Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2023

[Daryell Nowlan]

We're going to work with them in close conversation and figure out the best way to work with them. Our number one objective is to think about what it is that businesses and the communities need.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

That centre hasn't been fully defined yet.

[Daryell Nowlan]

I can't speak for them, but in terms of our relationship, no.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Nowlan.

Ms. Mathyssen, thank you. That was very quick.

We have time for two more questions of two and a half minutes.

We will start with Mr. Généreux.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have to declare that I have been a client of Economic Development Canada. I wanted to be sure I let everyone know before asking my questions.

Mr. Perron, thank you for being with us.

In recent years, the Liberal lens has been much focused on persons in various categories, in particular women, indigenous people and members of the LGBTQ community.

Are you able to—

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I'm sorry to interrupt. The interpreters say they cannot pick up your sound.

Thank you.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Right. I'm sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I am going to give you an additional 15 seconds.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you.

Are you able to tell us what percentage of the money was allocated to those individuals or those businesses? Do you have that kind of statistic?

[Sony Perron]

That is probably something we will have to check. If you want an overview of investments in terms of diversity, I think we can do that work and provide you with that information in the next few weeks.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Right.

I did the figuring just now. The amount you receive, about $10 million over five years, corresponds to $2 million per year. Of that amount, $1.6 million goes to CEDEC, if I understand correctly.

What is the amount for CEDEC? Is it $1.6 million or $1.3 million?

[Sony Perron]

For CEDEC, it is $1.17 million in funding over four years. It is not $1.6 million per year.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

So it is not an amount per year.

[Sony Perron]

No. These are long-term agreements so the organizations can stabilize their workforces and do work on the ground. They are multi-year agreements.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Right. So there is CEDEC in the Montreal region and there is another organization in Quebec City whose name I have forgotten.

[Sony Perron]

It is YES.

I should point out that both organizations have mandates that involve multiple regions.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Right.

You spoke earlier about Îles-de-la-Madeleine and the Gaspé, where there are probably communities that use your services. Is it these organizations that handle these cases?

[Sony Perron]

They did not necessarily go through those organizations. A lot of businesses come directly to Economic Development Canada to apply for funding.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

They can also go through the SADCs, for example, with which I am very familiar.

[Sony Perron]

That's right. No door is closed.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Do you know about what percentage of cases are handled by those two organizations, which are more oriented toward the official language minority communities, as compared to cases that are handed by Economic Development Canada?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Please answer in 10 seconds.

[Sony Perron]

In fact, the mandates are very different. The work done by YES and CEDEC is much more focused on coaching, not on funding.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Right.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

We will conclude with Darrell Samson, for two and a half minutes.