Official Languages Committee on Nov. 8th, 2023

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

Are you aware that some organizations are concerned about the timetable for implementing the act?

At the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, you talked about a timetable of three years and maybe more. That is not acceptable for the official language minority communities. They want the work to be done within 18 months or in less than 18 months.

[Anita Anand]

I did not say that it will be in three years or more. I said it would take two to three years, and it will be necessary to meet with the stakeholders and organizations you named. We will then have to follow the process in the Senate and House of Commons.

I would like to point out that there have to be the necessary consultations. We have to hear the opinions of the groups, the organizations you named.

That step is crucial before drafting and finalizing the regulations.

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

I think we are all in agreement on that.

I named only two main organizations, but I want to point out, Minister, that Bill C‑13, the modernization of the Official Languages Act, is signature legislation. It is an historic bill, promised by your government.

However, your two‑ to three‑year timetable is considered by those organizations to be unacceptable. That is why we are asking that the deadline be brought forward.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

You have 15 seconds left.

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

Can the minister confirm that the responsibilities she is given in the new Official Languages Act relate to the entire act, and particularly part VII?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Please give a brief answer, Ms. Anand or Mr. Quell.

[Carsten Quell]

We have a responsibility for coordination under part VII.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Mr. Quell.

We will now give the floor to Ms. Goodridge for five minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Anand, for being here today at our committee.

After eight long years of absolutely wasteful spending and, in fact, the doubling of spending on outside consultants, what we have been seeing is the government continuing to spend more and more money on this. In fact, someone in the government thought it was a good idea to spend $669,000 and change on a contract to give advice on how to save money on consultants.

Do you think that's a wise use of taxpayer dollars?

[Anita Anand]

I was not the minister at that time. I am here to discuss the issue of the two official languages and my responsibilities in that regard.

If you have a question on that subject, I will answer it.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I ask this because it's clearly pertinent. One thing that we have been seeing—and that has been brought up by a number of different stakeholders on Bill C-13—was the fact that there wasn't one central person in charge. They asked to have Treasury Board be the one central person, but, effectively, accountability has been spread so that every single minister has been responsible minister. Minister Boissonnault answered that pretty clearly in our meeting last week. We just continue to see this government pushing forward and doubling down on spreading accountability so that, effectively, no one is responsible.

Who is responsible, at the end of the day, for official languages here in Canada?

[Anita Anand]

I share responsibilities with Mr. Boissonnault.

As I said before, I am responsible for the public service and public servants: for 250,000 public servants from one end of Canada to the other, and for bilingual services. That is part of parts IV, V and VII of the Official Languages Act and concerns support for official language minority communities.

As Mr. Boissonnault said when he appeared before your committee, I believe, he must continue to support organizations in official language minority communities everywhere in Canada. We therefore have—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Ms. Anand.

[Anita Anand]

—responsibilities—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Ms. Anand.

[Anita Anand]

—and we are going to work together.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

You have decided not to heed the opinion of francophone communities outside Quebec, who have very clearly stated their desire for a central agency to be created for official languages, rather than responsibility being divided between the Minister of Official Languages and yourself.

When Canadians have official languages-related problems, they do not know whom to contact. So this is still a problem and I think you need to explain why you decided not to heed what the francophone community was asking for.

[Anita Anand]

I will tell you that this committee studied and supported Bill C‑13 and all members of the House voted in favour of this bill.

I was appointed as minister at the end of July of this year. I am here to support the two official languages and I will do so every day with the team in my department.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

If you had been the minister at that time, would you have suggested changes in the responsibilities?

[Anita Anand]

We need to continue to support and implement Bill C‑13. We have to work together.

If you think it is important, we will have to work together every day.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

There are 30 seconds left.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I asked a very simple, very clear question. I'm going to ask it again in English.

If you had been the minister, would you have made it clear that there was only one person responsible for official languages in this country?

[Anita Anand]

Like this committee, I think the Canadian public is very happy with this bill and I am going to continue implementing it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

You have 10 seconds left.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Since the minister refuses to give me an answer, I will give my speaking time to someone else.