Official Languages Committee on Nov. 8th, 2023

[Anita Anand]

Under the act, as President of the Treasury Board, I may take measures to ensure that officials comply with the act by means, for example, of informal monitoring, requests for information and external audits.

So there are measures to deal with that.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Ms. Anand.

I now turn the floor over to the second vice-chair of this committee, Mr. Beaulieu, for six minutes.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to both witnesses for being here.

Ms. Anand, I'd like to go back to what Mr. Godin said.

Do you acknowledge that French is in decline in Quebec? What indicators do you use to determine that?

[Anita Anand]

I'm responsible for implementing Bill C‑13. I'm also responsible for supporting both official languages across our country, not just in Quebec.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

You still aren't answering the question. Is it because you don't know?

For example, I can tell you that the percentage of Quebec residents who mainly speak French at home fell from 79% in 2016 to 77.5% in 2021. Those figures come from Statistics Canada.

Do you agree with those figures? Do you admit that there has been a decline?

[Anita Anand]

The President of the Treasury Board is responsible for supporting both official languages across the country, not just in the province of Quebec. That obviously includes emergencies, but it also means we have to continue working with everyone in the country—

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

You aren't ready to acknowledge that French is declining, but you admit that the federal government has a responsibility to protect French in Quebec. Is that correct?

Do you understand how that's a bit troubling? Since 2020, the Liberals, the former minister of Official Languages and others have repeated that their government is the first one to acknowledge the decline of French. Bill C‑13 was amended to include the fact that French must also be protected in Quebec, but it seems that many Liberals don't acknowledge the decline of French.

The former minister of Official Languages acknowledges that French has declined as a mother tongue, while the Minister of Official Languages seems to recognize the decline across all indicators.

Whether it's the first official language spoken or the language of work, all the indicators show that French has declined, not just in Quebec and Canada, but in France as well. It's a bit troubling if you don't acknowledge that.

As President of the Treasury Board, you are responsible for providing follow‑up and giving instructions. The Treasury Board plays an important role in part VII of the Official Languages Act.

What measures will be taken to protect French in Quebec?

[Anita Anand]

First, I want to say that we support the Government of Quebec. Second, we have invested in Quebec to support its immigration program. It is clear—

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I am talking about the official languages programs. That is the purpose of the committee.

[Anita Anand]

Allow me to continue.

In 2021, the federal government achieved its target of 4.4% francophone immigration outside Quebec for the first time—

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I will not allow you to continue if you do not answer my question.

In your opinion, what measures in the 2023‑28 Action Plan for the Official Languages are intended to protect French in Quebec?

[Anita Anand]

For example, we have federal offices located near a school. That is one way of making it known that official language minority communities will now always be bilingual. It also means that even if the size of the official language minority community is declining in proportion to the linguistic majority in its province or territory, federal offices will continue to be bilingual. There are proposals in the act to make sure there are supports. If there is a situation—

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

For example, in the Action Plan for the Official Languages, it being part of your mandate to coordinate the implementation of that act and make recommendations in that regard, funding of new projects valued up to $137.5 million was announced.

What proportion of that funding do you think will be used to support French?

[Anita Anand]

This is an area handled by my colleague Randy Boissonnault, the minister, and I believe he has already appeared before this committee to answer these questions.

For myself, I am President of the Treasury Board and I am responsible for public services, the public service and infrastructure throughout Canada.

I can answer questions on that subject.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

In your meetings with members of the Senate or the media, you have said that you will work on preparing regulations for part VII of the Official Languages Act, but only in 2025‑26.

For 53 years, official languages funding in Quebec has essentially been used to support English, and that is one of the major causes of the decline in Quebec.

Will there be changes in this regard?

[Anita Anand]

I would like to clarify something concerning the timetable you referred to. There are two items to take into account: the framework and the regulations.

The framework will be delivered within the next six to nine months. The regulations will be delivered in two or three years. So—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Ms. Anand, I am unfortunately obliged to interrupt you because Mr. Beaulieu's turn has already lasted more than six minutes.

For fairness' sake, I have to be the time watchdog.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

Ms. Anand, you will be able to finish what you were saying if someone else asks you questions on the same subject.

I will now turn the floor over to the member from Manitoba, Ms. Ashton.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you.

I would also like to welcome the minister.

First, we know that Treasury Board now has new official languages obligations. In that regard, have you had an opportunity yet to meet with representatives of official language minority communities?

More specifically, have you met with representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA, and the Quebec Community Groups Network, or QCGN?

[Anita Anand]

My team and I speak with many people across the country and I am going to meet with other leaders and other organizations in Canada.

I take my responsibilities in relation to Bill C‑13 very seriously.

I have a great affinity for French and the two official languages, especially in the province where I was born, so I will definitely also be meeting with Acadians.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

To be more specific, the FCFA is the main organization that represents francophones outside Quebec. It did a lot of work on the modernization of the Official Languages Act and it is in the best position to guide you in the work you will have to do in connection with Bill C‑13.

When do you plan to meet with the FCFA and the QCGN?

[Carsten Quell, Executive Director, Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Thank you for your question.

We are in regular contact with representatives of the official language minority communities. For example, two weeks ago, we met with the FCFA to—

Pardon me?

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

My question was actually about when you plan to have an official meeting with the leaders of the FCFA.

Have you made a plan to meet with them as soon as possible?

[Anita Anand]

Yes, it will be as soon as possible. I know my office is in contact with that organization. We are trying to organize a meeting as soon as possible.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you.

I think it is a bit disappointing that you have not met with those organizations officially, since they are the ones that will be able to guide you on the ground for the next steps.

In addition, the francophone community organizations want the time for making regulations under the new Official Languages Act to be 18 months or less.

When will the regulations provided for in Bill C‑13 be created? I am thinking, in particular, of the ones associated with part VII of the Official Languages Act that deal with positive measures for supporting the development of the French and English linguistic minority communities.

[Anita Anand]

I would like to explain, if I may, because I have not had an opportunity to complete my thoughts.

We have to follow a process for creating regulations. First, we have to hold consultations with the stakeholders; second, there is a process to follow in the Senate and the House of Commons. Making sure that we can move bills through the Senate and Parliament as soon as possible is not an easy matter.

We have to follow this process and we have to take the time to be sure we are going to have the necessary regulations to support the new Official Languages Act. That is what I and my team are going to do.