Bill C-13

An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada's Official Languages

An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts

Part 1 amends the Official Languages Act to, among other things,
(a) specify that all legal obligations related to the official languages apply at all times, including during emergencies;
(b) codify certain interpretative principles regarding language rights;
(c) provide that section 16 of that Act applies to the Supreme Court of Canada;
(d) provide that a final decision, order or judgment of a federal court that has precedential value is to be made available simultaneously in both official languages;
(e) provide for Government of Canada commitments to
(i) protect and promote French,
(ii) estimate the number of children whose parents are rights holders under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ,
(iii) advance formal, non-formal and informal opportunities for members of English and French linguistic minority communities to pursue quality learning in their own language throughout their lives, including from early childhood to post-secondary education, and
(iv) advance the use of English and French in the conduct of Canada’s external affairs;
(f) clarify the nature of the duty of federal institutions to take positive measures to implement certain Government of Canada commitments and the manner in which the duty is to be carried out;
(g) provide for certain positive measures that federal institutions may take to implement certain Government of Canada commitments, including measures to
(i) promote and support the learning of English and French in Canada, and
(ii) support sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities and protect and promote the presence of strong institutions serving those communities;
(h) provide for certain measures that the Minister of Canadian Heritage may take to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society;
(i) provide that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to adopt a policy on francophone immigration and that the policy is to include, among other things, objectives, targets and indicators;
(j) provide that the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of cooperating with provincial and territorial governments;
(k) provide that the Treasury Board is required to establish policies to give effect to certain parts of that Act, monitor and audit federal institutions for their compliance with policies, directives and regulations relating to the official languages, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and programs of federal institutions relating to the official languages and provide certain information to the public and to employees of federal institutions;
(l) enable the Commissioner of Official Languages to enter into compliance agreements and, in certain cases, to make orders; and
(m) enable the Commissioner of Official Languages to impose administrative monetary penalties on certain entities for non-compliance with certain provisions of Part IV of that Act.
It also makes a related amendment to the Department of Canadian Heritage Act .
Part 2 enacts the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act , which, among other things, provides for rights and duties respecting the use of French as a language of service and a language of work in relation to federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and then, at a later date, in regions with a strong francophone presence. That Act also allows employees of federally regulated private businesses to make a complaint to the Commissioner of Official Languages with respect to rights and duties in relation to language of work and allows the Commissioner to refer the complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board in certain circumstances. It also provides that the Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for promoting those rights. Finally, Part 2 makes related amendments to the Canada Labour Code .

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'm not talking about you, my friend, but I do know that haircuts have changed in the past eight years.

This is the first time I’m appearing as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.

However, you have known me for a long time as a result of the positions I have held here on Parliament Hill, particularly as parliamentary secretary to Ms. Joly. You know that the situation of our official language minority communities is important to me.

I understand all the great work you've done to make the lives of francophones across the west and anglophones in Quebec better. I can tell you that I've had the opportunity to highlight this committee's excellent work already.

I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering and approving Bill C‑13. It took 50 years to modernize the Official Languages Act. I tip my hat and congratulate every one of you.

I have to say that the coming into force of the Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages on June 20 last was a major step forward. Modernization of the Official Languages Act addresses concerns and realities that I regularly see at home in Edmonton. My membership in an official language minority community is a part of who I am. I sincerely believe that what is happening in Alberta's francophone community—our challenges, our successes and the defence of our rights—can help further the entire Canadian francophonie and the promotion of official languages across the country.

Implementing the modernized act will allow us to support the French language across Canada, including Quebec, and defend official language minority communities.

As you already know the modernized act inside out, I'm going to highlight just a few aspects that I feel are particularly important.

First of all, support for education from early childhood to the post-secondary level and beyond—

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

Yes, that's right. Is it realistic? Yes? Okay.

I think it's important to hear from the person who is on the ground and the government representative who has the power to provide direction.

As I often say, we would have liked the Treasury Board to be the central agency, but that unfortunately wasn't part of Bill C‑13.

Therefore, I move that we adopt an amendment to replace “October 18” with “November 8” and add “, and invite the Minister of Public Safety” after “Mike Duheme”.

This is my proposed amendment, Mr. Chair.

Official Languages

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is strange how defending the French language in Quebec is always difficult for the Liberals.

Let us take, for example, the Minister of Immigration. Yesterday in committee, he was once again unable to acknowledge a simple fact proven by all indicators: French is declining in Quebec. He was like James Bond under torture, but refusing to cough up the goods.

Oddly enough, it reminded us of the debates on Bill C-13 regarding the official languages reform. The minister was one of the West Island Liberals who fought tooth and nail against stronger protection for the French language.

Is it a coincidence?

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

Minister, you know that there is a new section on francophone immigration in Bill C‑13, which now has the force of law.

When are you going to meet the act's immigration obligations?

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

Yes, thank you.

I'll move on to another question. You know that Bill C‑13 has been passed and we now have legislation.

In what way does the Minister of Immigration currently have a responsibility, an obligation to act, to encourage francophone immigration, among other things, today, October 4?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. The principle of bilingualism is fundamental for this government, and we modernized the Official Languages Act with the coming into force of Bill C-13 this year.

We expect the RCMP to respect this principle and to hire bilingual staff to fill bilingual positions. I know that the Minister of Public Safety will be speaking with the RCMP commissioner directly this afternoon.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues from the Bloc Québécois know very well, this year we passed Bill C‑13 to modernize the Official Languages Act, including new regulations for federally regulated companies. We will do what it takes to ensure a francophone presence from coast to coast. That is part of the regulations we will introduce. It will then be up to CN to comply with the act and the forthcoming regulations.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'm listening closely to what's happening at committee, and I fully understand the subamendment that Mr. Perkins has submitted. I would remind my colleague Mr. Généreux that there seems to be a strong emphasis on the fact that the minister wished to propose an amendment. However, as we all know, ministers do not submit amendments to committees, committee members do. A minister never presents an amendment to a committee.

Of course, as the Minister of Official Languages did for Bill C‑13, which Mr. Généreux will remember quite well…

Opposition Motion—Balanced Budget

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saluting my colleague, whom I sincerely appreciate. We have the privilege of working together on issues related to the international Francophonie. I had the opportunity to work with him on Bill C‑13.

It is a good thing that he was the Liberal representative for the study on Bill C‑13, because without him, we would have had even less to show for all our efforts. I would like to acknowledge him and thank him for the work that he did, although he could have done more.

Now, as for the situation in 2015, all I can say to my colleague from Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook is that we had a time horizon to balance the budget. We left the books in great shape, whereas this government has run up a deficit larger than the deficits of all prime ministers combined since Trudeau senior.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have the honour to inform the House that a communication has been received as follows:

Rideau Hall

Ottawa

June 19, 2023

Mr. Speaker,

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 19th day of June, 2023, at 11:47 a.m.

Yours sincerely,

Christine MacIntyre

Deputy Secretary to the Governor General

The schedule indicates the bills assented to were Bill S-246, An Act respecting Lebanese Heritage Month; Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts; Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts; and Bill C-45, An Act to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and to make a clarification relating to another Act

Official Languages

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, here is some good news: The Senate has just confirmed that Bill C‑13 has received royal assent. I am extremely proud of the work we accomplished to modernize the Official Languages Act. This legislation will better equip us to slow the decline of French and more effectively protect our official language minority communities. It will also require the adoption of an immigration policy, strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and provide official language minority communities with new tools to maintain their vitality.

Today is a good day for official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

There is very little time left to do a round with all the political parties.

As chair, I would like to ask you the following question.

Bill C‑13 will be receiving royal assent shortly. How is the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages preparing for what's to come, with this new modernized act and this new feather in the cap of the commissioner and his office?

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to come back to Air Canada.

Commissioner, do you think that the power to impose administrative monetary penalties on certain entities, as indicated in Bill C‑13, will help ensure that entities like Air Canada will provide more comprehensive French-language services?

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Commissioner, once again, thank you for your work.

What a great day for Bill C‑13! I'm convinced that young children now and in the future will be able to benefit from it for years to come. What I like most about Bill C‑13 is that we'll be able to improve the act in 10 years. That's an important key element.

Even though part of the census was dropped, the data we received last year is correct for the next decade. We can show—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Okay, thank you. You did that very well.

I certainly want to take the opportunity to thank you and your team for the work you've done and continue to do. I know your testimony on Bill C‑13 has been very helpful to us. Finally, here we are, and my colleague asked about the additional powers and tools you have. We're not going to get into that now.

As for the designation of regions, I believe that Isle Madame, a small island of 3,500 people, should be designated a francophone island, because there are 98% francophones there. I throw that in as a little joke, if you will.

There are two important things I want to discuss. As president of the Université de Moncton, you told us that you have welcomed a lot of immigrants. If I may say so, there are many francophone universities, especially outside Quebec, that recruit a lot of francophone immigrants.

Is there an action plan to integrate them? Now, with the express entry program and all the help we give to people to get their permanent residency, are we really working to keep these people in Canada?