Evidence of meeting #37 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was youth.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Nancy Southern  President and Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Group
Elyse Allan  President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Canada
Bertha Mo  Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
Ashley Julian  Member, Youth Council, Assembly of First Nations

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Anne-Marie Day NDP Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Thank you.

Ms. Freeman, I turn it over to you.

May 30th, 2012 / 4:50 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

I'd like to thank both of our witnesses for being here today. It's really a pleasure to have both of you.

My questions are for Ms. Ashley Julian.

This committee has heard again and again that the underfunding of first nations education is a chronic problem. We're seeing serious underfunding. This is fully a federal responsibility. Can you elaborate more on what needs to be done? What is the situation? We keep hearing again and again that this is really a major barrier, among many. But it's one of the major ones.

4:50 p.m.

Member, Youth Council, Assembly of First Nations

Ashley Julian

That's a great question. Thank you.

Again, from my personal experience with first nations' control of first nations' education, the Assembly of First Nations has really looked towards making more accessible opportunities at the community level and also in the urban centres. With the growing indigenous population, there has to be something that is more relevant to the needs of aboriginal girls. I find that there is also a cultural barrier that stands between the educational system and our traditional way of learning at the community level in terms of language and cultural barriers.

I feel that the Coady International Institute, which is accessible to all Canadian girls, is a good example. I think partnerships with universities allow for more opportunities in these areas.

We also have further information in our studies, with more substantial answers to your questions, that can be forwarded to the committee.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

I think the committee would appreciate that very much.

Is curriculum at the elementary and high school levels culturally appropriate, or is that part of the problem too?

4:55 p.m.

Member, Youth Council, Assembly of First Nations

Ashley Julian

I guess my answer would be no. We're looking at promoting more cultural awareness in terms of the curriculum. In the Atlantic, for example, in the region I represent, our schools are looking at what's called the teepee program. It's basically in elementary school. They look into the wigwam and teaching ceremonies and how they are conducted around the medicine wheel. It further uses curriculum in terms of English, languages, and incorporating more household opportunities and responsibilities. There is a different type of skill learning, I feel, for indigenous youth and girls when they are aging.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

I have to stop you there, Ms. Julian. I'm sorry about that.

We are now going to the Conservative side.

Mr. Albas, you have seven minutes.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC

Actually, I believe I gave my spot up.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Okay.

Ms. Bateman, you have seven minutes.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Thank you.

Thank you both so much for being here with us this afternoon. It's very important for us to hear your perspectives.

I actually have a few very specific questions for Dr. Mo, to start.

Forgive me, Dr. Mo. I come from Manitoba. I represent the constituency of Winnipeg South Centre. I'm fascinated by your organization, but we do it a little differently. I just want to understand. Do you receive any funding at all from the federal government?

4:55 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

OCISO does, but the counselling program doesn't.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

What percentage of your funding comes from the federal government?

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

It is probably 75%.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Probably 75% of your funding comes from the federal government. That's interesting.

You see, we're actually changing what we're doing in Manitoba, because in the Ontario system, I believe, and in fact in all ten provinces the program is very differently structured. We don't charge clients for counselling. We actually help them. In Manitoba we have $36.5 million that the federal government contributes, and I believe the province contributes around $1 million. I could consult with my colleague, but I think she is not in the room any more.

We work in partnership, the province and the federal government, although we are footing about 97.5% of the bill. We don't charge refugees for counselling. We give it to them willingly, and the federal government pays various organizations. The province will organize a school group. I used to serve on a school board and we regularly would help people with EAL programming. I am just fascinated by why you would be charging people for something they are receiving for free in other provinces, and which I think it is the intention of the federal government to provide.

When we welcome people to the country, we want to give them the tools to succeed, because we all succeed if they succeed. I would just really appreciate if you could explain your structure to me.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

OCISO doesn't charge people for counselling.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

It says right here that fees are paid on a sliding scale but are waived if you have limited income.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

That's true.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

If you need an appointment or if you need a referral you can contact somebody, so if you need a referral.... I want to understand this. I don't understand this.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

About five years ago the counselling program was actually told by the board that we had to look at social enterprise, and what social enterprise means is that you figure out a way to make some funds to run the existing program by charging people who can pay.

The way that works.... Right now we have a case of a family from Sri Lanka. There are two children who are living with their aunt--

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Before you go into the details of this example, how many clients do you have for the counselling service, and how many clients do you have for your whole service? A ballpark number is all I'm interested in. I'm curious to find out what is the size of the operation.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

The organization serves 30,000 clients.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

You have 30,000 people annually.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

You have 30,000 new people annually.

5 p.m.

Manager, Counselling Program, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Bertha Mo

They are not necessarily new.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

You might have helped somebody in 1985 and you helped them once a year right throughout—