Evidence of meeting #9 for Official Languages in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was money.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Giovanna Mingarelli Liberal Prescott—Russell—Cumberland, ON
Thank you, Ms. Tanguay.
I just have a little question for you, Mr. Bouchard. Based on your experience at Mouvement Québec français, would you say the majority of newcomers arrive in Quebec intending to learning French and integrate into francophone society?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Please excuse me, Ms. Mingarelli, but I must interrupt you and be strict with time.
The answer could be sent to the committee in writing, but I must give the floor to the next member.
Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor for two minutes.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
What I wanted to say earlier, Mr. Bouchard, is that Frédéric Lacroix’s studies say that Canadian research funds contributed to overfunding English-language universities to the tune of well over $100 million a year. How do you think this trend could be reversed?
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
I could give you a very simple answer, but I’m not sure this is the place to do it, because the simple answer is to not be part of Canada anymore. Funding is obviously invested to overfund English-language universities in Quebec. It’s also a fact that all research is done in English. They contribute directly to anglicizing Quebec. The only way to overcome this trend is, therefore, to no longer be part of Canada, or to abolish this form of funding. It goes beyond the Canadian government’s jurisdiction, which uses its spending power to anglicize Quebec, especially in leading fields like medicine and medical research.
Mr. Chair, would you allow me to come back to the question asked earlier?
Bloc
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.
When people emigrate to France, it’s all set up for them to use French. In Italy, same thing; it’s all is set up for immigrants to learn Italian properly.
In Quebec, it’s not like that because of federal government funding, federal legislation, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Constitution. It’s not all set up for newcomers to speak French. It therefore becomes a choice based on their trajectory in life. If they meet a French-speaking friend, maybe they’ll become interested in French. If they work in a French-speaking environment, they may become interested in French or want to follow francization courses if needed. However, they aren’t required to learn French, because we live in an anglonormative environment. It allows any immigrant and any English speaker in Canada to live their entire life without having to learn French.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Mr. Bouchard, I must interrupt you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mr. Gill, you have the floor for four minutes.
Conservative
Dalwinder Gill Conservative Calgary McKnight, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have a question for Mr. Bouchard.
Mr. Bouchard, like you, I believe that investment in French-language education is a matter of our national identity. In light of current relations with our neighbours to the south, and Canada's intention to diversify economic partners, I want to know how you think budget 2025 reflects the Liberal government's commitment to French-language education and where you would like to see improvements.
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
In Quebec or outside of Quebec?
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
In Quebec, the first thing to know is the federal government mustn’t invest in French. Instead, it should simply stop giving money to business associations, to rights associations fighting Bill 101 and all the health organizations trying to make everything bilingual. As Mr. Beaulieu was saying, the federal government must stop giving money for research at universities.
The starting point must therefore be to stop investing. Transfer the money that would have been invested in Quebec and put it in programs that support high-level French-language institutions or outside Quebec. The federal government must therefore completely stop investing in Quebec to anglicize Quebec.
November 6th, 2025 / 12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dalwinder Gill Conservative Calgary McKnight, AB
Okay.
Mr. Larocque, I want to ask you about the impact of social media on French-language education. I have read that French-language speakers in provinces outside of Quebec feel uneasy about their accents. Actually, I have even heard stories from Montreal of children experiencing linguistic bullying for not speaking English.
How do you view social media's impact on French-language education among our youth? Do you have any ideas for how social media can be channelled to have a positive impact for French-speaking youth?
President, Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française
During our conferences—among other things, because those aren’t our only events—we always have a cross-Canadian delegation of young people, 25 to 35 years old, from the education sector. They are the real linguistic and cultural ambassadors. We all know these young people use social media; they practically invented it. Yes, some things are still done in English, but I’m on a few social media platforms too. What I see is that it’s possible to flaunt one’s French and promote one’s culture, be it francophone, Acadian, Maghrebian or Caribbean, with French as the common element. We’re trying to create spaces to promote it.
Indeed, social media represents a danger, but by setting positive examples and promoting those who dare to flaunt their French, they often become good ambassadors, as I was saying initially.
Conservative
Dalwinder Gill Conservative Calgary McKnight, AB
Mr. Bouchard, on Tuesday, we heard witnesses say that the Liberal government tends to throw money at the wall and hopes it sticks. What I mean by that is that the government will make announcements for tens of millions of dollars without having a solid strategy for the implementation of accountability measures.
In your experience, what can be done to ensure that Canadian tax dollars are used to provide French-language education in the most effective way possible?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Please answer in one or two sentences, as there’s only five seconds left.
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
Stop spending Canadians' money anglicizing Quebec, full stop.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Thank you, Mr. Gill.
I now give the floor to Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault for four minutes.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Larocque, as well as being ACELF’s president, you’ve been a teacher and a principal in the Acadian peninsula. You've held many leadership positions within the Association des enseignants et enseignantes francophones du Nouveau‑Brunswick. I therefore have a question for you, Acadian to Acadian.
As you know, two years ago, we proceeded with an ambitious modernization of the Official Languages Act, an extremely important statute for all francophones from coast to coast. As part of this modernization, we added a clause stipulating that the federal government would reinforce learning opportunities for francophone minorities outside Quebec, from early childhood to post-secondary.
This commitment was reaffirmed in September when we announced a new bilateral agreement between the federal government and New Brunswick. The federal government is investing $133 million over four years to support French-language learning in New Brunswick. I’d like you to explain the importance of the federal government’s investment.
President, Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française
Thank you very much. We saw each other last week in another setting. It is a pleasure to see you again.
Indeed, that investment is important for us in New Brunswick. ACELF is a Canada-wide organization, but I can use a local example. For us, getting that financial support is important for our work with French-language school districts in the province. It also ensures that French-language schools in New Brunswick and throughout the country have the tools and materials required to implement and promote their programs.
I am a retired teacher, but sometimes I still go back to school and see great things being done, especially on a cultural level. I’m a grandfather too, and I’m especially fond of that role. When my grandchildren come home from school, they tell me all about what they did. They tell me they could talk about or see one thing or another.
If we don’t have the required financial support and human resources, it becomes dangerous, because we’re in a minority situation. The majority can easily take over. So, I thank the government for helping us on that level. We will try to use it well. As I said, we are always working with people from ministries and school boards.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you very much for your answer. It reflects the importance of the investments the federal government is making to support French-language education in Canada, in accordance with the Official Languages Act.
Recently, ACELF held its 78th conference in Ontario. One of the priority topics was identity building. We know that schools in a francophone minority situation have a double mandate: promote both educational success and identity building. Could you speak briefly about the importance of having the required resources to fulfill the identity-building mandate?
Chief Executive Officer of Mouvement Québec français, 2014 to 2017, As an Individual
Indeed, various regions host our conferences, be it Winnipeg, Laval or Markham. Halifax is next, so it covers all of Canada.
As I was saying earlier while answering another question, identity building is not the same from one region to the next. It all boils down to working on the child. We want the child to be happy, able to flourish, able to live and express an identity—all with a dash of local colour. That’s what we’re trying to do, and it usually leads to beautiful results.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.
On my colleagues’ behalf, I want to thank all the witnesses for offering the committee their expertise.
Meeting adjourned.