Hon. Bernadette Clement: Honourable senators, several decades ago, I was able to make a choice that would have an impact on the rest of my life: I chose to study in French at the University of Ottawa. Having grown up in Montreal and being fluent in both official languages, I was able to study law in French, which allowed me to serve vulnerable clients in both languages. All of this enabled me to put down roots in the lively town of Cornwall, cementing my identity as a bilingual legal aid lawyer and a proud Franco-Ontarian.

I rise today to speak in favour of Bill S-215, but beyond that, I want to note the importance of post-secondary education in French. Institutions in this sector have to be funded equitably, given the vital service they provide. In times of crisis, they ought to be supported by every level of government, which should collaborate to find solutions and a way forward.

I support Bill S-215 because I want generations of Canadian students to have the same opportunity that I did, to choose a top‑quality education, provided by a financially stable institution that inspires confidence, in the official language of their choice.

[English]

The linguistic history of our country is rich and complex, with more than 70 Indigenous languages spoken across Canada. There are eight Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report that address Indigenous languages. The Government of Canada must prioritize its commitment to fulfilling these promises.

Post-secondary education can play a leading role in preserving Indigenous languages, but those institutions must —

Hon. Bernadette Clement: As I grew up in Montreal and was fluent in our two official languages, I was able to study law in French, which made it possible for me to serve vulnerable clients in both languages.

This skill also allowed me to become established in the vibrant city of Cornwall, which solidified my identity as a bilingual legal aid lawyer and proud Franco-Ontarian.

I rise today to support Bill S-215 and also to highlight the importance of French-language post-secondary education. The institutions in this sector must receive equitable funding given the importance of the service they provide. In times of crisis, they must be supported by all levels of government, which must collaborate to find solutions and the way forward.

I support Bill S-215 because I want many generations of Canadian students to have the same opportunity I had, namely to be able to choose quality education in the language of their choice provided by a financially stable institution that inspires confidence.

[English]

The linguistic history of our country is rich and complex with more than 70 Indigenous languages spoken across Canada. There are eight Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that address Indigenous languages. The Government of Canada must prioritize its commitment to fulfilling these promises.

Post-secondary education can play a leading role in preserving Indigenous languages, but these institutions must be financially supported and viable. Laurentian University’s financial crisis and ensuing restructuring weakened its tricultural mandate. This has had a negative impact on Indigenous students and languages.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we must keep Canada’s linguistic commitments in mind when considering this bill. Bill S-215, An Act respecting measures in relation to the financial stability of post-secondary institutions, aims to do two things.

First, it removes publicly funded universities from the list of those companies that can make use of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, and from the list of those corporations that can make use of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Second, it puts a federal minister in charge of finding solutions. Namely, they are to consult and report back to Parliament with a proposal for federal initiatives that would reduce the risk of post-secondary institutions becoming bankrupt or insolvent. This proposal would aim to protect students, staff and faculty from the effects of bankruptcy or insolvency. It would also seek to support the communities that would be impacted by such a dire situation.

[Translation]

I congratulate my colleague, Senator Moncion, on introducing this bill. We agree that post-secondary institutions play an essential role in maintaining the economic, cultural and social health of a region. Francophone communities, and indeed, all communities, benefit from the presence of these institutions, which contribute energy, development and inspiration. A thriving university can help a community thrive, and the federal government seems to understand that. Bill C-13, which would amend the Official Languages Act, was introduced in the other place and states quite clearly that the Government of Canada:

 . . . is committed to protecting and promoting the French language, recognizing that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English;

[English]

Bill C-13 also states:

The Government of Canada is committed to advancing opportunities for members of English and French linguistic minority communities to pursue quality learning in their own language throughout their lives, including from early childhood to post-secondary education.

So this is the first question that I faced when reviewing Bill S-215: What is the federal government’s role in this provincial jurisdiction? The answer: In addition to official languages obligations, the federal government also contributes via transfer payments to the provinces.

The second question is more complicated. How could the federal government help? One Ontario college official suggested that when post-secondary institutions run into trouble, it’s up to both the province and the federal government to collaboratively find solutions.

[Translation]

Another official I spoke with, Lise Bourgeois, the innovative and dynamic president and CEO of La Cité college, explained that colleges may be less likely to experience a financial crisis because they have to comply with strict provincial requirements for financial reporting and compliance. Even though they have less independence, colleges are still agile and are essential to the development of a workforce that reflects Canada’s needs.

[English]

Yet, funding for francophone colleges and universities isn’t as secure as we need it to be. Base funding from the Official Languages in Education Program hasn’t increased in years, despite growing enrolment.

Instructing in French tends to be more expensive as there are fewer colleges in the French sector to collaborate on curriculum development and to capitalize on economies of scale. Francophone colleges also fund intense recruitment programs to compete for students who have the choice to study in either language.

[Translation]

Bill S-215 calls on the federal government to ensure the financial stability of all post-secondary institutions in Canada.

The bill is an attempt to respond not only to the recent crisis at Laurentian University, but to the very real possibility that other institutions will face a financial crisis of their own. Once again, the aim is to protect students, faculty, staff and communities.

On April 13, the Auditor General of Ontario released a preliminary perspective on Laurentian University. The province’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts has requested a special audit to determine what led the institution to resort to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, or CCAA. The report notes that Laurentian was the first public university in Canada to use a legal process designed as a last resort for private sector entities, and the impact could be significant. The report reads as follows:

The use of CCAA proceedings might make it more difficult for other universities to acquire debt, or to hire and retain faculty.

If we decide to ignore how Bill S-215 can help resolve this problem, consider the alternative. If another institution faces a crisis, it will cut programs, fewer Canadian and international students will attend, and the community will be deprived of the potential that institution brings.

[English]

I want to zero in on international students as an example.

In 2021, StatCan published a projected financial impact of the pandemic on Canadian universities. With costs rising, universities are relying more and more on tuition fees. The report says that international student fees are higher and increase at a faster rate.

COVID-19 impacted the number of international students enrolling in Canadian universities.

StatCan assessed enrolment numbers and research funding amounts and estimated the possible revenue loss for Canadian Universities in 2020–21 at anywhere between $438 million and $2.5 billion.

Let’s not forget that international students aren’t simply a source of revenue. If they choose to stay, and are able to, they contribute to the renewal and vitality of our country, of course, but they also contribute to minority language communities. We are having that conversation right now at the Official Languages Committee, especially as we study francophone immigration to these communities.

More important, we can’t rely on tuition fees alone to fund universities. They must be resilient when enrolment levels change or when there is an international crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, both those enrolled and potential students, should be able to trust the stability of these institutions. Can they currently do so? Is the status quo sustainable? Is this the best we can do?

[Translation]

The French Language Services Unit of the Ontario Ombudsman’s office investigated complaints about cuts to French programs at Laurentian University. In March, the office released its findings and recommendations. The report indicates the following.

Several of the complainants were students at the Sudbury-based university who were left with no other option but to relocate or continue their studies in English. Some, like those in the midwifery program, pointed out that the loss of their programs would also impact the Franco-Ontarian community at large — for example, no other school in the province trains midwives to provide services in French.

It is clear that stable access to post-secondary education in French deserves our immediate attention and decisive action. Bill S-215 should be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, where we will be able to study how the federal government can support universities such as Laurentian University.

As my colleague Senator Moncion stated, and I quote:

Transparency and accountability are part of the solutions that can significantly help the financial viability of post‑secondary institutions, and the federal government is fully aware of this. There is a way for the government to respect provincial jurisdictions while ensuring that its investments on behalf of the francophonie get to the right place, in accordance with its constitutional obligations.

[English]

There is a way forward, there is a role for the federal government and there are solutions to ensure that Canadian universities and colleges are sustainable. Like Senator Moncion, I have benefitted from a quality, stable education in the language of my choice — a language that has been vital to my daily life and that has supported me in some of my most vulnerable moments.

Education in French is the gateway to a life fully lived in French. It needs our care and attention, and not just on the part of francophones; la Francophonie is an asset to all Canadians, and we must all take responsibility for it to not only survive but thrive. Thank you.