Transcript NOUVELLES COMMUNAUTAIRES COMMUNITY DIGEST

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ISSN 1923-1032
December 5-12, 2014
Vol. 32, No. 15
COMMUNITY NOUVELLES
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7 people win Toronto
Human Rights Awards
by Michael Lamey
TORONTO -- The City of Toronto honoured
seven people Nov. 26 at the Access, Equity and
Human Rights Awards event held in the City
Hall council chamber. The annual ceremony
celebrates advances in human rights in Toronto.
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly (Ward 40 Scarborough Agincourt) and Councillors Janet Davis
(Ward 31 Beaches-East York), Paula Fletcher
(Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth), Gord Perks (Ward
Seven winners of Access, Equity and Human Rights awards pose with City 14 Parkdale-High Park), Ceta RamkhalawaManager Joe Pennachetti, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly and Councillors Janet nsingh (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina) and Kristyn
Davis, Paula Fletcher, Gord Perks, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh and Kristyn
Wong-Tam. (Photo courtesy City of Toronto)
Continued on Page 4 ...
Province supports
front-line services
and Aboriginal
women facing abuse
by S. Juma
TORONTO -- Ontario is protecting women
from violence with investments that support
front-line services and help Aboriginal women
facing abuse.
The province’s support includes the 2014
budget investment of $14.5 million over three
years to ensure fair compensation and training Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services, fellow MPPs and
for front-line workers who support women and representatives from Ontario women’s organizations are “Wrapped in Courage”
Continued on Page 3 ...
– purple scarves – at the Legislative Assembly to show support for abused
women and children across Ontario. (Photo courtesy Government of Ontario)
40010154
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COMMUNITY DIGEST
EDITORIAL
Dec. 5-12, 2014
by Livio
Di Matteo
Ontario’s economy lurches
from disaster to disaster
Ontario’s economic prospects have declined,
with implications – despite Finance Minister
Livio
Sousa’s insistence he can balance the budget
Di Matteo
– for both its future standard of living and its fiscal position.
Although employment, fueled by a lower dollar, has rebounded, the province’s economic fall from grace over the
last two decades is evident from a number of key economic
indicators.
While still the largest economy among the 10provinces,
its share of provincial output dropped from 42 per cent in
1990 to 37 per cent by 2013. Its real per capita GDP was
the second highest (after Alberta) in 1990 but has dropped
to fifth place, behind British Columbia and above Manitoba.
Its real per capita GDP growth has been one of the lowest
in the country.
According to new Statistics Canada government finance
statistics for the 2008 to 2012 period, Ontario’s government
had a negative cumulative gross operating balance – in
essence accumulated deficits – of $84 billion.
The next worst performer was British Columbia, with a
negative cumulative gross balance of only $8 billion. Ontario has three times the population of B.C. but a negative
gross operating balance that is 10 times worse.
Moreover, in 2013, Ontario’s net public debt of $267 billion
represented 50 per cent of provincial net debt. It is only by
the grace of low interest rates that Ontario’s debt service
costs have not been more problematic.
Despite having the lowest per capita public expenditures in
the country, Ontario has acquired a structural gap between
its revenues and expenditures with its expenditure-to-GDP
ratio consistently above its revenue-to-GDP ratio.
Ontario’s economy reached a crucial point after the 1980s
economic boom that saw free trade with the U.S. and a shift
away from the traditional east-west economic alignment.
Ontario needs to cut expenditures, raise revenues or engage
in some combination of the two. However, given the anaemic economy, raising taxes would be counterproductive
while cutting expenditures is politically unpopular.
After the jarring recession of the early 1990s, its decline
was forestalled by both a combination of a lower dollar
and booming U.S. economy, which drove Ontario’s export
sector, and a public sector restructuring that lowered taxes.
The result is a tendency for Ontario to blame the federal
transfer system for its chronic deficits and argue for an
improved federal fiscal framework that better supports
Ontario.
But this boost petered out in the early 21st century with
the return of more interventionist government economic
policy, with a corresponding increase in taxes, and a flawed
green energy industrial strategy that raised energy costs.
Yet, even here, the evidence shows Ontario is already a
much greater beneficiary of the federal transfer system:
as a result of its large population, Ontario’s per capita
federal cash transfers are indeed the third lowest in the
country – ahead of only Alberta and Saskatchewan – but
between 1990 and 2013 per capita transfers in Ontario grew
the fastest of the 10 provinces and Ontario’s share of total
federal cash transfers rose from 23 to 32 per cent.
Economic productivity faltered and the 2009 tilt into recession was compounded by an appreciating Canadian dollar
and Ontario’s trade dependence on the United States for
its manufacturing exports.
Ontario has demonstrated a poor record on GDP growth,
productive capital investment and private sector employment creation, and its economic decline is reflected in the
deterioration of its public finances as it seeks to maintain
a high level of public spending while faced with weak
economic productivity and revenue growth. The result is
persistent deficits and rising debt.
Ontario has supplanted Quebec as the largest federal total
transfer recipient in the country.
Ontario must boost its economic productivity and innovation, diversify its export sector to take advantage of the
Asia-Pacific region, reduce the cost of electricity, and
provide better value for its public sector services. Ito needs
to grow its economy to provide a stronger revenue base
for its public services.
It is a travesty that in a generation, Ontario has gone from
being a high-flying economic eagle to a lurching albatross
seeking to benefit from a gust of federal cash transfers.
Livio Di Matteo is Professor of Economics at Lakehead
University.
Troy Media Corporation (www.troymedia.ca)
Dec. 5-12, 2014
COMMUNITY DIGEST
COVER STORY
3
by S. Juma
Continued from page 1 (“Province supports on-line. . .”)
children who are fleeing abuse. Funding will be provided
to agencies that provide critical supports in the community
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twitter.com/NouvellesComm1
Tracy MacCharles, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues,
Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of
Indigenous Friendship Centres, and the David Zimmer, Minister
of Aboriginal Affairs, launch “Honour Life, End Violence” at the
Legislative Assembly. (Photo courtesy Government of Ontario)
such as emergency shelter services, counselling and child
witness programs. The skills and experience of front-line
workers at shelters and counselling agencies are critical
to helping women and their children feel safe in a crisis
and getting them the supports they need to start new lives.
This investment is in addition to ongoing funding
through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy for
Talk4Healing, Ontario’s only women’s helpline that supports Aboriginal women throughout Northern Ontario with
services in Ojibway, Cree and Oji-Cree.
The province, through the Ontario Women’s Directorate,
is also supporting the Ontario Federation of Indigenous
Friendship Centres’ new Honour Life, End Violence campaign that reaches out to women in abusive relationships and
reminds men and youth that they have a role to play in ending violence in their homes, workplaces and communities.
“Women who are escaping abuse are often dealing with
a range of complex issues, from the trauma of violence to
concerns about the safety and security of their children,”
said Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social
Services. “Having experienced, skilled staff in shelters and
community agencies is critical to giving women the support they need to escape violence and rebuild their lives.”
“Providing culturally sensitive programs and services
for Aboriginal women is critical to ending violence, as
well as supporting healing,” said David Zimmer, Minister
of Aboriginal Affairs. “I’m proud that our government
is supporting essential programs, like the Talk4Healing
telephone helpline and the OFIFC’s Honour Life, End
Violence campaign.”
4
COMMUNITY DIGEST
COVER STORY
by Michael Lamey
Continued from page 1 (“7 people win Toronto Human . . .”)
Wong-Tam (Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale) joined City
Manager Joe Pennachetti in presenting the awards.
“We salute the work that tonight’s honorees have done
– and continue to do – to improve life in Toronto,” said
Pennachetti. “They are shining examples of what can be
done to create a more equitable city, free of discrimination.”
Anne Rochon Ford is executive director of the Canadian Women’s Health
Network, and a research associate with
the National Network on Environments
and Women’s Health at York University.
She has a long history of advocacy and
activism in support of women’s health
in Toronto.
Valerie Mah is a
Anne Rochon
schoolteacher and
Ford
principal responsible
for setting up hot ljunch programs for
students. As principal at Bruce Public
School, she helped lead the school from
possible closure to creating the model
for Ontario’s full-day kindergarten..
Seven people won five different awards
(one award was shared by three).
David Abbott
Dec. 5-12, 2014
The Aboriginal Affairs Award went to
David Abbott, an active member of the
Aboriginal Economic Business Development Project (AEBDP), an organization dedicated to creating a sustainable
Aboriginal business community in
downtown Toronto.
Abbott has also served on various
boards, including the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
and the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Board for the Aboriginal
Professional Association of Canada.
The Access Award went to Luke Anderson, an engineer crippled by a spinal
cord injury in 2002. He founded the
StopGap foundation, which supplies
free wheelchair ramps to businesses
with single-step storefronts. He is also a
motivational speaker with the Rick Hansen Foundation and through StopGap’s
School Presentation Program.
Luke Anderson
The Constance E. Hamilton Award, for those who work for
more equitable treatment for women, was shared by: Dr.
Rosemary Moodie, Anne Rochon Ford and Valerie Mah.
Valerie Mah
In 1964, Valerie was a founder of the
Mon Sheong Foundation; in 1994, she helped found the Yee
Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, both providing high-quality
and culturally-appropriate services for Asian seniors.
The Pride Award went to Keisha Williams, a Toronto-born community organizer who has been working diligently
since 2005 around violence and intersecting oppressions as they relate to colonialism, poverty, incarceration, gender,
global location/immigration status, sexuality and sexual/mental health (status).
Since 2010, through her work with the
Prisoner’s HIV/AIDS Support Action Keisha Williams
Network (PASAN), Keisha has actively supported incarcerated and criminalized women, many of whom are Queer
and/or Trans.
Rosemary Gay Moodie is a dedicated
volunteer, philanthropist, advocate and
role model for young girls and women
who seeks to improve the lives of
women at grass root levels.
She is highly recognized for her contributions to the medical community
during her time at the Hospital for Sick
Children, but also in her paediatric
Rosemary Moodie
clinic located in one of Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods. Rosemary continues to mentor young
African-Canadian students and many young physiciansin-the-making.
Ritu Bhasin
The William P. Hubbard Award for Race
Relations went to Ritu Bhasin, a lawyer,
advocate, and social entrepreneur who
has spent almost 20 years working to
eliminate racism and prejudice. She is
one of the few people of colour to serve
on a senior management team on Bay
Street, focusing on talent management
for law students and lawyers.
Additionally, Ritu was on the instructing team that contributed to The Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance’s 2011
DiverseCity Fellows Program. Ritu contributes to many of
Toronto’s community organizations including CivicAction
and the Maytree Foundation, and is a mentor to dozens
of young people from Toronto’s Regent Park community.
Dec. 5-12, 2014
COMMUNITY DIGEST
by M. Juma
ONTARIO
Ontario introduces legislation to
maximize benefits of immigration
TORONTO -- Ontario is reintroducing its first-ever Immigration Act that would, if passed, assist the province in
working with Ottawa to maximize the economic benefits
of immigration.
Immigrants help grow a stronger economy by leveraging
their networks and forging new global connections that
will keep Ontario competitive in international markets.
Building on the government’s Immigration Strategy, the
proposed Ontario Immigration Act would:
• Facilitate Ontario’s work with the federal government
on the recruitment, selection and admission of skilled immigrants.
5
“The diversity of our people is one of Ontario’s strengths,”
saidMatthew Mendelsohn, Director of the Mowat Centre.
“Capitalizing on this advantage is vital to our economy’s
future growth. Immigrants connect people, ideas and understanding. Ontario is showing its commitment to ensuring
that the economic opportunities that immigrants expect are
delivered.”
Ontario remains the
number-one destination for newcomers
to Canada, receiving
more immigrants than
the combined total of
all the provinces and
territories west of here.
The province will also redesign the Provincial Nominee
Program to respond to expected increases in the federal
government’s allocation of economic immigrants.
Over the next 25 years,
immigration will account for all of the
increases in Ontario’s
working-age population and is expected
to be a major source
of future labour force
Michael Chan, Minister of Citizen­ growth.
“This proposed legislation is about making Ontario’s
economy stronger through immigration,” said Michael
Chan, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade. “Immigrants bring with them connections to
international economies, which is why the Premier reassigned International Trade to the immigration ministry.”
the decade have reduced the proportion of economic immigrants coming to
Ontario to 46 per cent, while other provinces on average
receive 65 per cent (2013). In 2011, 97 per cent of Ontario’s
provincial nominees remained in the province.
• Strengthen the province’s ongoing efforts to reduce fraud
by protecting the integrity of our immigrant selection program and improve accountability.
• Increase transparency and information-sharing with our
immigration partners.
TM
ship, Immigration and International
Federal decisions over
Trade
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COMMUNITY DIGEST
ONTARIO
Dec. 5-12, 2014
by Adam Brazeau
Jeyon Jeanandan (right) and his Sri Lankan drummers
Cornwall holds multicultural festival
CORNWALL -- The signature pounding of traditional Sri
Lankan drumming set the tone at the annual Multicultural
Festival Nov. 24 and 25.
Hundreds filled the civic complex salons at the two-day
event for a special meet-and-greet with representatives of
over 30 countries.
Dressed in colourful regalia, Jeyon Jeanandan, 16, stood
by a table display full of instruments and various garments
showcasing his ancestral origins.
The Montreal-born Cornwallite and several other youths
and teens captured the crowd’s attention with a stunning
drum performance and stick dance.
“This event is important because it shows people that
Canada is a multicultural country and that it respects everyone,” said Jeanandan.
Marie Morrell, event organizer and founder of the Parade
of Nations for the Developmentally Challenged, started
the festival in 2007. Her non-profit organization has been
rallying the community for years in an effort to showcase
the city’s diversity.
“People need to understand we’re all immigrants,” said
Morrell. “We all learn from each other. If this festival can
set aside our differences, we can unite.”
Menakah Yoharaja, 20, born in Sri Lanka, specializes in
Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form.
“Performing is a big part of my life and expresses who I
am,” said Yoharaja. “It’s very important that Cornwall has
this festival.”
The festival also boasted a market area with artists, artisans,
and small business owners, as well as a flag parade at the
closing ceremonies.
Dec. 5-12, 2014
CANADA
COMMUNITY DIGEST
by N. Janmohamed
Several bands holding out
Ottawa to First Nations: disclose
finances or get no more funds
OTTAWA -- The federal government threatened to cut funding to First Nations governments across Canada or to sue
them if they don’t make their financial information public.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said 84 out of
582 aboriginal governments in Canada had yet to comply
with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act as of
Nov. 25.
The deadline to comply
was Wednesday, Nov. 26.
The transparency act requires all band councils
across Canada prepare
and publicly disclose “audited consolidated financial statements” as well
as salaries of chiefs and
councillors.
Bernard Valcourt
The government passed
the law in 2013 in hopes that by making band salaries and
budgets public, it would pressure First Nations governments to be more efficient with federal cash.
While the majority of bands have complied with the law,
several chiefs said no.
The grand chiefs of Treaties 4, 6, and 7 say they are organizing against the act, calling it a violation of the rights of
the First Nations communities across the country.
Chief Bear of the Ochapowace Nation, Treaty 4, said the
band won’t “surrender” but wants to have further discussions with the federal government.
Canada is “issuing preconditions of surrender including
sanctions,” Chief Bear said in a statement. “The relationship with Canada must be based on trust, goodwill and
mutual benefit.”
The government said it believed several more bands would
comply with the law by Wednesday.
The Aboriginal Affairs department wouldn’t give precise
details of what funding it would cut if bands don’t comply
with the law, except that it would be for “non-essential
services.”
A official said the department would also take band councils
to court to force them to make their financial data public.
7
8
AT THE MOVIES
COMMUNITY DIGEST
Dec. 5-12, 2014
with Nick Juma
Corner Gas: the Movie
Can you make a successful movie out of a successful television show that’s left the air? A series set in a small environment where what happens (which is never very much)
is less important than how the familiar characters interact?
The dialogue is witty and the humour is Canadian, and so
is the cinematography.
That was Corner Gas, a comedy series created by comedian
Brent Butt which ran from 2004 to 2009. Set in the small
town of Dog River, Saskatchewan, and mostly in the town’s
sole gas station/coffee shop, it showed the townspeople interacting as they dealt with “one damn thing after another”
in true small-town community spirit.
But, supposedly, you can’t make a feature film out of “one
damn thing after another.” (I don’t know… what about
Jerry Lewis’s The Bellboy? Mr. Hulot’s Holiday?) No, the
conventional wisdom states that you have to have a single
developing plot. So what have writers Brent Butt, Andrew
Carr and Andrew Wregitt come up with? A many-times-told
cliché plot about the town in danger of closing down because
of the machinations of an evil multinational corporation.
So the appeal of David Storey’s Corner Gas: the Movie must
come from seeing the old familiar characters again, acting as
they always did – or would, facing a major crisis. There’s
Brent Butt again as Brent LeRoy the gas station owner,
improving constantly as an actor since his career began.
There’s Lorne Cardinal again as Davis Quinten, a native Indian playing the town cop, not the town drunk, and playing
him as a real, flawed person, not as a Symbol of Canadian
Racial Tolerance. There’s Tara Spencer-Nairn again as
Davis’ partner Karen, and playing her as a typical smalltown police officer, not a Symbol of Canadian Feminism.
There are veteran actors Eric Peterson and Janet Wright
again as Brent’s parents Oscar and Emma, playing two senior
characters respectfully, not as stereotypical Old Geezers.
Frank Ewanuick as Hank and Nancy Robertson as Wanda
Dollard play their roles well with good comic timing, and
Gabrielle Miller as Lacey Burrows is a breath of fresh air.
Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne as Jane and Stephen
Hawking in The Theory of Everything
The Theory of Everything
There have been films about the difficulties faced by wives
of husbands with debilitating handicaps, and films about the
frustrations of wives of geniuses. The Theory of Everything
(E1 Films) is about a wife who is both: Jane Hawking,
wife of the world-famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.
Screenwriter Anthony McCarten has adopted Jane’s book,
Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, into a film that
is part biopic, part love story. Felicity Jones plays Jane, the
woman who falls in love with a brilliant young physicist
(played by Eddie Redmayne), marries him, and watches
his mind expand until it encompasses the entire universe,
while his body wilts under the ravages of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), confining him to a wheelchair and
forcing him to use an artificial voice.
Stephen’s story is a heroic tale of will overcoming adversity:
he will not let ALS stop him in his search for the central
theory that would unite matter, energy, gravity, magnetism
and the forces that hold atoms together into one Unified
Field. (Is this bringing science closer to God, or further away
from the need to believe in Him? The film takes no sides.)
Unlike previous films about Hawking and his cosmic philosophy, The Theory of Everything focuses on the loving
relationship between Stephen and Jane, and shows how her
story is heroic in its own way. This is excellently done, due
to Oscar-winner James Marsh’s polished direction and the
strength of its two leads.
The old gang back again in Corner Gas: the Movie
The first famous man to be struck down by ALS, baseball
great Lou Gehrig, called himself “the luckiest man on the face
of the earth,” and Gary Cooper repeated that line in The Pride
of the Yankees (1942). The Theory of Everything portrays the
Hawkings as the luckiest couple on the face of the universe.
Dec. 5-12, 2014
COMMUNITY DIGEST
9
COMMUNITY NOUVELLES
DIGEST COMMUNAUTAIRES
TM
SECTION DE NOUVELLES FRANÇAISES
Langue française
Un accord historique avec
les Jeux Pan Am 2015
La ministre de l’Éducation nationale, de l’Enseignement
supérieur et de la Recherche de France, Najat VallaudBelkacem, et la Procureure générale de l’Ontario et ministre
déléguée aux Affaires francophones, Madeleine Meilleur, ont
signé une lettre d’intention.
La France et l’Ontario signent huit
ententes majeures en éducation
TORONTO -- Dans un geste unique et sans précédent, la
France et l’Ontario ont signé huit ententes de coopération
en éducation, le 3 novembre, à l’école secondaire publique
De La Salle.
La ministre de l’Éducation nationale, de l’Enseignement
supérieur et de la Recherche de France, Najat VallaudBelkacem, et la Procureure générale de l’Ontario et ministre
déléguée aux Affaires francophones, Madeleine Meilleur,
ont d’abord signé une lettre d’intention, avant de passer
leurs plumes aux différents partenaires français et ontariens.
Lors de courtes allocutions, les ministres ont tenu à souligner les liens «historiques et inextricables» qui unissent
la France à l’Ontario.
TORONTO -- Le commissaire aux langues officielles du
Canada, M. Graham Fraser, le commissaire aux services en
français de l’Ontario, M. François Boileau et le directeur
général du Comité d’organisation de Toronto pour les Jeux
panaméricains et parapanaméricains de 2015, M. Saäd Rafi,
ont conclu, le 26 novembre dernier, une entente visant à
faire en sorte que la dualité linguistique du Canada et de
l’Ontario soit bien représentée et soutenue avant, pendant
et après ces jeux tant attendus.
« À l’approche du 150e anniversaire de notre pays, qui sera
célébré en 2017, les célébrations nationales importantes
comme les Jeux panaméricains et parapanaméricains doivent servir de tremplin pour faire progresser et asseoir sur
des bases encore plus solides la dualité linguistique en tant
que valeur canadienne », a affirmé le commissaire Fraser.
Le protocole d’entente reflète l’engagement qu’ont pris
les parties de veiller à ce que les services soient offerts au
public en français et en anglais avant, pendant et après les
Jeux et à ce que les besoins de la communauté francophone
de l’Ontario soient pris en compte aussi bien pendant la
planification que pendant la prestation des programmes et
des services associés aux Jeux.
Les Jeux panaméricains se tiendront du 10 au 26 juillet
2015 et les Jeux parapanaméricains, du 7 au 15 août 2015,
à Toronto.
Ces accords, négociés sur une période de plusieurs mois,
«vont permettre de développer les relations entre les institutions éducatives françaises et ontariennes, en matière
d’éducation comparée - Dieu sait qu’on en a besoin -, mais
aussi en matière de recherche-action et d’expérimentation
de terrain», a enchaîné la ministre Vallaud-Belkacem.
De nouvelles ententes ont notamment été conclues avec
le Conseil des écoles publiques de l’est de l’Ontario, le
collège La Cité, le Groupe Média TFO, le Centre francoontarien de ressources pédagogiques et le Conseil scolaire
Viamonde, au sud de la province.
De gauche à droite : Graham. Fraser, François Boileau et Saäd
Rafi, lors de la signature de l’entente signée le 26 novembre
dernier (Crédit photo : Giles Marchildon)
10
COMMUNITY DIGEST
ÉDITORIAL par Eva Caldieri
Et la francophonie
canadienne dans tout ça?
« Le Canada est extraordinairement fier de sa
culture et de son héritage francophones dynamiques. Je me
réjouis de travailler avec d’autres dirigeants au Sommet de
Dakar pour favoriser la santé et le bien-être des gens qui
vivent dans la Francophonie, ainsi que la langue que nous
partageons », telle fut la déclaration du Premier ministre
canadien, M. Stephen Harper, à l’occasion de sa participation au 15e Sommet de la Francophonie qui s’est déroulé à
Dakar, au Sénégal, du 28 au 30 novembre 2014.
Eva Caldieri
Accompagné d’une délégation de ministres canadiens, M.
Harper s’est entretenu avec l’ancien Secrétaire général de
l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF),
ainsi qu’avec le Président guinéen Alpha Condé.
À Dakar, le Premier ministre canadien a également annoncé que le Canada allait fournir un nouveau soutien à
l’immunisation par vaccin afin de sauver les vies de millions d’enfants partout dans le monde.
Les 28, 29 et 30 novembre, M. Harper s’est ainsi beaucoup
investi pour faire vibrer et rayonner la francophonie canadienne à l’échelle mondiale.
Pour la sénatrice Maria Chaput, l’inverse aurait été étonnant,
choquant même, elle qui a tenu à rappeler que l’observatoire
de la langue française recense 274 millions de francophones
dans le monde et que le Canada et francophone à 29%.
Selon Mme Chaput, la présence de M. Harper au 15ème
TM
Dec. 5-12, 2014
Sommet de la Francophonie n’est pas suffisante. « Tous
ceux qui ont fait le choix d’apprendre le français et de
vivre ne serait-ce qu’une partie de leur vie en français ne
devraient-ils pas être les bienvenus au sein de la grande
famille de la Francophonie? », a-t-elle déclaré dans un
communiqué qu’elle a adressé aux sénateurs canadiens.
Pour Mme Chaput, il est effectivement essentiel que la
langue française continue d’être utilisée à travers le monde,
mais également au Canada; au Québec, comme en dehors
de la Belle Province.
Hors, il reste encore beaucoup à accomplir au Canada
même, pour que la langue française puisse s’épanouir et
être présente dans toutes les régions et territoires du pays.
Se rendre au Sommet de la Francophonie, y représenter le
Canada et apporter son soutien aux pays francophones qui
sont dans le besoin ne devraient être considérés comme une
bonne action de la part du Canada, mais comme une évidence.
En tant que pays francophone, le Canada doit effectivement soutenir les autres pays francophones du monde, mais
également appuyer, défendre et consolider le français sur
son propre territoire.
Pour reprendre les paroles de M. Harper, il faut effectivement « favoriser la santé et le bien-être des gens qui vivent
dans la Francophonie, ainsi que dans la langue que nous
partageons ».
Fournir à tous les Canadiens des services en français, où
u’ils se trouvent, améliorerait véritablement le bien-être
des Francophones vivant au Canada.
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Dec. 5-12, 2014
TORONTO
COMMUNITY DIGEST
par S. Juma
Metrolinx présente des
excuses aux francophones
TORONTO -- Des usagers des autobus et des trains de
banlieue GO à Toronto reçoivent depuis des mois des
alertes-courriels bourrées de fautes de français.
Un exemple : « Un
rappel qui GO Bus annexes seront ajustées
demain. »
Ces messages
d’information, envoyés aux abonnés, sont traduits
de l’anglais par un
logiciel. Or, dans
nombre de cas, il y
a tellement d’erreurs
que les messages
deviennent incompréhensibles.
« Nous nous excusons Le site web GO, en mauvais français
pour la qualité des messages. J’avoue que, personnellement, c’est un peu embarrassant », a dit Philippe Bellon,
gestionnaire chez Métrolinx, exploitant de GO.
La ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, Madeleine
Meilleur, dit que « ce n’est pas acceptable du tout ».
La ministre affirme que « ça devrait être évident que les
logiciels ne traduisent pas bien le français ». Selon elle, le
contenu des messages devrait être vérifié par un traducteur.
Le recours à un traducteur est aussi l’une des pistes de solution prônées par Philippe Bellon de l’agence provinciale
Metrolinx, l’exploitant de GO Transit.
« On va tout de suite remédier à la situation et on va aussi
mettre en place des contrôles de la qualité », assure-t-il.
Metrolinx a le mandat d’offrir des services en français.
Elle dit envoyer de l’information dans les deux langues
officielles depuis au moins 2008.
De son côté, la ministre Meilleur incite les usagers qui
remarquent de telles fautes à porter plainte auprès du commissaire au service en français de l’Ontario.
L’agence Metrolinx et sa division GO Transit ont toutes
deux des sites Internet où les usagers peuvent s’informer
dans un bon français. Par ailleurs, les deux organisations
gazouillent dans la langue de Molière sur Twitter.
11
12
COMMUNITY DIGEST
ONTARIO
Dec. 5-12, 2014
par S. Juma
Un partenariat QuébecOntario est renouvelé
TORONTO -- Le 21 novembre dernier, le premier ministre
du Québec, M. Philippe Couillard et la première ministre
de l’Ontario, Mme Kathleen Wynne, ont présidé une
réunion conjointe des Conseils des ministres à Toronto et
ont convenu de mesures dans plusieurs domaines clés, dont
la signature de trois protocoles d’ententes sectorielles et
d’une déclaration sur la Francophonie.
Les provinces s’associent pour maintenir les tarifs d’électricité
abordables, lutter contre les changements climatiques et renforcer l’économie de la région du centre du Canada
Le Québec et l’Ontario ont également ensemble pressé le
gouvernement fédéral de fournir un soutien à Radio-Canada
de façon à lui permettre de remplir son mandat qui consiste
à offrir des services de radio et de télévision en français à
l’ensemble du Canada.
Afin de refléter les besoins particuliers des francophones,
les deux provinces devront travailler en étroite collaboration pour atteindre leur objectif.
À cette fin, elles vont rencontrer dans les prochains mois
des intervenants clés tels que le Commissaire aux langues
officielles et des représentants du Comité permanent du
Sénat sur les langues officielles.
De plus, le Québec et l’Ontario ont signé une déclaration
basée sur une reconnaissance commune à l’effet que la
Francophonie est un élément fondamental qui a permis au
Canada de progresser et qui est garant de son succès futur.
La déclaration réaffirme un engagement commun à protéger et à faire la promotion de la culture et du patrimoine
francophones.
Philippe Couillard et Kathleen Wynne, lors de la signature des
protocoles d’entente entre les deux provinces
Dec. 5-12, 2014
CANADA
COMMUNITY DIGEST
13
par N. Janmohamed
Des francophones reçoivent
l’Ordre du Canada
OTTAWA – Le vendredi 21 novembre dernier, le gouverneur général David Johnston, a investi 42 nouveaux
récipiendaires de l’Ordre du Canada, à Rideau Hall, lors
d’une cérémonie d’investiture.
M. Johnston, qui est chancelier et Compagnon principal
de l’Ordre, a remis cette distinction à 2 Compagnons, 18
Officiers et 22 Membres.
De nombreux francophones, dont M. Bernard Grandmaître,
figuraient parmi les récipiendaires.
« Je tiens à féliciter chaleureusement Bernard Grandmaître, qui a dévoué sa vie à la fonction publique, notamment
comme ministre délégué aux Affaires francophones où on
lui a donné le titre de « père de la Loi sur les services en
français. C’est grâce à cette loi que les francophones de
l’Ontario ont le droit d’obtenir des services gouvernementaux dans leur langue maternelle », a déclaré le commissaire
aux services en français de l’Ontario, M. François Boileau.
L’Ordre du Canada a été créé en 1967, année du centenaire
du Canada, pour reconnaître des réalisations exceptionnelles, le dévouement remarquable d’une personne envers
la communauté ou une contribution extraordinaire à la
nation.
Depuis sa création, plus de 6 000 personnes de tous les
milieux ont été investies de l’Ordre.
Pour sa part, Louis Audet, président et chef de la direction
M.Bernand Grandmaître (à gauche) aux côtés du gouverneur
général David Johnston (Source : Site internet du Gouverneur
général du Canada)
de COGECO, devient membre de l’Ordre du Canada, de
même que la célèbre linguiste et lexicographe Marie-Éva
de Villers.
Marc Dutil, président et chef de la direction du Groupe
Canam, accède aussi à cet honneur, de même que Francine
Lelièvre, directrice générale et fondatrice du musée Pointeà-Callière à Montréal.
La journaliste sportive Marie-Josée Turcotte de Radio-Canada, de même que Sylvain Lafrance qui a dirigé l’ensemble
des Services français de la Société Radio-Canada ont aussi
été nommés membres de l’Ordre du Canada.
14
COMMUNITY DIGEST
CANADA
Dec. 5-12, 2014
par N. Janmohamed
Un nouveau rapport sur
l’immigration francophone
OTTAWA – Le 18 novembre dernier, le commissaire aux
langues officielles du Canada, Graham Fraser, et le commissaire aux services en français de l’Ontario, François
Boileau, lançaient conjointement un rapport soulignant
l’importance pour les gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux, d’inclure une perspective francophone dans leurs
politiques et programmes en immigration.
Intitulé Agir maintenant pour l’avenir des communautés
francophones : Pallier le déséquilibre en immigration, le
rapport dresse un portrait de l’immigration dans les communautés francophones, fait l’état des lieux de la question et
présente une analyse nationale ainsi qu’une série de recommandations à l’intention des deux paliers de gouvernement.
« Nous espérons voir des gestes et un engagement concrets de la part des gouvernements pour faire en sorte que
l’immigration devienne pour les communautés francophones
l’outil de développement puissant qu’elle constitue déjà
pour les deux majorités linguistiques », a déclaré M. Fraser.
« Le gouvernement de l’Ontario s’est fixé une cible de 5
% en matière d’immigration francophone. Pour atteindre
cet objectif, il est impératif que les gouvernements fédéral
et provincial prennent des mesures concrètes pour accroître l’immigration francophone en Ontario afin que les
nouveaux arrivants puissent contribuer à la vitalité et au
développement social, économique et culturel de la communauté franco-ontarienne », a précisé M. Boileau.
François Boileau et Graham Fraser lors du lancement conjoint
du rapport sur l’immigration francophone en situation
minoritaire
Dec. 5-12, 2014
FRANCOPHONIE
COMMUNITY DIGEST
par S. Merali
Abdou Diouf et Michaëlle Jean, après l’annonce de la nomi­
nation de la Canadienne à la tête de l’OIF
Une Canadienne à la tête de l’OIF
DAKAR -- L’ancienne gouverneure générale du Canada,
Michaëlle Jean, a été élue nouvelle secrétaire générale de
l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), au
15e Sommet de la Francophonie, qui s’est déroulé à Dakar
du 29 au 30 novembre.
Elle succède ainsi à M. Abdou Diouf, qui occupait le poste
depuis 2003.
Le Sommet a accueilli les chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’OIF afin de définir les prochaines orientations
de la Francophonie, statuer sur l’admission de nouveaux
pays membres et élire le prochain Secrétaire général de la
Francophonie.
«Femmes et jeunes en Francophonie, vecteurs de paix,
acteurs de développement» était le thème du Sommet.
Durant le Sommet, le Premier ministre Harper a félicité
Mme Jean pour sa nomination et a remercié les membres
de la Francophonie d’avoir choisi de confier cet important
poste à une femme Canadienne, qui incarne le renouveau
dont la Francophonie du 21e siècle a besoin.
Le consensus a été long et difficile à obtenir, mais les leaders réunis à Dakar se sont finalement entendus pour porter
Michaëlle Jean à la tête de l’Organisation mondiale de la
Francophonie(OIF), dimanche.
L’ex-gouverneure générale du Canada devient ainsi la
première femme à accéder au poste de secrétaire générale
de l’OIF.
«J’entends répondre aux besoins et aux attentes des États
et gouvernements membres de l’OIF, tout en donnant une
nouvelle impulsion à la Francophonie», a déclaré à son
tour Michaëlle Jean, émue.
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COMMUNITY DIGEST
Dec. 5-12, 2014
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