Official Languages committee  First, you have to really understand how things are now. There are hundreds of appointments. To what extent was bilingualism a definite or important asset? What is the rate of those appointments? It would also be helpful to identify the trends in those appointments over a certain period.

Official Languages committee  Thank you.

Official Languages committee  If section 34 regarding deputy ministers and associate deputy ministers is properly implemented, the answer is yes. Yet there are many issues involving the implementation of that section of the act.

Official Languages committee  That's right.

Official Languages committee  The act does not apply to the appointment of the Governor General of Canada or the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. So the simple answer to your question is no.

Official Languages committee  As I said, it is important for all senior federal leaders to be able to communicate in Canada's two official languages and for Canadians to be heard in both official languages. The new Official Languages Act based on Bill C‑13 does not address the examples you mentioned. Two other bills, Bill S‑220 and Bill S‑229 do currently address those possibilities—

Official Languages committee  —but they have not been studied yet.

Official Languages committee  When a person is sent for language training, for various positions they have to reach a certain level and take tests to prove that they have reached a certain level in oral expression, written expression and comprehension. Are senior officials subject to the same tests? In some cases, they certainly would be.

Official Languages committee  Since Bill C‑13 was just passed last June, I could not say whether the most recent appointments are in compliance with the act. They should be in compliance. I am not aware of recent appointments though, so I cannot say whether they uphold the act or not. Some aspects of the act will come into force in June 2025, including the requirement that all public servants have the right to be supervised and to work in their preferred official language in any region designated bilingual for language of work.

Official Languages committee  I have not been given a firm date as to when the order that will bring the act into force will be issued.

Official Languages committee  Yes, I think it is an essential tool, especially since the act will apply to the transportation sector and the travelling public, areas that have been the source of many complaints received by my office for a considerable number of years.

Official Languages committee  That's a good question: Is the Minister of Official Languages or the president of the Treasury Board responsible for the order? That is not clear to me.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning, honourable members of the committee. I'd like to acknowledge that the lands on which we are gathered are part of the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people, an indigenous people of the Ottawa Valley. As you may know, in 2021-2022, following a record number of complaints filed with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, I recommended that a study be conducted on language obligations related to the staffing of senior management positions in the federal public service and Governor-in-Council appointments.

Official Languages committee  The agreement between Quebec and Canada must meet Quebec's needs.

Official Languages committee  I would venture to guess that the imposition of administrative monetary penalties is an incentive to improve compliance with the act. It's more than that. I feel that Air Canada really needs to develop a culture that values official languages, particularly French. It's an interesting tool, but I'd also like to be able to develop compliance agreements with Air Canada, to issue orders and to see if, in the end, sanctions are really necessary.