Evidence of meeting #116 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 students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Absolutely.
Ms. Maisonneuve, is there anything you would like to say?
President, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta
Yes, I would like to mention that we have had conversations with the government about half-day kindergarten. I spoke earlier about the complexity of our relations with the government. The problem is that the anglophone majority is also having these conversations with the government and calling for full-day kindergarten. In our relations with the government, needs are always assessed through the majority lens.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Yes, I have had that experience. However, the government must be made to understand that these are two different situations. In your case, 80% of your students do not speak the language of the school when they start kindergarten. In the anglophone schools' case, students starting kindergarten already speak the language of the school. So it is not the same thing, as you said.
This may be a case to be put to the courts, like the 2020 example you mentioned. That is another avenue to explore.
Having said that—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Mr. Samson. I have already given you more than an extra minute, to even things out, since I did that for Ms. Gladu.
I am going to give the next speakers a minute more as well.
Mr. Beaulieu, the floor is yours for three and a half minutes.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Giroux, you talked about competition with immersion schools. I think that was in connection with scholarships, but could you tell us more about that?
President, Collège Boréal
Yes, absolutely.
As we know, Canadian Heritage funds are used to award $3,000 scholarships to students from anglophone school boards' immersion programs so they can continue their education in French. When we talk about the education continuum with our partners in the 12 francophone school boards, they tell us they feel almost discriminated against by these scholarships. When $3,000 scholarships are awarded to students from anglophone boards for them to continue their education in French or for them to decide to switch to a program in French, no thought is being given to the big challenge facing francophone communities. As Mrs. Bourque said earlier, students are already deciding to leave francophone secondary schools, or even francophone elementary schools, to enter the English-language school system. What can be done to retain these students and encourage them to continue their education in French?
In my case, when I was in school, a scholarship was offered to study in French, and that was what helped me make the decision to study in French and English. The scholarship was a deciding factor in my decision. I see the benefits now that I have graduated. It can do a lot to help slow down the cumulative assimilation process and encourage the education continuum, starting with early childhood education and including kindergarten and elementary and secondary school, all the way to the post-secondary level. A scholarship to study in French is added value for encouraging students to continue along the continuum of education in French. I think this is a significant added value. It prevents or deters students from changing paths and switching to the anglophone school boards.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
You said earlier that it was grants from Canadian Heritage that were directed more to anglophone students. That is quite surprising.
In the last reform, introduced by Bill C‑13, much was said about increasing the funding for immersion schools. However, nothing was said about increasing the funding for schools managed by and for francophones. In the meantime, assimilation is continuing.
Would it not be wiser to really focus on schools managed by and for francophones, in view of the rising assimilation rate?
President, Collège Boréal
Absolutely. I see this when I walk the halls of schools where the francophone community is really a minority, like in downtown Toronto or in communities like Windsor and Sarnia, and I think how we absolutely have to encourage our francophone school boards.
The fact is that the chances of students from the anglophone school boards continuing their education in French are virtually nil, compared to the situation of students in the francophone school boards. The proof is that out of all the students we admit to Collège Boréal every year, only four or five come from anglophone school boards and immersion programs. We believe we really need to focus our energy on students in the francophone school boards. The fact is that in one case out of two, we lose students coming from the francophone school boards, who decide to attend anglophone colleges even if our college offers the same program in French. That is the problem we absolutely have to tackle. I think the emphasis should be more on continuing to invest in organizations managed by and for francophones.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Mr. Giroux.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.
Ms. McPherson, the floor is yours for three and a half minutes.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The situation of the francophone minority when it comes to child care in Alberta is very interesting.
In the NDP, we are proud that Leah Gazan, the member for Winnipeg Centre, has proposed an amendment to guarantee that francophones in minority communities would have access to child care in French. Given the waiting lists, however, it is harder for families in Alberta.
Can you tell us about waiting lists for francophone child care centres?
Perhaps I would start with Madame Maisonneuve, please.
President, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta
May I defer to Madame Bourque on that question?
Chief Executive Officer, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta
In Alberta, 12% of rights holders attend francophone schools. For children aged zero to five, only 8% attend a pre-school of some kind.
In all of Alberta, early childhood education services in French provide 1,536 spaces and have 300 employees. The employees are an important component because by speaking French, they contribute to the French fact.
In fact, we expect to need an additional 1,500 employees in the next few years, which is a huge number. One of the solutions proposed is to focus on family child care centres. I will explain what the problem as I understand it is, however. When the federal government gave money to the early childhood education sector, it was meant for the entire sector, on both the anglophone side and the francophone side. Ultimately, that gave us about 15 spaces in francophone centres for all of Alberta.
Here, when we talk about a continuum in French, we need to have people to take the lead on the issue. When the federal government gives money to the provinces, it needs to determine who is the lead on the issue and how much money will be allocated to a specific sector. My own work relates more to the schools, but from what I am told, in the case of early childhood education, the big problem is that funding has not been given specifically for francophones in that case.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
I'll take those 30 seconds.
Mrs. Bourque, the members of the committee are not in your shoes and are not as familiar with the issue as you are. That comment is meant for Mr. Giroux as well. If you have any other statistics to provide to the committee, we invite you to do so. You said that 12% of rights holders attend francophone schools and, if I understood correctly, 8% of children aged zero to five also went to those schools. Is that correct?
Chief Executive Officer, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta
It is 8% in the case of early childhood education. That may mean services offered in schools or services in family child care centres. In any event, 8% of children aged zero to five have access to child care.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
So you are talking about rights holders who have access to child care in French.
Chief Executive Officer, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta
Yes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
The same goes for all of the witnesses. If you have much more precise information that we could use to produce the best possible report on the study we are doing, please do not hesitate to send it to our clerk in writing. She can then send it to all members of the committee. I am thinking of statistics, tables, or graphs, for example, or other information. That would help us a lot.
Having said that, before suspending the meeting for a minute, I want to thank the witnesses for your excellent testimony.
Thank you, Ms. Maisonneuve. This was your first appearance at the committee. You were a novice, but the information you have provided was very interesting.
Have a good weekend.
October 24th, 2024 / 12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I thought I was going to get another turn to ask questions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
We won't have time, because the next hour is for committee business.