QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
Next Action Plan for Official Languages
October 6, 2022
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, in preparation for the renewal of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-28, yesterday the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, the FCFA, published a brief entitled Éviter le point de rupture or “Avoiding the breaking point,” describing an exceptionally critical situation within francophone minority organizations.
This brief, based on a poll of 188 organizations, reveals, in a very worrisome way, the precariousness of Canadian francophonie organizations. It reveals that 90% of the organizations offer a lower salary than the Canadian average and that more than half the organizations consider the lack of competitive salary critical to achieving their mission.
The FCFA estimates that your government will need to invest an additional $300 million for francophone minority organizations in the next action plan.
How does your government plan respond to the data and findings of this brief, especially in the context of the renewal of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-28?
I thank the honourable senator for the question.
The brief published by the FCFA identifies a number of challenges, and I am told that the minister had a chance to review the brief during the recent Canada-wide consultations on official languages.
As part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-23, the government increased funding for official language minority community organizations, or OLMCs, by 20%. However, it’s clear that several issues remain.
As you pointed out, the government is currently working on a new action plan for official languages to support OLMCs, implement our language reform, and protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec.
The government is grateful for the contributions made by community members and advocates in the discussions on the action plan. It intends to respond to the challenges raised, which are described in the brief and which you mentioned. It will respond in greater detail in the action plan to be announced shortly.
Senator Gold, as I’m sure you would agree, Canada’s francophone organizations, in all regions of the country, are tireless leaders when it comes to defending and promoting our two official languages. How does the government plan to respond to their grievances in the context of the current modernization of the federal language regime?
I thank the honourable senator for this supplementary question.
Since coming to power in 2015, the government has made record investments to support our OLMCs. In May, the government launched a consultation process on the next action plan for official languages, which will help it continue with the necessary work of protecting and promoting French across the country while supporting our OLMCs.
I am told that the government received more than 6,000 submissions and it wants to ensure that the action plan includes measures designed to address the issues and challenges raised by OLMCs, including all francophone organizations and all Canadians.
