Official Languages Committee on Sept. 22nd, 2022

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

Basically, there was just a lack of political will.

I'd have to check my historical data, but was there ever legislation prohibiting the teaching of French in British Columbia? I'm asking because that's something that happened in just about all the provinces.

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I apologize for not being able to answer that question directly, but what I can say is that while there may not have been any such legislation as such, it was certainly understood, as a kind of unwritten law.

I'm going to tell you a story. When I moved here, I had a neighbour who was francophone, but I didn't know it. I spoke to him in English and he answered in English. I eventually found out that he had moved here 20 years earlier, but that he had to hide the fact that he was francophone to avoid being treated as a second-class citizen. I've been here for 30 years now. That means that he had been reluctant to speak French for nearly 30 years.

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

I understand.

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I don't know if there was any official law that prohibited speaking French. I can't answer you on that. However, I can tell you that there was certainly an unwritten law.

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

Do you ever try to speak in French in businesses? How do people react?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

In general, here, there is no animosity in everyday interactions. At least, I don't notice any. When I go to the shops with my husband, if we speak French, people will often make an effort to say two or three words in French. They are proud to tell us that they went to immersion school and learned French.

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

I'd like to ask you another question, briefly.

Given the fact that British Columbia was founded by francophones and at one time had a majority of francophones, don't you think the federal and British Columbia governments have a duty to make amends?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I would say to you that a duty of reparation is a lot to ask. I would just like us to manage to live together and get basic services in French. I would be very happy if we succeeded in this, which would be made possible by amendments to Bill C‑13.

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

Perfect.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Dubois and Mr. Beaulieu.

We'll continue with more questions, this time from Ms. Ashton, from Manitoba, who has six minutes.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to welcome Ms. Dubois back.

Last February, in testimony before our committee, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique reiterated the FCFA's demands, including the creation of a central agency, the addition of language clauses, the creation of a francophone immigration policy, order-making powers for the Commissioner of Official Languages, a clearer definition of affirmative measures, and the duty to consult communities.

The NDP has reviewed the proposed amendments sent to it by the FCFA and supports them.

Today I want to talk about the French-language clauses and why they are important. The child care agreement between the federal government and British Columbia is one of the few agreements in Canada with French-language clauses. However, it does not include a quota, nor does it require more targeted funding, nor does it specify a number of spaces for francophone and francophile parents. All we know is that the community will be consulted.

Have consultations begun?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I don't know if they have started, or will start.

We are really behind on this and I read something sad about it recently: this issue has been going on for a few years and could have been resolved before, but it hasn't been.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

That is concerning.

I'm going to follow up with another question on this: do you think we should take anything away from the B.C. experience and the French-language clauses included in the child care agreement with the province?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

Yes. Things need to be clearer, precise and more specific. We can't expect to achieve results just with the goodwill of our government. That cannot work.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

As you know, I live in Manitoba and I have spoken extensively about the labour shortage in francophone day cares, including those in my area, and in the teaching community in remote areas where there are francophones and francophiles.

I have family in British Columbia and I know that this labour shortage also affects French immersion schools.

Could you talk about the importance of having agreements that would include language clauses with respect to child care or post-secondary education, particularly to help teachers? How would this contribute to the learning of the French language in our communities, such as those outside Quebec and Acadia?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I feel like you've said it all and I don't see what else I can add, except to say that you are absolutely right.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

In fact, for us in the west, it is clear that there is a labour shortage.

Do you agree that this is a fairly urgent issue, if we are to retain our francophone communities and allow the next generation of francophones to grow up in them?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

I totally agree.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you. I'll move on to another topic.

You've done a lot of work in the field of support for people experiencing homelessness. Is support for francophones experiencing homelessness one of the government's priorities? To your knowledge, do francophones experiencing homelessness in British Columbia have access to community support?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

People in Vancouver receive support from La Boussole, a francophone community centre. As for the others, they have some help.

We have to remember that all the people who work in the community centres are passionate. These people don't earn a big salary, and they couldn't do this job if they weren't passionate. We try to help people who need help as best we can, but apart from La Boussole, there is no really structured program.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you.

My last question is about immigration, an issue that impacts remote communities, such as those outside Quebec or New Brunswick, a great deal.

What support do you expect from the federal government to increase the number of francophone immigrants who settle in British Columbia's francophone communities?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

The services need to be more easily accessible and better known to them.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

The FCFA has talked a lot about the need to set higher targets for francophone immigration across Canada. Do you agree?

[Marie-Nicole Dubois]

Yes, I do. When you look at the figures from the last census, it's obvious that there must be some changes in that area.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

As you said, if there are no services in French, people come, but leave rather than stay and build francophone communities.

Do you have a final message for our committee today?