Official Languages Committee on Feb. 24th, 2016

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Thank you.

When I met with community agency representatives in my region, I was told that roadmap funding hadn't gone up in 12 years. Is that true? When was the last funding increase?

[Hubert Lussier]

The increase they were referring to was the last one for community groups that we, at the heritage department, funded. I think it dates back to 2005.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

So it's been 11 years.

Is the current roadmap budget large enough to satisfy the needs and requests of agencies around the country?

[Hubert Lussier]

Given the dialogue we have with them, we are aware of the pressures community groups face, as well as the difficulties they have trying to provide certain types of services. They tell us about that.

That's also, to some extent, what gave rise to the exercise Mr. Choquette was referring to earlier. It prompted us to examine how the objectives in question could be better met, given the current level of resources and the lack of a funding increase.

With that in mind, our approach was this. The heritage department was traditionally the organization behind emerging agencies, who, a bit further on in their life cycle, would receive funding from other departments. Their focus could be health, economic development and so forth.

[Jean-Pierre Gauthier]

Or justice.

[Hubert Lussier]

With the resources at our disposal, we checked whether some of those other departments could take over, thus allowing us to do a bit more with the money we had left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Lefebvre, we'll come back to you a bit later.

Mr. Nater, you may go ahead.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A Public Service Commission representative may be better-suited to answer my question, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the bilingualism bonus in the public service.

When I worked at Treasury Board, the bonus was $800. Do you think it's time to increase the bilingualism bonus?

[Hubert Lussier]

I am going to give you somewhat of the same answer I gave Mr. Bélanger earlier. You're asking me for my opinion, and I would really be overstepping my role if I were to answer. It might be a good idea to ask that question to the President of the Treasury Board.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you.

Now, for my next question.

In 2017, the country will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation. What role will your department play to make sure events are held in both official languages?

[Jean-Pierre Gauthier]

That's a good question.

We, at the Department of Canadian Heritage, are certainly giving that question a lot of thought. It's one of our priorities. In fact, I was meeting with colleagues at the 150th anniversary secretariat and the commemoration section, who are involved in the event planning for the celebrations. We took the time to examine what we were doing and what we could do from an official languages standpoint.

Of course, we are very aware of the importance of ensuring that the celebrations take place in both official languages, insofar as is reasonable. We'll have to consider the circumstances on a case-by-case basis. We're also trying to determine just how much we can do under the official languages banner, in terms of organizing activities or integrating some of our activities into the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

I can assure you, then, that we are going to do what we can and explore whatever support we can provide to our existing clients. We are giving our colleagues at the secretariat a helping hand to make sure that, as far as the big picture goes, people are aware of the official languages dimension and that special attention is paid to it, in terms of providing services and choosing initiatives. This is especially important because the impact of those services and initiatives may be greater than it is in the official languages arena, strictly speaking. On different levels and to different degrees, then, we are going to make sure that Canadians are able to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in the language of their choice.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Has the heritage department established a committee to focus on the 150th anniversary celebrations?

[Hubert Lussier]

Yes, there is an interdepartmental committee, chaired by my deputy minister, Mr. Flack. A committee was also created at the assistant deputy minister level. The Department of Canadian Heritage coordinates the celebrations, but many other departments are involved, as well.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Your department is in charge of Canada's official languages roadmap, which represents a budget of $1.1 billion. Your department is also responsible for the application of the Official Languages Act.

Is that correct?

[Hubert Lussier]

We are responsible for coordinating part VII of the act, which focuses on federal support for official languages activities in Canadian society. The President of the Treasury Board coordinates the parts of the act related to services, government communications, and language of work.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Is the Treasury Board always responsible for the application of the Official Languages Act, aside from part VII, which falls under your mandate?

[Hubert Lussier]

The Department of Justice is also responsible for official languages as they relate to justice.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out that one of the reasons why it makes sense for us to assume the coordination of the roadmap is that it encompasses the activities of 14 different federal departments and institutions, and almost all of those activities come under part VII.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Gauthier mentioned that the $1.1-billion investment represented only a portion of the federal government's official languages activities.

Have you estimated the federal government's total financial contribution or, at least, the portion you are responsible for?

[Jean-Pierre Gauthier]

We've often looked into that, but it's a hard question to answer. Take, for example, the many contributions made to a number of programs whose first role is not to promote official languages. In the arts and culture arena, if we contribute funding to a francophone theatre group through the Canada arts presentation fund, it can have a very positive impact on minority communities but it doesn't fall under an official languages program. That's just one example of many. It's virtually impossible to account for all the one-time investments in programs of that nature, across 175 federal institutions.

“How do we define that contribution?” is another question that comes into play. Does it include translation, language training, and so forth? It becomes impossible to track.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much, Mr. Blaney.

Mr. Lefebvre, you have six minutes.

Did you want to share your time with Dan?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Yes, please.

Earlier you talked about roadmap programs that you would like to see taken over by other departments. You mentioned the Department of Justice.

Was that what happened with the court challenges program?

[Jean-Pierre Gauthier]

No, that program was designed with a human rights focus. The constitutional language rights component came later. It didn't fall under the roadmap. It was administered as a support program for remedies in order to advance the rights in question.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Where did the funding for the court challenges program come from?

[Jean-Pierre Gauthier]

It was allocated to the program, within the Department of Canadian Heritage.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Very good. Thank you.