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Results: 121 - 135 of 223
View Bernard Généreux Profile
CPC (QC)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
The Bloc Québécois is well aware that Canada is a country where English is predominant and French is the minority language. When it comes to issues that affect official language minority communities, the situation is precarious. Over the years, the Official Languages Act has helped support these communities. I agree with my colleague that there is still much work to be done. Many projects have been proposed by different governments over the past 50 years to improve the visibility of francophone communities across Canada and empower them. However, it is clear that more needs to be done.
View Scott Duvall Profile
NDP (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate everybody's interventions tonight, but we have to stay on topic. We are talking about a public institution, a university, that is going into bankruptcy protection and trying to survive.
When we look at it, it has nothing to do with the French language or the English language. It is an institution that made some mistakes through its board of directors. The provincial government has cut $360 million from Ontario universities. The federal government has been stagnant with what it usually gives. It has cut, too.
The full-time faculty have declined over a few years, so it is not salary costs. It is some bad decisions that had been made by the board. The university is over-mortgaged, and it has empty buildings sitting there. We have to find a better way for the provincial and federal governments to provide proper funding and make sure that these institutions stay alive. We cannot just concentrate on saying that it is a French school or an English school. This is just the start of it.
The provincial Government of Ontario is taking a very sneaky way of saying to the federal government, “Provide more funding, even though we cut costs, or we are going to privatize the institutions.” Something—
View Bernard Généreux Profile
CPC (QC)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
As I said earlier, since we cannot change the past, we must look to the future. There will be other opportunities, primarily financial ones.
I agree with my colleague that the university is just as French as it is English; it may even be more English than French. The reality is that the federal government can intervene in very specific areas and it should do more than what it did in the past to ensure that it can place the university on a better financial footing.
I will repeat that it is unfortunate to see a university in this situation, but this is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and get it back on its feet as best we can and ensure that it will be managed by people who know what they are doing.
View Elizabeth May Profile
GP (BC)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière‑du‑Loup.
I appreciated his comments about the management problems at this university. That is nothing new. For nearly a year now, there have been articles and reports in Sudbury's newspapers about this university's financial troubles, but no one made an effort to ask for or demand better management to avoid disastrous results.
What does my colleague think we can do now?
View Bernard Généreux Profile
CPC (QC)
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the answer I gave earlier.
We can judge what was done in the past and, of course, we need to change things to avoid repeating the same mistakes. The students, teachers and researchers are not the ones responsible. The only ones responsible for the present mess are the administrators. They must be held responsible, and we must replace them if they failed to do the work required to ensure the long-term viability of the university. That is the reality.
Let us look forward and see what must be done. Funding will have to come with conditions that will enable the university to grow.
View Marie-France Lalonde Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I will be splitting my time with my colleague, the member for Nickel Belt.
I rise today as a proud Franco-Ontarian and the member of Parliament for Orléans. I am concerned and upset by the black Monday that befell our community in northern Ontario. The devastating cuts, mostly to French-language programs, remind us once again that our minority language communities and their institutions are at constant risk of being assimilated.
Our post-secondary institutions are the key to a strong francophonie and will ensure the sustainability of our language and the future of francophone communities across Canada.
I was pleased to see that Parliament and all its members joined together yesterday to stand behind my community against these devastating cuts. Every member of the House, concerned about the state of our post-secondary institutions, sent a clear message that our institutions must be protected and governments must act.
The House also sent a clear message to provincial governments that do not treat minority language education and francophone services as a priority. We saw that with the Ford government, and we have seen it with the Kenney government for over a year now. These Conservative governments have made cuts every time things have gotten tough for francophone institutions and services.
Only after communities rose up and people mobilized, united in their demands, were we able to have a dialogue with those governments.
I want to make it clear that the federal government is ready and willing. It has a duty to help, but we are waiting on provincial governments that are responsible for their jurisdictions.
In these troubling times, all governments must work together to find solutions and protect the Canadian francophonie's flagship institutions.
Our government has come through for the Franco-Ontarian community in the past, and we continue to stand with the Franco-Ontarian community during these dark times. Franco-Ontarians can count on our government, because we have repeatedly shown that we are here for francophones from coast to coast to coast.
The throne speech was historic in that it recognized that the federal government has a responsibility to protect and promote French in both Quebec and the rest of Canada.
One month ago, the Minister of Official Languages followed up with a plan for the modernization of the Official Languages Act entitled “English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada”. This reform document presents discussions on the future of French and English in this country in a clear and unifying manner that is above all centred on Canadians' needs.
I am proud to support this transparent approach, and I am convinced that the bill will be as well received as was the vision.
The reform document actually starts by acknowledging several realities and recent trends on the ground. First, the French language is vulnerable and needs to be better protected. For the first time, the Government of Canada will adapt its interventions and take real action to protect and support key institutions in official language minority communities, such as Laurentian University, to protect their vitality.
It is understood that our efforts will fully respect provincial jurisdictions and the existing rights of English-language minority communities. However, it is also understood that the government will continue to support Canadians as long as this feeling of linguistic insecurity persists in any way. As the minister said, it is a question of respect and dignity for French and English speakers.
Secondly, I would like to highlight the measures in the reform document that would promote French language learning from coast to coast to coast by increasing opportunities no matter where one lives. Our government recognizes that it is unacceptable that parents who want their children to learn French are subjected to wait lists and lotteries to register their children in coveted immersion programs, or that adults do not have access to the opportunities they desire to learn their second official language.
Rest assured, our government will act. The reform document outlines the development of Mauril, a free online second official language learning tool designed for adults, a new francophone immigration corridor for qualified French teachers, and a national initiative in collaboration with the provinces and territories to recognize French language teaching qualifications across Canada to facilitate greater professional mobility.
Finally, but not least, is our government's renewed commitment to official language minority communities. The reform document outlines new regulations for federal institutions with respect to positive measures under part VII of the Official Languages Act, increasing supports to community institutions and establishing a better estimate of eligible rights holders for minority language education under the charter.
In partnership with local organizations and stakeholders, we will ensure that these communities of francophones outside Quebec and anglophones in Quebec continue to thrive well into the future.
I encourage members to have a look at the reform document. Under this government, the future of the official languages is promising. We will continue to defend the French language and strengthen the official languages in Canada.
To all teachers, researchers and students, I say “we are here, and here we will stay”.
View Alexandre Boulerice Profile
NDP (QC)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Orléans, for her speech.
I have a very simple question for her. Did Canada's chronic underfunding of universities create the situation at Laurentian University, which is not able to continue providing valuable services to francophones, anglophones and indigenous students? What, exactly, will the government do to fund all universities to ensure that they can fulfill their missions?
View Marie-France Lalonde Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
In 2018, our government presented a concrete action plan for official languages, in which we made a historic $2.7‑billion investment. I think this has been mentioned. Our Liberal government has invested just over $500 million more in support of official languages. It decided to help linguistic minority communities, including those that speak French, which is on the decline in Canada.
I remind my colleague that the government made an additional investment through the official languages in education program, which supports minority-language schools across Canada. This $60‑million investment was made in budget 2019.
We must continue to do more, which is why we are having this debate tonight. This is also why the minister sent a letter to Ontario's education and francophone affairs ministers to express that we are committed to helping Laurentian University. This is what the community expects.
View Bernard Généreux Profile
CPC (QC)
Mr. Speaker, my question for my colleague is quite simple: Has the government already determined the amount of money that could be reinvested in Laurentian University?
View Marie-France Lalonde Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague, who mentioned provincial jurisdictions in his speech.
The minister has reached out. We want to work with the provinces and territories, as we have been doing from day one. The Government of Ontario just has to give us a call. The minister has already called them. She is ready and willing to keep having those conversations. Everyone will have to come together around the table to find a way to save Laurentian.
View Élisabeth Brière Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech, and I congratulate her on her recent appointment as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
I wonder if she could tell us more about the need to collaborate and stand together so that our efforts to reach out to the Province of Ontario yield positive results and so we can show our determination to protect and always promote French in minority language communities.
View Marie-France Lalonde Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for this very relevant question. In November 2018, after the Ford government's cuts to an important project at the Université de l'Ontario français, the federal government reached out once again to support the project.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that this subject is not only important in the context of tonight's debate in the House of Commons. I would like to thank all the organizations that spoke out and that continue to talk about it, as well as the media that reports on it.
I have always said that it is by coming together that we can be a majority in French. We need Canada's francophone communities to help us in this. However, obviously, the provincial government needs to give us a call, first.
View Marc Serré Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Marc Serré Profile
2021-04-14 22:04
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing this important debate to take place tonight. I am very proud to be here as the member for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources. I am currently in my office, here, in Ottawa, to participate in this debate.
Laurentian University is a pillar of my community, Greater Sudbury, and of all of northern Ontario. It offers first-class services to anglophones, francophones and indigenous and international students.
Let us be clear: This university is an institution that is dear to my heart. It is a part of three generations of my family and of the lives of many of my friends. My father started his studies at the University of Sudbury in 1958 and obtained his diploma from Laurentian University in 1962. I myself obtained a B.A. in communications in 1990, and my daughter got her master's in speech language pathology at Laurentian University.
Laurentian University is located in Greater Sudbury, which has a population of 160,000. My riding of Nickel Belt represents 45% of the population of Greater Sudbury. I share the city with my colleague, the MP for Sudbury.
Since being elected in 2015, I have had a tag-team approach with my colleague from Sudbury to ensure that Laurentian and the entire region receive their fair share of funding. That is our responsibility as members of Parliament.
Earlier in the debate, my colleague talked about all the funding announcements we have made to support Laurentian University. I want to assure everyone tonight that we have been there to support Laurentian University, and we will continue to support post-secondary institutions in Greater Sudbury and all over northern Ontario.
I want to thank all of my constituents and my family for communicating with me and my team in these very challenging times. Given all the anxiety everyone is facing with COVID-19, I ask everyone to please continue to be safe and reach out to neighbours.
Laurentian University has been so important to several generations of men and women for accessing higher education. They are the leaders of yesterday, today and the future. They have roots all over the world.
Let me be clear: I am very disappointed, and actually angry, that we have arrived at the situation today. I am so sad for what our community is going through with the massive uncertainty, and sad for the faculty, staff and students, who are finalizing their exams as we speak. Many students are unsure if they want to attend Laurentian University in September.
What can we do as elected officials? What can we do as a community? What can we do as members of the city council of Greater Sudbury? What can the provincial and federal governments do to support the many faculty and staff who have lost their jobs and address all the uncertainty that students have today? They are our friends, neighbours and families. What role can the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce play? We can actively get involved in facilitating employment opportunities to retain the talented individuals in our community.
I will take the remainder of my time in the debate tonight to simply say that this is within the jurisdiction of the Province of Ontario. We could let the local MPPs advocate at Queen's Park, but no, we must work through this together.
I would also like to thank the staff and the board of directors of the three federations that established Laurentian University 60 years ago. Without those three federations, Laurentian University would not exist. Huntington University, Thorneloe University and the University of Sudbury have been offering top-notch programs for more than 60 years.
Laurentian University has a world-class program on environmental studies at the Vale Living With Lakes Centre. There is also the Cliff Fielding building, for mining and innovation studies. It is respected all around the world.
The education program has been cut.
There is also the indigenous studies program. It is so important for our region to understand the history, culture and link between the environment and our indigenous communities all across northern Ontario.
There is the CROSH, for world-class health and safety training. It was created with a local steelworkers union. There is SNOLAB, the world-class neutrino lab, with many other programs. Also, because of NSERC funding, there are many national research chairs at Laurentian.
We need to find a solution. All political parties and governments need to work together to support the communities of Greater Sudbury. I know that the people of Sudbury are very concerned, but I also know they are resilient. I know we will get through these challenging times.
I would like to thank the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity for listening to us, for having an open mind and for taking action. I thank them for working with the francophone community of Greater Sudbury and Ontario and for working closely with the Province of Ontario.
I can assure the House that the federal government will live up to its responsibilities regarding minority language services across the country. We must focus on finding a solution and working with the Province of Ontario.
I would also like to thank many volunteers from francophone organizations and the people who continue to advocate for the French language across Canada and especially in northern Ontario. Laurentian University is an important institution and is central to economic development here in Greater Sudbury. There is history there. We must find solutions together.
I am very glad that the Speaker granted the request for the debate tonight and that we can take proactive measures.
I look forward to questions from my colleagues. I know that we all care about Laurentian University and services in French and that we want to find a solution.
View Lindsay Mathyssen Profile
NDP (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I have been in the House all night listening to the Liberals make excuse after excuse, and there seems to be a pattern: There is a lack of responsibility. I am perplexed, because for years the member for Sudbury and the member for Nickel Belt, who is a parliamentary secretary within the government, have sat idly by while this crisis has unfolded. They are members of the government, yet it was the New Democrats who brought this emergency debate forward.
I want to note for the member a message that I got from Hayley Horton, and I hope he has a response for her. She is a fourth-year midwifery student at Laurentian University who was born and raised in Blind River. She wants to return there after her graduation, but her schooling has stopped. It has been cut off entirely.
There is a critical need for obstetrical and reproductive services in the north. The member must know this, as he serves with me on the status of women committee. We know there is a lack of reproductive services for women.
What does he have to say to Hayley Horton about the lack of midwifery services, the ending of her education and his and his government's unwillingness to take responsibility?
View Marc Serré Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Marc Serré Profile
2021-04-14 22:13
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this important question. I appreciate the time we spend on the status of women committee.
Yes, it is sad. For students in the midwifery program and in the many other programs that were cut, this is unexpected. Laurentian's course of action here with the CCAA has shocked everybody.
We need to find a solution, but there is no silver bullet here. We have to work with the province. We have to make sure that the province is accountable. This is in provincial jurisdiction, but I want to assure the member, and she knows this, that the federal government will be there to support universities. We have to wait to see the developments in the core process and then work with the province to ensure that we have a plan.
What is the plan right now for funding? Is the member suggesting that we provide $1 million, $2 million, $10 million or $100 million? We have no plan right now from the province, and it is important to have a plan to make sure that we look at the long-term sustainability of programs at Laurentian University and northern Ontario.
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