Official Languages Committee on Oct. 25th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Racine. We will come back to the issue.

The next speaker is Ms. Kayabaga, who has five minutes.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will start by thanking our guests for being here today.

Ms. Anderson, you said earlier that you would like to see the federal government impose an obligation on provinces and territories to implement the measures we are passing. How do you see this happening? The federal government does not normally impose obligations on the provinces and territories. The federal government can encourage them, but cannot compel them. So what do you mean by “obligation”?

[Gillian Anderson]

In Alberta, where I am, the way funds are spent when the federal government sends them to provinces and territories changes depending on the party in power.

When sending these funds, if the federal government could require them to be earmarked for francophone minority communities, not used to subsidize something else, that would help us significantly. Then we would have a guarantee—not just hope as we do now—that these funds will come back to us.

Provincial organizations are responsible for negotiations, and they hope to be consulted on how funds are spent. It doesn’t happen in every province, and it can change from one year to the next. Since a new government is elected every four years, we have a tendency to hope that things might go better on a financial level, if it didn’t go as well during the last mandate. However, this is not something we can rely on.

Maybe the word “obligation” is not the one I should have used. Actually, I wanted to say we have to ensure that our organizations get targeted agreements.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I understand what you’re feeling. When two levels of government don’t work together to come to an agreement that meets the community’s needs, it’s very difficult. However, we are unable to impose any obligation in this case.

You understand the importance of passing Bill C‑13. French is declining throughout the entire country. For communities like yours, in Manitoba, it’s very urgent.

Could you explain the importance of passing this bill as quickly as possible? We could dig in our heels and say that the bill isn’t perfect on every level, but that would just delay its passage, and communities will pay the price.

[Gillian Anderson]

The longer things drag on before the bill is passed, the more consequences there will be.

However, as Mr. Racine mentioned earlier, it’s very important to take into account the different recommendations we proposed. I think it’s in the near future…

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

So, this work is ongoing, then?

[Gillian Anderson]

Exactly. However, it must be done as quickly as possible.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Racine, did you want to add any comments?

[Jean-Luc Racine]

I think it’s rare to see a certain national consensus for a bill, and yet what we’re seeing it currently. There are a few little objections here and there, but we feel the current circumstances are favourable. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that this consensus will break down.

We think the time has come to act. The FCFA started this process six or seven years ago. It’s been a long time, and now it’s time to act. Yes, every political party has decisions to make about the bill, but let’s go. We have to move forward.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I fully agree with you, being a member of a minority language community in London. I understand the importance of passing this bill, especially because one clause says that the bill can be reviewed every 10 years. It would give us an ongoing opportunity to consider how we can serve francophone communities throughout Canada.

However, I think the most important thing you said, Mr. Racine and Ms. Anderson, is that we need to respond to francophone communities throughout Canada, especially for education.

I’d like to come back to the issue…

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have less than 10 seconds, Ms. Kayabaga.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Over the long term, how do you think the education provisions will contribute to the vitality of French in minority communities like ours?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That’s an excellent question.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Mario Beaulieu for two and half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First, I’d like to talk about the necessity of passing Bill C‑13 quickly.

Québec has 90% of francophones in Canada, which offers considerable support and a large market for recruiting French-speaking teachers. And yet, French is declining faster and faster. In Bill C‑13, there is almost nothing to address the issue. Furthermore, the federal government will mostly continue helping to anglicize Québec.

Don’t you think that it would be worthwhile to review this bill and ensure that Québec can fight the decline of French? Otherwise, it will have a negative impact on francophones outside Québec.

Do you prefer not to answer?

[Jean-Luc Racine]

I don’t know. What we want is to respond to the needs of francophones.

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

You want to meet the needs of francophones outside Québec.

[Jean-Luc Racine]

I’m talking about francophones outside Québec. For our part, we do not want to start commenting on what Québec should do. I do not think it is our place.

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

I completely understand.

Mr. Gooch, from the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, are there any francophones on your board of directors?

[Daniel-Robert Gooch]

We have five or six CEOs in Québec, all francophones. We have Martin Imbleau in Montréal, Carl Laberge in Saguenay, who is also the chair of our board of directors, and Pierre Gagnon in Sept‑Îles. We also have Denis Caron in Belledune, New Brunswick.

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

Very well. These people are sitting on the board of directors, which is excellent.

In your brief, you seem to be on the defensive about complaints sent to the Commissioner of Official Languages, as well as its authority. Do you think all the complaints against Canada’s port authorities are unjustified?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Please answer in less than 20 seconds.

[Daniel-Robert Gooch]

No, I already answered that some complaints were valid. However, some people file complaints like it’s a part-time job.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you very much.

[Daniel-Robert Gooch]

We've even heard of individuals who have gone to our ports and said, “We found this on your website”—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thanks, Mr. Gooch.

The floor is for Ms. Gazan for two minutes and 30 seconds.