Senator Rose-May Poirier

Senator Poirier: Thank you for being with us this evening, Madam Minister. We appreciate hearing from someone who can answer our questions.

My question is about your government’s agreement with the provinces on child care. This agreement does not include a proportionate number of child care spaces for francophone minority communities. In this context, we could inevitably find ourselves in a situation where the province decides to use the funds for unilingual anglophone spaces at the expense of francophone spaces. This could result in the cost of child care being higher for francophones. According to Commissioner Raymond Théberge, this is another example where the needs of francophone minority communities have not been taken into account, as required under Part VII.

Madam Minister, why did you not include language clauses to ensure that francophone minority communities receive their fair share?

Ms. Fortier: First, I’d like to thank you for your question. As we know, for quite some time, not only the francophone communities, but also the anglophone minority communities have been working very hard to collaborate with the federal government on equity and access to child care services in the minority language. As you know, and as you mentioned, the government has signed agreements with almost all the provinces. Unfortunately, I’m not yet pleased to say that this is the case with Ontario. However, the agreements contain certain provisions to ensure that the representation and recognition of francophone minority communities outside Quebec are taken into account. This is also the case in agreements with the Quebec government to ensure child care spaces for anglophone communities.

So this recognition is part of the agreements, although there is still work to be done. I know that my colleague Minister Gould is very concerned about this issue and will continue to work with the provinces and territories to ensure that official language minority communities have their fair share of representation in terms of child care services, either in French or English, depending on the province.

Senator Poirier: Thank you. I hope they will respect the official language minority communities.

Here’s my second question: Your government seems reluctant to make the Treasury Board fully responsible for coordinating the legislation. Could you tell us why your government is reluctant to give the Treasury Board full responsibility for coordinating the legislation?

Ms. Fortier: As you heard me say at the end of my presentation, I can’t wait until we can introduce the next bill.

I will refer you back to the white paper. I feel it shows that the government has understood the need to give the Treasury Board more responsibility. As a Franco-Ontarian, given that I’m familiar with the system across the country and I know that official languages must always be strengthened in government, I look forward to seeing how we move forward. It’s true that the Treasury Board needs to play a bigger role. I think that’s been very well laid out in the white paper. So let’s hope that is included in the bill to be tabled shortly.

Senator Poirier: We hope so and we look forward to seeing it. Thank you, Madam Minister.