Evidence of meeting #39 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bilingual.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The question I'm asking you is this:
Are there openings for bilingual individuals? There are people who would be willing to move. I'm sure that there are people living in Ottawa or Vanier who could apply for a job and move to Toronto, if the position of member is attractive.
Are there job offers in Toronto, in that division, for bilingual people?
9:40 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
In 2006, in Toronto, only 10 people asked that the Immigration Appeal Division hear their case in French; in 2007, only 13; in 2008, there were 17, and in 2009, 17. There have been 15 so far this year.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
9:40 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
No, they're for the Immigration Appeal Division.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
9:40 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
In the Immigration Section, there are three bilingual individuals, and they are public servants. There are bilingual employees who are already part of the public service.
Don't forget that, right now, the people in the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Protection Division are from outside the public service, whereas the people in the Immigration Division are career public servants.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I want to go back to the Immigration Appeal Division, because when you answered me, you said that there had been only 10 cases in French, but that wasn't actually my question.
When a position is posted, is it advertised as a bilingual position or not?
9:40 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
In the case of the Immigration Division, it is, because these people are public servants. In the case of the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Protection Division, it is not, because these people are appointed by order in council. There is no way of designating positions as bilingual or not. It isn't possible in the case of individuals appointed by order in council.
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
The Governor in Council makes the appointments and decides who to appoint.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
So, the Governor in Council doesn't take into consideration the appointment of bilingual individuals in Toronto.
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
They take it into consideration…
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
They take it into consideration, but they don't appoint a single one.
Have they appointed any there or not?
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Actually, there aren't any there, no.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
But the demand is very low.
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
The demand is very low. So, it isn't necessary to have a bilingual person in Toronto because we can provide the service using bilingual individuals appointed to Montreal or elsewhere, and they can come to Toronto when hearings are held. There are employees who can do that.
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
So far, in Toronto this year, there have been 15 requests for appeals in French.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Do these people have to wait longer than others, because you're bringing someone in from elsewhere?
9:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Not right now, because we are able to stay up to date. But, we haven't been in the past because of the shortage…
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I think it might be time for the Commissioner of Official Languages to investigate the board.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
