Evidence of meeting #36 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 anderson.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Daniel-Robert Gooch  President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
Gillian Anderson  President, Commission nationale des parents francophones
Jean-Luc Racine  Executive Director, Commission nationale des parents francophones

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

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.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

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”?

11:45 a.m.

President, Commission nationale des parents francophones

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.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

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.

11:50 a.m.

President, Commission nationale des parents francophones

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…

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON

So, this work is ongoing, then?

11:50 a.m.

President, Commission nationale des parents francophones

Gillian Anderson

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

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON

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

11:50 a.m.

Executive Director, Commission nationale des parents francophones

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.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

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…

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

You have less than 10 seconds, Ms. Kayabaga.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

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?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

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.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

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?

11:50 a.m.

Executive Director, Commission nationale des parents francophones

Jean-Luc Racine

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

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

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

You want to meet the needs of francophones outside Québec.

11:50 a.m.

Executive Director, Commission nationale des parents francophones

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.

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

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?

11:55 a.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of Canadian Port Authorities

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.

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

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?

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Please answer in less than 20 seconds.

11:55 a.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of Canadian Port Authorities

Daniel-Robert Gooch

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

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Thank you very much.

11:55 a.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of Canadian Port Authorities

Daniel-Robert Gooch

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

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Thanks, Mr. Gooch.

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