Official Languages Committee on Nov. 29th, 2023

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Okay.

My next question deals with rural areas as compared to urban areas. In your case, it is probably entirely rural areas, so the question is not relevant.

In the Prairies, is a distinction made between rural areas and urban areas, Mr. Kapoor?

[Anoop Kapoor]

In our region, most OLMCs are rural.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I am not talking about OLMCs; I am talking about the funding you offer. I want to know what percentage of the funds goes to urban areas and rural areas, respectively. Is it 50/50 or is it divided differently? I am trying to determine whether the economic development funds are given mainly to rural areas, because the agency itself is associated with that kind of area.

[Anoop Kapoor]

I do not know how much was invested in our region for rural areas. I know the rough amount, but not the exact figures.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Can you send that to us? I'd really like to understand what percentage of your funding goes to urban versus rural because these are rural economics, and we know that urban areas receive all kinds of funding through other avenues, so I'd like to know. Could you send that to us, please?

[Anoop Kapoor]

Yes.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

My last questions concern new businesses.

Are you seeing a rise in the number of new businesses you are funding? I am always afraid we will end up funding the same businesses because they are successful. Are there new businesses or people who want to start up new businesses?

What kind of work do you do to encourage young people? Do you go to see them in the secondary schools? How is this innovation created among young people?

Maybe Mr. Traynor wants to answer.

[Stephen Traynor]

Thank you. That's a great question.

I will say that we work directly with the francophone associations, and they work directly with all entrepreneurs. They provide things like training on how to be an entrepreneur. They assist them with getting their websites and businesses.

A good example is in Nunavut. They helped a francophone outfitter be able to meet standards in English and French, to encourage international tourists.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

How do you do that? Is it your association that's funding a local organization to do that work?

[Stephen Traynor]

That is correct. We directly fund the francophone associations in each territory. We focus on one in Yukon that represents all three—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Fifteen seconds left.

[Stephen Traynor]

—but we provide additional funding as needed on certain projects to individual ones.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Could you send me those that you have done in the last two years in that area?

[Stephen Traynor]

Certainly, we can send that to you.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

Thank you, Mr. Traynor.

We are going to move on to another round of six-minute questions.

The Bloc Québécois representative, Mario Beaulieu, who is pinch hitting for the chair, is next up.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the representatives of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Prairies Economic Development Canada for being with us. My question is for both organizations.

Essentially, you do not offer services only to the francophone communities in your regions; you offer them to the entire population.

What percentage of your grants, approximately, do you give to francophone communities?

[Stephen Traynor]

Under EDI, we receive approximately $80,000 per year, and that has amounted to $240,000 over the last three years. Our organization has topped it up with other funds, just over $1 million in addition to that for the last three years in CanNor to francophone associations and francophone businesses.

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

So it is about $1 million for the last three years and $80,000 for the francophone communities. Did I understand correctly?

[Stephen Traynor]

That is $80,000 directly to the francophone association that represents all three. We've provided an additional $1 million to francophone associations to be able to support businesses as well.

In total, that's $1.3 million over the last three years, directly.

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

What is your total budget?

[Stephen Traynor]

Would that be for my organization?

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

Yes, I am talking about your organization.

[Stephen Traynor]

The budget of my organization is generally about $40 million per year.

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

Right. Of that amount, there is $1.3 million for francophones.

Mr. Kapoor, what about you?