Official Languages Committee on Feb. 15th, 2024

[Patrick Dupuis]

As far as child care is concerned, my youngest is 26 years old, so I'm not exactly aware of everything going on in that area.

That said, I know that there are no bilingual child care services in Vermilion.

I know that, in the surrounding areas, there are a lot of bilingual communities, such as St. Paul, Wainwright and Bonnyville, and there are child care centres there.

Certain things struck me when we moved to Alberta. My kids went to French school until grade six. Starting in grade seven, there weren't enough children in the francophone schools to offer all of the services kids need for their development, such as community activities and chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics classes. There was none of any of that. So these children had to make the transition to an English school. That happened to most of the kids that we know in the area. Starting in grade seven, children need to switch to an English school to get all of the necessary services.

A lot more schools are offering French immersion, but there aren't many fully francophone schools. There might be one or two in the region. Starting in grade seven, the kids switch schools. Some other options were put forward, like distance learning for teenagers, but that doesn't give kids the opportunity for the kind of camaraderie that develops between francophone friends at recess, secondary activities, and so forth.

I hope that answers your question.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Dupuis and Ms. Ashton.

First, Mr. Thomas, thank you for your testimony. I know you well. I know that you understand the whole dynamic around Acadian small businesses in New Brunswick, as well as their challenges. Mr. Dupuis, I think the committee sees you as something of an Asterix figure; what he was to his Gaulish village of resistance fighters, you are to Vermilion and the whole region east of Edmonton, Alberta. What your sister and yourself are doing is impressive. It's like Asterix and Obelix.

Before you leave us and we are joined by three more witnesses for the next hour, I'd like to tell you that what happened this morning is part of democracy. It can be frustrating for witnesses when they see so much time spent on motions, but the ability to move motions is part of the parliamentary process and one of the members' privileges. It isn't always pleasant for witnesses, but it is part of our democracy. We should consider ourselves lucky to be able to do that in Canada, because it's not always so easy elsewhere in the world. I'm sorry for what you went through this morning, but it's part of the vagaries of the parliamentary system.

Thanks again for your testimonies. Before suspending the sitting as we welcome the next group of witnesses, I'll add that, if you wish to submit additional information to the committee, you can send everything to our clerk, who will forward it to all the members quickly. Whether verbal or written, your testimonies are just as important and meaningful to us.

Thanks again.

The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Let's move on to the second hour of the meeting.

I'd like to welcome our witnesses to this second hour.

Joining us remotely, we have Marc Gauthier, board chair of the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario du grand Sudbury; François Afane, executive director of the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest; and Madeleine Arbez, executive director of the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities.

I imagine it must be very early in the Northwest Territories.

Welcome to you all. Allow me to explain the process. Everyone will have the floor for approximately five minutes. If you can deliver your remarks in under five minutes, then we'll have more time for questions. I will be very strict with the time. You can make your opening remarks, then there will be a round of interactive questions with the various parties that are represented by the committee members.

So let's start with you Mr. Gauthier. You have the floor for a maximum of five minutes.

[Marc Gauthier, Board Chair, Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario du grand Sudbury]

Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today regarding your study.

I am here on behalf of the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario du grand Sudbury, or the ACFO of greater Sudbury. Our mission is to engage and mobilize the francophone community, protect the rights of francophones and advance the priorities of the francophone community. We serve francophones who live in Sudbury East, Espanola and the city of Greater Sudbury.

Northern Ontario's economy has always been fragile, subject to fluctuations in the commodities market. For many communities in the region, the service industry has become the economic driver. For years, we have watched the exodus of our young people, leaving for big cities. Our population is getting older. The francophone community is not immune to the economic impact and is, arguably, more vulnerable because of its demographic weight.

To be a master of its own destiny, a community must exercise control over a range of economic levers. A community must govern its institutions. It must be active and wield influence in organizations that are shared by both linguistic groups. It must have access to the same resources as the majority population.

In Ontario, francophones have full responsibility for the management of their primary schools and high schools. We have responsibility for the management of two community colleges. Unfortunately, we still don't have responsibility for the management of university education in our region. The ACFO has, for decades, been calling for a French-language university that adheres to the principle of for, by and with Sudbury's francophones. According to an economic impact study commissioned by the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario and the University of Sudbury, a French-language university in Sudbury represents nearly $90 million in economic potential and would generate more than eight dollars for every dollar invested by the various levels of government. That would mean direct and indirect jobs for residents, and give the community the ability to educate its young people in a way that meets its needs while keeping them in the north.

Last year, the ACFO commissioned a study on bilingualism at Greater Sudbury's city hall. Municipal government is the closest to citizens and thus plays a pivotal role in the lives of francophones. The study revealed a significant decline in the use of french at city hall. I'm not talking about front-line workers. I'm talking about the disappearance of French in decision-making bodies. That is why we must work so hard to highlight the value of francophones in a city where they make up just over 22% of the population.

As an economic lever, francophone immigration in northern Ontario is essential to the region's survival. Sudbury was designated a welcoming francophone community for immigrants. The ACFO works in partnership with other agencies to welcome newcomers and help them integrate into the area. One of the ACFO's responsibilities is preparing information kits for newcomers to make them aware of the available services in areas such as education, finance, employability and housing. In order to maintain the demographic weight of francophones in minority communities, it is crucial that the federal government increase and meet its francophone immigration targets annually.

Increasing the active offer of services in French means increasing demand for French-language services among the population. The demand must be felt by both government and private sector organizations. For years, the ACFO has made available on its website a list of institutions and businesses able to serve clients in French, and it is updated annually. This year, we decided to more actively address the linguistic insecurity of community members, and we are encouraging them to file complaints when their rights are not respected.

Up to now, I've talked about a few of the ACFO's initiatives to support the francophone community. It's worth noting that we do all that work thanks to the tireless efforts of a single employee, our executive director, Joanne Gervais. We also rely on a handful of volunteers who give their time, but it's not enough.

The ACFO is an underfunded not-for-profit organization, as are the many chapters of the ACFO in the province. We are grateful to the Department of Canadian Heritage for the increase in operational funding we recently received, but it is nowhere near enough. We are currently running on $72,000 in federal funding, which accounts for just 32% of our operating budget. To supplement our budget, we spend a lot of time fundraising, which takes us away from our main mission and eats up the time of our staff and volunteers.

If we had sufficient funding, we could hire the people we need to grow the place of francophones in our communities, ensure that organizations respect our rights and contribute to the vitality of our community.

That is urgently—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Gauthier. You'll have an opportunity say more during the question-and-answer portion afterwards.

[Marc Gauthier]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Now we are going to hear from Mr. Afane, from the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord‑Ouest.

The floor is yours. You have five minutes.

[Francois Afane, Executive Director, Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning. I am speaking to you from Yellowknife, the traditional territory of Chief Drygeese and the ancestral land of the Yellowknives Dene. My name is François Afane, and I am the executive director of the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord‑Ouest, or CDETNO for short.

The CDETNO was created 21 years ago, in 2003, with a vision to become a leading authority in economic development in the Northwest Territories. Our mission is to promote, stimulate and support sustainable economic development across communities in the Northwest Territories. One of the things that makes the CDETNO unique is that, despite being a francophone organization, we use our expertise to the benefit of all communities, whether francophone or anglophone.

As a member of the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité du Canada, RDÉE Canada, the CDETNO works in partnership with provincial and territorial organizations. In that capacity, the CDETNO focuses its efforts on three strategic pillars: entrepreneurship, employability and community economic development. My team and I compiled some figures to illustrate the CDETNO's relevance and give you an overview of the CDETNO's work over the past nine years, from 2015 to 2023.

Between 2015 and 2023, the CDETNO recorded 40,250 visits to its employment centre, and held 318 meetings with entrepreneurs looking to grow their business or start a business. In addition, the CDETNO held 477 information sessions on investment opportunities in the Northwest Territories.

A total of 726 jobseekers took advantage of our program to help disadvantaged people, Dress to Impress, which provides them with vouchers to acquire equipment, gloves, protective footwear and other work gear. We posted 692 job opportunities on our online job board, supported 382 employers in their efforts to recruit mainly francophone workers, and participated in 74 job fairs, some of which we put on.

A total of 6,523 jobseekers interested in opportunities in the Northwest Territories were provided with information, and 1,357 people attended local job fairs that we organized. What's more, we helped 50 young dropouts re-enter the workforce through employment and training opportunities. We also participated in Destination Canada's international recruitment event 16 times.

That's an overview of the CDETNO's work. Of course, I provided that information to the clerk, and it will be shared with the committee members. I also provided a few videos we've made over the years as well as personal accounts illustrating some of our success stories.

In conclusion, the CDETNO is the Northwest Territories' definitive source for all things related to economic development and employability, in French as well as in English. We sit on all the committees. Nothing in the way of economic development in the Northwest Territories happens without the CDETNO's involvement or leadership. We serve all populations in the Northwest Territories, from indigenous peoples and francophones to anglophones and allophones. Anyone new to the territory looking for a job, wanting to start a business or trying to recruit workers turns to us.

I will leave it there. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Afane.

We will now hear from Ms. Arbez, from the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities.

Go ahead, Ms. Arbez. You have five minutes.

[Madeleine Arbez, Executive Director, Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities]

Good morning, Mr. Chair, vice-chairs, members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, and partners in the economic development of official language minority communities. Thank you for having me.

My name is Madeleine Arbez. A proud Franco-Manitoban, I hail from the land of Louis Riel. I'm honoured to be here today as the executive director of the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, or CDEM, which is a member of RDÉE Canada.

I am speaking to you from the city of Winnipeg, located on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Métis nation.

The CDEM is the RDÉE of Manitoba. It was in the wake of the creation of the CDEM in 1996 that Raymond Poirier, executive director of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, or AMBM, began the work that led to the creation of francophone economic development networks, or RDÉEs, in every province and territory, as well as the national organization, RDÉE Canada.

Manitoba's bilingual municipal leadership is at the helm of the AMBM Group, a consortium of three complementary organizations, the AMBM, the CDEM and Eco-West Canada, our most recent subsidiary, specializing in the green economy since 2008. Together, these three organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of Manitoba's francophone communities.

For Manitoba's francophone community, economic development is directly linked to municipal power. This unique model not only provides significant leverage, but also creates conditions conducive to the infrastructure and foundation needed to deliver programs, activities and events that make living in French normal and that support the development and sustainability of the francophone community.

By focusing on creating a sustainable framework, we are tackling development challenges head-on and giving ourselves a better chance of meeting the vitality indicators for official language minority communities.

On a personal note, I am proud to say that my mother, former senator Maria Chaput, helped greatly to highlight the importance of vitality indicators for official language minority communities whenever she could.

The indicators include the existence of institutions and the active offer of services, economic and social integration, and influence and power in public institutions—hence the existence of municipal infrastructure. That is precisely why our economic development model is connected to bilingual municipalities. Municipal government is the closest to the people.

As a not-for-profit organization, the CDEM provides bilingual municipalities, community development corporations, employers and promoters with a wide array of supports, from business, community economic development and employability services to economic immigration and tourism services. We also serve youth, mainly through financial literacy opportunities.

Keeping in mind our measures of success, I can tell you that it is thanks to the leadership of the AMBM, the CDEM and the AMBM Group—not to mention the borrowing capacity of the rural municipality of Taché—that the project to build the Taché community centre is under way. The municipality sees the project as a perfect opportunity to bring together the francophone community and help it grow.

Since 2021, the AMBM Group's three subsidiaries have been working to implement the Municipal Economic Recovery Strategy for municipal governments. Bold and forward-looking, the strategy includes $259.3 million in infrastructure investments, encompassing sustainable development, tourism and digital infrastructure projects, $11.6 million in economic development and entrepreneurship projects, and $70 million to establish an endowment fund to grow and enhance infrastructure that will contribute to the development of francophone communities.

The strategy is the result of a broad consultation of Manitoba's 15 bilingual municipalities and their community development corporations, and was undertaken in 2020 by the CDEM and Eco-West Canada. We are in the process of completing a new round of consultations to identify the updated priorities of our member municipalities.

Efforts to implement the current strategy are already having a never-before-seen bolstering effect on the vitality and sustainability of francophone communities. In 2022‑23—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Arbez.

You will have an opportunity to elaborate during the question-and-answer portion.

We will now begin the first round of questions. Each party will have five minutes. That gives us more time for the second round.

The Conservatives will start things off. Mr. Généreux, you have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses.

I noticed that several of you are members of the RDÉE, an organization dedicated to the economic development of francophone communities right across the country.

In the past few weeks, we've met with board members—who, by the way, are very active and represent the diverse economic situations in francophone communities throughout the country. Their executive director gave a very direct presentation.

I asked the board members about the fact that a number of organizations serving the francophone community across Canada provide services that, in some cases, overlap.

Do you think it's at all warranted or helpful to consider reducing the number of organizations? That way, those socially minded organizations working to foster economic development in francophone minority communities would have more funding.

That question is for the witnesses who are from RDÉE member organizations, specifically Mr. Afane and Ms. Arbez.

Could you tell me where you stand on that?

[Francois Afane]

Thank you, Mr. Généreux.

First, I'll say that you raise a good point.

I like to say that the national sport of francophones and the Gauls is fighting. We like bashing each other. Arguing is part of our nature as francophones. Being separated into small teams waters down the impact we are able to have.

At the same time, it's important to recognize that I'm speaking to you from a small, remote area in the Northwest Territories. The francophone organizations here actually opted to provide specialized services.

We have the Collège nordique, which handles the educational component and provides formal education.

We have a French-language school board as well as the Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife, which takes care of culture and media. Anything having to do with economic development and employability is our responsibility at the CDETNO.

We have the benefit of being active in that area, and we are now recognized for our expertise, even by the anglophone community. Absolutely nothing economic development-related happens without our input, and that is the benefit we bring to our community.

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

You were saying that human nature is such that we argue, particularly in the francophone world, especially in Quebec. Obviously, every organization defends its turf in each of the fields it represents. I think it’s normal to a certain extent.

How would you describe your current collaboration with each of these organizations?

I’ve been on the Standing Committee on Official Languages for several years. Several times, we heard about accountability and the fact that organizations are often underfunded or have trouble working together.

Once again, I commended the members of the RDEE board of directors for their dynamism and their outlook on the future.

Let’s face it, the current state of the country’s finances will dictate how we run the country in the future. The administration of funds granted to French-language minority communities throughout the country will come under a certain amount of scrutiny.

Do you think your relationship with other organizations could lead to dialogue or savings by working more closely together?

[François Afane]

Thank you very much.

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

I’d also like to hear what Ms. Arbez has to say on the matter.

[Madeleine Arbez]

I think our situation is a little different in Manitoba.

When it comes to francophone or French-speaking communities in Manitoba, a large number of communities are scattered all over the province. Indeed, bilingual municipalities are the home of many minority language communities living within an anglophone market.

We have many organizations playing a role in vitality indicators, as I said when I talked about the quality of life we offer to people who want to live their lives in French.

Of course, there’s a certain amount of competition, but there’s also a recognition of the fact that we have to work together to address every aspect of this vitality. It’s necessary so that people, be they newcomers or current residents, want to stay.

It is up to us to work together to compare our budgets, mandates and work to make sure we are all pulling in the same direction.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Arbez.

We are now moving on to the second round of questions. We are leaving Kamouraska to head to southeastern Ontario.

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

It’s where the sun rises in Ontario, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I would say after the Atlantic, though.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

That’s right. I did specify “in Ontario”.

I thank all the witnesses for being here with us.

Ms. Arbez, I listened carefully to what you said. I really liked what you said about coming from Louis Riel’s land. I will now use that expression when I meet Franco-Manitobans.

There were a few changes in your government, in Manitoba. Within the framework of your relationship with this government, is there an openness towards the francophonie?

Does Minister Glen Simard really understand Franco-Manitobans’ reality?

[Madeleine Arbez]

When Premier Kinew participated in the debate organized by CDEM before the election, he insisted on debating in French, in recognition of the francophone community. He also met with the president of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, or AMBM.

For our part, we already met with ministers from ministries that fund CDEM and AMBM. So there is a good relationship. The government also recognizes Manitoba’s francophonie, which shows that we can indeed work together.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I see.

The government of Manitoba also adopted a French-language services policy.

[Madeleine Arbez]

Yes, that’s right.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Is there a way to improve the French-Language Services Policy in Manitoba? Do you think improvements are possible?

How does this align with the municipal economic development that you represent?