Evidence of meeting #75 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was anand.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board
We're working toward implementing the new act following from Bill C‑13, of course.
The regulations and framework are part of the new act. So that means we'll be implementing them at the same time as Bill C‑13.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
November 8th, 2023 / 4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
A point of order, Mr. Chair.
You've exceeded your six minutes of speaking time.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Joël Godin
Mr. Serré, the clerk's clock isn't telling me I've exceeded my six minutes.
Thank you. I'll continue.
Ms. Anand, the government has to adopt and implement three orders for the act to be applicable. There are the powers of the commissioner, immigration powers and powers regarding official languages. The minister told us he didn't know when that would be done. Who will make the decision to table those orders?
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
You're well beyond your six minutes.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Joël Godin
Mr. Serré, I am chairing the meeting, and I have a clock.
The six minutes haven't elapsed because I was interrupted during my remarks.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
A point of order, Mr. Chair.
You had 20 seconds left moments ago, and you took more time to ask your question.
I'm sorry, but we gave you our unanimous consent to ask questions for six minutes, and you've done that.
I'd like us to move on to the second speaker, please.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I'd like to check the chair's speaking time, considering that he was interrupted by points of order.
Madam Clerk, would you please tell us where the chair's speaking time stands?
4:45 p.m.
The Clerk
My clock says 5 minutes and 57 seconds.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
His six minutes hadn't elapsed.
Mr. Chair, you have three seconds left.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Joël Godin
Minister, I'm going to reword the last part of my question because I was interrupted.
When will the government table the orders and vote on them so that the act can be implemented in its entirety?
4:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board
Most of the provisions of the modernized Official Languages Act came into force when it received royal assent. We're continuing to implement it, along with part VII of the act.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Joël Godin
Minister, I must interrupt you because my speaking time is up. You will have a chance to complete your answer during another intervention should you wish to do so.
Mr. Samson, you have the floor for six minutes.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, Minister. I'm very pleased that you're here and that you come from the cradle of Acadie, in Nova Scotia, as I do.
I have to say I very much enjoyed your opening remarks. You said that people could communicate with you in the language of their choice. I've always spoken to you in French and you have always answered me in French since you were elected. I really thank you for that.
You said something earlier, and I'd like to know whether I heard right. Did you ask your deputy ministers to learn French? Were those requirements already established before you arrived?
4:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board
It's in the act, of course. I'll explain the situation and the provisions of the act to you.
First, every deputy minister has a responsibility to ensure compliance with Treasury Board directives. I also understand that everyone has to comply with those directives. Every department must comply with the act, and every deputy minister must ensure that's the case. So there's a leadership role to play with regard to official languages, and for French, of course. Ninety-six per cent of positions are now bilingual.
That is to say, 96% of bilingual positions are staffed by people who have met the requirements for bilingualism.
The work is ongoing. We have to continue supporting both official languages in our public service and among officials, and we now know we have an act with which to do it.
I also understand that this committee has studied and supported Bill C‑13.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
That's very good, Minister.
As you know, I love the fact that the Treasury Board is responsible for monitoring the act. The Treasury Board has the expertise to monitor legislation and so on.
One part of that monitoring function is evaluating various departments.
In your role as President of the Treasury Board, how will you now be able to determine whether all departments are following and complying with the Official Languages Act?
I asked the same question about six or seven years ago.
The example I'm going to cite is related to a report that the departments prepare every year and that is submitted to you every three years. In the past, members have been very disappointed because it's a kind of self-evaluation of each of the departments.
How can we ensure that the work actually gets done and isn't just reported as such in the departments' self-evaluations?
4:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board
First of all, we prepare an annual report in which we may outline progress made and what has to be done to continue improving the situation and increasing the offer of services in both official languages.
Second, there's an infrastructure framework that's the responsibility of the office of Mr. Quell, who is here, at the Treasury Board Secretariat. It's the Official Languages Centre of Excellence Initiative.
And then there's a Commissioner of Official Languages, who monitors the situation and continues to support official languages. The commissioner may take measures if the Official Languages Act is not being complied with.
I met with the commissioner, and he told me that he takes the new Official Languages Act very seriously. We will be working together to ensure that we have a workplace where all employees can work in the official language of their choice.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you, Ms. Anand.
How much time do I have left, Mr. Chair?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you very much, Minister.
RCMP representatives appeared before our committee last week. As you are probably aware, some designated bilingual positions weren't staffed with bilingual personnel.
I suggested to one of the representatives that they apply an official languages strategy, and he told me he intended to do so.
The RCMP representative said that there were two aspects that had to be reconciled: bilingualism and public safety.
If, for security reasons, a position must be staffed with a person who isn't bilingual, shouldn't that position be a term position until that person has taken courses and can manage in French or until a person who meets the bilingualism requirements can be found?
I'd like to know what you think about that.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Joël Godin
Mr. Samson, your time is up.
However, I will let Ms. Anand answer briefly.