Official Languages Committee on Oct. 20th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have 30 seconds left.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

In that case, I'd like to thank the participants.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Iacono.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

I'd like to have the extra 30 seconds.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

You see, I'm being generous to you today Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Thank you.

In connection with schools, I spoke yesterday with Mr. Lepage from Saskatchewan. He monitored the pattern for African immigrants and told me about his observations. After a year of attending a francophone school, and realizing that they could receive hardly any services in French and that Canada wasn't really a bilingual country outside of Quebec, they changed their minds and decided to attend an English school. The assimilation rate for francophone immigrants, and even Quebeckers, who move elsewhere, is as high as the overall assimilation rate for francophones.

Do you think a provision in Bill C‑13 could help to change this trend?

[Alain Laberge]

In passing, I know Mr. Lepage well. In examining Bill C‑13 and the current situation, it's also important to look at the hosting structure. As I've already mentioned, three or four months after they arrive in Canada, some immigrants stop receiving services. At the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, we have what we call cultural agents who go and meet immigrants during the evening to speak with them, to explain how education works in Canada and to tell them that their children will inevitably learn English. The intent is to forge ties within what we refer to as the school community.

It takes money, of course, but also the federal government's resolve, to ensure that services are available in both languages everywhere.

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

I have a question for Mr. Désilets about health.

In 2019, I complained to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages about the Crisis Services Canada platform, funded by Health Canada, which offered a text messaging support service only in English. It was described on its website. I spoke directly to Health Canada people about it when they came here to testify, and eventually, the situation was resolved.

Do you feel that situations like this occur often within the federal government or in health services in general?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have 10 seconds to answer the question.

[Antoine Désilets]

I believe that the public service has very good intentions. However, there are often programs translated from English which are not entirely suited to the realities of official language minority communities. One such example was the launch of the Wellness Together Canada site, early on in the pandemic. The situation has now been dealt with, but we need to remain vigilant.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Désilets.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

To conclude, Ms. Ashton, from Manitoba, now has the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to ask a question that I put to the previous group of witnesses.

According to data on permanent residents admitted in 2019, 45% of newcomers came from six countries whose official language is English. Even though 29 countries have French as an official language, none of these was on the list of the 10 countries from which the most immigrants come to Canada. Our consular presence is also very limited in francophone Africa.

In light of these data, what could the federal government do to help meet your workforce requirements and provide the essential services that francophone communities deserve?

Please go first, Mr. Laberge. After that, I'd like to hear what Mr. Désilets has to say.

[Alain Laberge]

Consular services are essential. If they barely exist in certain countries, then people won't go there and consular services won't be able to do the legwork that gets people to Canada.

It's important to understand that uprooting an entire family from places like Congo or Rwanda represents an enormous change for them. It requires monitoring and mentoring. Consular services have to have a strong presence, but more support is needed for a much longer period of time.

[Antoine Désilets]

I think that what's needed is more personnel, particularly in health. At the same time, it's important to make sure that the integration process is a good one and that their credentials are recognized. There's no point in bringing an enormous number of people here if their abilities and skills are not given recognition so that they can contribute. It's obvious that credential recognition is essential. Not only that, but it's important to ensure that the francophone settings are genuinely francophone in every facet of life.

Each year, 98% of Canadians make use of at least one health service. In other words, everyone uses health services. If this essential facet of life is not available everywhere in French, then the message being sent is that health is secondary if you happen to be francophone.

Francophone immigration is needed, in addition to strong environments and an effective integration process to ensure that Canada's labour objectives are met.

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

I'll quickly ask my final question.

Other witnesses we have heard, like the FCFA and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, have spoken at length about the importance of including language clauses in the bill. These clauses would ensure that federal-provincial agreements would prioritize investment in services for francophones and francophone communities.

Do you think that in your respective fields, it's essential to include language clauses in this bill? We could begin by—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's an excellent question, Ms. Ashton, but your speaking time is up.

Mr. Laberge and Mr. Désilets, if you feel you've run out of time to expand your ideas, or wish to put forward some advice, don't hesitate to send additional information in writing to our clerk. She will then send the information to all members of the committee.

On behalf of the committee, thank you very much for your testimony. Because of your experience, it was a pleasure to hear your suggestions with respect to Bill C‑13. It will definitely help the committee prepare a better report.

However, there appears to have been some talk about our meeting next Tuesday being spent on committee business. I believe that the list of witnesses is in the binder. We can discuss it.

Is everyone in agreement?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I am therefore confirming that the second hour of our meeting, to be held next Tuesday, will be spent on committee business.

The meeting is adjourned.