Official Languages Committee on Nov. 29th, 2023

[Linda Cousineau]

Thank you for your question.

It's across the board. We're hearing from businesses across the region and entrepreneurships about the pressures created by our current economic conditions, the impact on the supply chain and the current inflationary times.

That said, we had an opportunity recently to support the Réseau franco-santé du Sud de l’Ontario with a project, because they identified a need. Official-language minority communities have to come together to create regional plans that can strengthen the communities and meet their needs, including around things like entrepreneurship. The investment we announced recently for the Réseau franco-santé du Sud de l’Ontario of about $330,000 serves to help a community meet their needs.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Ms. Cousineau.

I would like to remind you that, if you have any information to pass on to us, please don't hesitate to do so.

Ms. Ashton, you have two and a half minutes.

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

I want to thank the witnesses as well, and I, in turn, would like to ask what can be done to meet the needs of their teams.

Mr. Fabiano, what can we do to support you and, more particularly, newcomers to the communities who are trying to access your services?

[Nick Fabiano]

Thank you for your offer of support.

One thing that I think helps is that FedNor has become an independent and self-governing agency. As a result, we have greater access to other departments that are in Ottawa. We can communicate directly with all the other departments.

As I previously said, this isn't just a matter of money. We're also able to hear the opinions and know the obstacles and needs of citizens in various regions of northern Ontario so that we're sure they're well understood in Ottawa. This is really the kind of support we're trying to keep offering in our region.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Do you have another question, Ms. Ashton.

If not, Ms. Cousineau, do you want to add to what's been said?

[Linda Cousineau]

I agree with my colleague's response.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Ms. Ashton, do you want to adjourn?

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

I jokingly said that I'm not the only one who's asking to adjourn.

With all my respect for the witnesses, I want to thank them for their testimony and all the work they are doing on the ground.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton. You had 20 seconds left.

Echoing your remarks, I want to thank Mr. Fabiano and Ms. Cousineau, to whom I repeat that they are welcome to bring any further information they may have to our attention should they so wish. We will be pleased to accept that information because it will help us prepare an effective and rigorous report.

In closing, colleagues, I want to inform you that the Minister of Public Safety will be unavailable to testify as part of our study on bilingualism in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We will also resume consideration of our draft report on increased francophone immigration to Canada at our next meeting.

In the hope that what I'm about to say proves to be true, I want to announce that our meeting next Monday will be chaired by our chair, Mr. Arseneault.

I wish you all a good evening.

Shall the committee adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

The meeting is adjourned.