Official Languages Committee on Nov. 29th, 2023

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

What type of specific and direct programs do you have, to encourage new immigrants to approach you?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton. That is a very good question, but your speaking time is unfortunately up.

I will take this opportunity to let the witnesses know that if they want to send us additional information, they can do it through our clerk, who will then forward it to us. For example, they could answer Ms. Ashton's question in writing.

For the speaking times for the next round, in order to adhere to the representation of the political parties, there will be two four-minute turns for the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. Unfortunately, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP will not have speaking time in this round.

We will continue with Ms. Goodridge for four minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the witnesses for being here.

I too am a member from the north and the west, since I represent the riding of Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

My question is for Ms. Kapoor, and he may answer in English if he wishes.

Mr. Kapoor, do you know what percentage of PrairiesCan employees are francophone or bilingual?

[Anoop Kapoor]

I think about 15% of our employees are bilingual.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Of that 15%, how many offer services in French?

[Anoop Kapoor]

I think the bilingual employees we have are able to offer services in French. PrairiesCan ensures that there are enough bilingual employees in each province to offer service of equal quality in both official languages.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

The real piece that I'm trying to figure out is that being in the far north, in Fort McMurray, we don't really see PrairiesCan on the ground very often.

This is a question I have particularly. My colleague was asking about the separation between urban and rural. What exactly is your separation for urban versus rural when it comes to the Prairies, and how do you have the funding broken out for each of the different provinces? I understand you give money directly to CDÉA and all the different provincial organizations, but how is the specific money that comes straight from PrairiesCan to different francophone groups across the province broken out?

[Anoop Kapoor]

First of all, we invested about $2.2 million in our FEDOs. The OLMCs in our region reach out and seek projects. They do a call for proposals. That's how the EDI money, from a project perspective, is distributed across the communities.

Second, we offer programs that are open to rural and urban communities throughout our region. Anyone can apply to those projects. Our programs are not divided by urban or rural. For francophone communities, we have allocated a specific amount of money every year. Our regular programs are open, whether you are from a rural community or an urban community.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Okay. So then—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

You have 15 seconds left, Mrs. Goodridge.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

In that case, I'll stop here, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

I will take this opportunity to invite both agencies to provide us with a breakdown of the number of bilingual and francophone employees serving the clientele.

The next speaker is Mr. Iacono, but he unfortunately hasn't done the required sound test.

Mr. Iacono, please say a few words so we can see if the sound quality is good enough for the interpreters.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Good evening, Mr. Chair. It's always a pleasure to see you chair the committee. You have good team spirit and lots of enthusiasm, which lends colour to our meetings. You really have—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Mr. Iacono, your kind remarks really leave me feeling uncomfortable.

I'm told that the sound test has been successfully done. So you have the floor for four minutes.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good evening to the witnesses.

Mr. Traynor, what positive initiatives is your agency implementing to comply with the Official Languages Act?

[Stephen Traynor]

I can indicate that, as I noted earlier, all of the CanNor offices are designated under the Official Languages Act as providing bilingual services. Our website is in English and in French. We accept applications in English and in French. Our interactive applications are also in English and in French.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

So you do have some positive initiatives.

What are the main obstacles for the OLMCs?

[Stephen Traynor]

The main obstacles, as in most situations, are often funding and capacity.

I certainly know that we support the Association franco-yukonnaise to be able to get more French employees. They do a lot of work. They give presentations to CEGEPs and other schools in Quebec to encourage francophone workers. That is certainly a barrier for them up north, and we're trying to work with them to find the money to be able to encourage those types of activities for them.

They also support the other two territories in the goal of providing more francophone workers for entrepreneurs and businesses in the north.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Do you have only finance as an obstacle, or are there other obstacles?

[Stephen Traynor]

Right now, it's mainly finance. We certainly have lots of conversations with the francophone community. Certainly, they have challenges themselves with capacity, and we always work to find the capacity in the best way we can.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

How does your agency manage its planned expenditures, which have been increased under the action plan?

[Stephen Traynor]

I don't exactly understand the question.

It's mainly because we have not seen an increase in the action plan funding for our department. We have remained at $80,000 for a number of years and ongoing.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Haven't the amounts been increased, as far as you know?

[Stephen Traynor]

As far as I know, we have not received any increase.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I see.

In the context of the modernization of the Official Languages Act, we have discussed the principle of services developed by, for and with the communities concerned. How are you implementing that principle in your interactions with the OLMCs?