Evidence of meeting #115 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was teachers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
I think the city of Thompson has about 13,000 people.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
What is the proportion of francophones among those 13,000 inhabitants? Is it 10%, 20%, 30%?
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
Perhaps Ms. Ashton could answer that question. Personally, I would not be able to answer it.
October 22nd, 2024 / 12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Ms. Ashton, do you have any idea of the proportion of francophones in Thompson?
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Actually, no. However, we have to wonder about the quality of this data. I think Ms. Nicolas talked a lot about newcomers, who include a large percentage of francophones.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I imagine that the existence of those communities in the north is due to the presence of certain private companies. Do they contribute to education, particularly French-language education? For example, for day care services, do you feel supported by those businesses, which I don't know? Do you feel the presence of those companies in the educational world?
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
I'm getting to know the city of Thompson. Did you know that this city is one of the very few that owes its development to the mining industry?
I know that the Vale mine is looking to recruit our students. That mine is the largest employer in Thompson. They are very pleased that many of us are very much involved in their information sessions on the trades. It certainly has an impact on our students, because they know there are many employment opportunities.
Conservative
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
Thompson is recognized as the northern hub. People from all the other northern communities come to Thompson, for health care, shopping, and so on.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mrs. Hickey, you said you weren't really from Thompson, because you weren't born there, but you live there with your family. I imagine your husband works for or around the Vale mine, or would he be a doctor?
Teacher, As an Individual
No, he is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
That's why he's called upon to travel throughout Canada, which obviously has an impact on your family life.
You talked about early childhood services as part of the education continuum. I understand that, in small or remote communities like Thompson, having access to such services can kick-start a child's entire education in the French-speaking system.
Both of you talked about people coming in from outside or, in fact, immigrants. Are there a lot of francophone immigrants who come to work with you, not necessarily in education, but in the community in general?
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Yes, I'm talking about adult newcomers.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
In the Thompson area, and by “area” I mean the city or the constituency, do you think that the region is also involved in promoting Thompson as a place where francophones could settle?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Ms. Nicolas. You know how to respect the time, unlike my colleague Mr. Généreux. He had five minutes and the clock shows that he took another twelve seconds.
Ms. Koutrakis, you have the floor for five minutes.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to thank the witnesses for being here today.
I'd like to continue to better understand labour shortages. What distinguishes the training of future early childhood educators who will work in a minority language community from that offered to educators destined to work in institutions where the language is that of the majority?
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
Mrs. Hickey, I'll let you answer the question first, and then I'll comment.
Teacher, As an Individual
If I understand correctly, you want to know the difference between the training of francophone educators who go to work in a minority environment and the training provided to educators who go to work in a majority institution.
On the one hand, there is language, of course. On the other hand, there is culture. Songs, nursery rhymes and all the things that make the francophonie alive would be part of the training of the person taking the francophone program.
I hope that answers your question.
Principal, École communautaire la Voie du Nord
I may not have understood the question, but one of the major differences is access to post-secondary education in French. Here, in Thompson and in the north, we don't have access to face-to-face post-secondary education. If there are opportunities for access, they would be virtual, but I don't think there are many. If people want to get training, they have to go to Winnipeg.
Liberal
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Why do you think it was important for you to appear before the committee today?