we will have to be content with a white paper, what important messages would you like to see in it?

5:20 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

I'm going to refer you to a document we tabled in April 2019, a model bill that the communities wanted. In our view, the white paper should reflect this in large part, as well as all of our demands.

Our communities' requests have already been made public.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Fine.

There has been a lot of talk about CBC/Radio Canada this week, and rightly so, as the CRTC hearings have taken place. We have heard a lot of complaints from francophone communities about the lack of representation of francophone and Acadian communities on screen.

How would you like to see Radio Canada's mandate changed? We've even heard talk of a newsroom outside of Montreal, in the Maritimes, perhaps. That's interesting.