44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 16, 2023 10:00AM
- Feb/16/23 10:33:30 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is very nice to hear my colleague speaking French. His accent is excellent.
I would like to once again remind him that Quebec and the provinces are the ones responsible for the health care model. The Supreme Court clearly ruled in that regard in Chaoulli. It stated that a person who is waiting for surgery cannot be banned from using private health care.
What does my colleague think about that?
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Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear: Our commitment has not changed. Our government stands firm. We will do everything to protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec, and protect our official language minority communities.
I am following the work of the committee closely. Our bill will expand the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages. It will ensure that employees will be able to work and obtain service in French in federally regulated private companies in Quebec as well as outside the province in regions with a strong francophone presence.
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Mr. Speaker, I do not see what he is worried about, because the Bloc members will vote against a bill designed to strengthen French in Quebec and across the country and give the Commissioner of Official Languages more powers.
The Bloc Québécois-Conservative coalition is going to try to bring down a bill that is good for French everywhere.
We will take a stand and continue to fight for French everywhere in Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, in an open letter to Quebeckers, the member for Westmount tells us that Canada is an anglophone country. Even though he changed the letter after he was criticized for it, I think he told us how he really feels.
To the member for Westmount, defending the Charter of the French Language amounts to attacking the anglophone community, which speaks Canada's only official language.
Will the minister remind the member that the only official language under threat in Canada is French?
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Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. We are the first government to recognize the decline of French in the country and that is precisely why we are moving forward with an ambitious bill.
As an Acadian who lives in New Brunswick in an official language minority community, I know the importance of protecting and promoting French across the country, including in Quebec.
However, we also have to ensure that we are there to protect official language minority communities. Like stakeholders from one end of the country to another, I look forward to the passage of the bill. Bill C‑13 will really change things in the lives of Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, my priority as Minister of Official Languages is to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec. We also have a responsibility to protect official language minority communities.
I think this is a goal we share. It is what we all want. We want to make a fair contribution so that we can bring solutions to this decline problem. I hope that, eventually, this bill will get passed, since implementing this legislation is going to make a real difference. Our stakeholders are eager, they want to see the bill passed, and I hope that happens as soon as possible.
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Mr. Speaker, just imagine: Montreal West Island Integrated Health and Social Services Centre had to take to the media to set the record straight after the member for Saint-Laurent spread misinformation about Bill 96 and the Charter of the French Language.
In Quebec, francophones can get care in French and anglophones can get care in English. Even a patient who speaks neither English nor French can get services in their language, even if that means using interpreters, because we care.
Will the minister call the member for Saint-Laurent to order and demand an apology?
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They care, Mr. Speaker. As for judgment, I am not so sure.
I am glad the Bloc Québécois is interested in French. It just had a whole opposition day, and members could have talked about the environment, our seniors, the fight against poverty or even French, but no, they got together and decided to talk about the Constitution. That is their priority.
Meanwhile, Liberals are working for all Canadians, including all Quebeckers.
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- Feb/16/23 3:03:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, post-secondary education for official language minority communities across the country is very important to our government.
There is a huge need in francophone communities. This sector is being affected by the labour shortage. More francophone and bilingual teachers are needed.
I wonder if the Minister of Official Languages could explain to the House what she is doing to support French-language post-secondary institutions.
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- Feb/16/23 3:04:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pontiac for her question and for her hard work.
I was very pleased to be at the University of Ottawa yesterday with the President of the Treasury Board to announce a federal contribution of $20.4 million to support French-language programs at the University of Ottawa.
This funding will be used to develop new courses entirely in French and to hire faculty in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as to create a new centre of excellence for French-language education.
This is another example of how this government is supporting official language minority communities and post-secondary institutions in those communities.
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