Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:27
CPC (QC)
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I would like to ask you a quick question first. In your presentation, you mentioned the 20% increase in core funding for community organizations. We are fully aware that this is very important for linguistic communities. Would you be able to provide the committee with budget figures confirming that, in the past year, each community has in fact received more funding?
Communities used to receive 7¢ of each dollar. I think that's the number. According to the enhancement, that amount of 7¢ should have been increased. Is it possible for you to provide this information to the committee, in order to confirm that the communities are benefiting from the increase?
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:28
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:28
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:28
CPC (QC)
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Thank you very much.
You also mentioned funding for community media, which brings me to one thing I have noticed recently.
According to the preliminary budget you sent us, $302 million will be allocated to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is very good. However, I read in L'Acadie nouvelle that there had been a 10% reduction in jobs at the Radio-Canada station in Moncton. I was a little troubled.
I would like to understand how it is possible to increase funding for the CBC, which I think is commendable, while also cutting funding for its station in Moncton, where there is a francophone minority language community?
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:29
CPC (QC)
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Ms. Joly, I think Canadians expect you, as minister, to question the CBC, not a member of the opposition. I have every confidence in your good intentions, but I would still invite you to ask the CEO why those cuts were made. They fly in the face of your intentions with respect to official languages.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:30
CPC (QC)
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You are responsible for the vitality of linguistic communities, Minister.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:31
CPC (QC)
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In cabinet, isn't it your responsibility to ask your colleague why, in this case, action is being taken to the detriment of the vitality of linguistic communities?
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:31
CPC (QC)
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As you know, we have finally begun a study on the modernization of the Official Languages Act. You have followed suit and I am very happy about that.
To date, however, two presentations have sort of confused me.
First, there was the one on February 18, 2019. It was not before our committee, but before the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages. Senator Rose-May Poirier asked Pierre Lavallée, the CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, whether he had spoken with you or people in your office about his official languages duties. As we know, the Canada Infrastructure Bank has had some problems with this. To everyone's surprise, Mr. Lavallée replied that your office had never contacted him or the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
You seem to be saying that, in the case of Radio-Canada, another minister is responsible. In this case, clearly, you did not contact the Infrastructure Bank yourself. Have you at least discussed this issue with Mr. Champagne in cabinet?
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:32
CPC (QC)
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:32
CPC (QC)
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:32
Hon. Denis Paradis - 12:57
CPC (QC)
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Minister Joly, I was a little surprised by your response to Mr. Choquette. You said that you hoped the commissioner would have a generous interpretation. However, you and your Prime Minister were the ones who chose the person and submitted his name for the position.
Didn't you first determine the person's approach to official languages? How can you hope for something from an individual, when you were the one who chose that person? That seems very strange. I don't understand.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:57
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:57
CPC (QC)
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You didn't submit three suggestions. You submitted one suggestion, Minister Joly.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:58
CPC (QC)
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That's fine, thank you.
I have two minutes left.
I may be wrong, but I think that I'm right. Across Canada, people have mainly told me that, while they're pleased with your measures, they find that you lack the leadership to ensure that Part VI of the act is applied in all government agencies.
When he met with us on Tuesday, the commissioner said that federal agencies were following his recommendations in 80% of cases. That's fine. However, in 20% of cases, the agencies aren't following the recommendations or are struggling to follow them. If it were 5%, I could understand. It would almost be by default. However, 20% is significant.
Why did the National Energy Board publish a report in English only? The Canada Infrastructure Bank and Public Services and Procurement Canada websites display calls for tenders that are still riddled with mistakes in French. Why are 20% of federal agencies unable to follow the recommendations? Minister Joly, we don't expect you to be offended by the shortcomings, but to act. You don't seem to be taking action.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 12:59
CPC (QC)
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In the committee, we mostly say that the main issue, other than the act, is the lack of political will.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 13:00
CPC (QC)
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The issue is the lack of political will. The issue is your place in cabinet. Do you say these things in cabinet? Do you criticize your colleagues for these shortcomings? The 20% rate is unacceptable. A 5% rate would be understandable, by default. However, a 20% rate clearly indicates an issue.
As I told you, people are generally happy with your investments. It's the continuation of the story of the past 20 years. All action plans increase investments. However, people are telling me about your lack of leadership, Minister Joly. That's the serious issue right now. That's why the act must be strengthened. The current Minister of Official Languages in the government doesn't show leadership. If you're doing so, your colleagues aren't listening to you.
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 13:01
CPC (QC)
Hon. Mélanie Joly - 13:01
CPC (QC)
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Okay, but what do you have to say about the Prime Minister, who spoke only in English yesterday to 78 daughters of the vote participants from Quebec?
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Hon. Mélanie Joly - 13:01
Hon. Denis Paradis - 13:02