By Yvon Beaudoin
On this International Francophonie Day, I would like to paint a picture for you of the 9,178,100 Canadians who speak French in Canada.
At the 2013 annual meeting of the members of the FTQ’s Francization Committee, Suzanne Dionne Coster and Mariette Rainville of the Commission nationale des parents francophones presented the following overview of the health of the francophonie in the various regions of Canada. We have taken the liberty here of presenting this data as an infographic.
At first glance, one might tend to believe that the francophone community is faring well in Canada. But one look at the impact of the $5.2 billion in cutbacks announced by the Conservative government in 2012 paints another reality.
According to Claude Poirier, President of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), francophones are now being asked to write their documents in English to reduce translation costs.
“According to Public Works Canada, to which the Translation Bureau reports, business volume went from $253 million in 2010–2011 to $231 million the following year, a decrease of 9%. The 2012–2013 Report on Plans and Priorities forecasts revenue of barely $191 million.”
In addition, the Conservative government is content to sit back when talks turn to official languages. In December, the Conservative government voted against two motions tabled by Yvon Godin, NPD Critic for Official Languages.
The purpose of the motions was to “have the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans appear before the Official Languages Committee to present important updates on access to justice in both official languages and on the future of the Quebec Marine Search and Rescue Centre.”
The budgetary constraints imposed by the Conservative government are a major threat to the vitality of Canada’s two official languages. Ask your member of parliament to act.
Our members should demand to work in the official language of their choice!