Government Operations Committee on Nov. 21st, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you very much.

Mrs. Vignola, you indicated that you wanted a few more minutes. Is that correct?

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

May I? Maybe two....

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Sure.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Ms. Blaney.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Quell, in offices with a francophone status, is it forbidden to respond in English to anglophone users?

[Carsten Quell]

The linguistic status of the offices is determined according to the goal of serving the public in one language, the other language or both languages. In an office that provides service in only one language, clients cannot expect to be served in the other language. I can't comment on specific hypothetical cases where another language may be used.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Is it legally prohibited to respond in English to anglophones in an office with a francophone status?

[Carsten Quell]

I'm not aware of such a provision, so I would have to check.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Ms. Boily, are you aware of that?

[Sarah Boily]

I'm not aware of it either, but I don't believe that's the case.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Montreal has official francophone status. In fact, it is the only officially francophone metropolis in America, not only in North America, but in America as a whole. That's extraordinarily unique. It's exceptional. And yet people can work there and be served in both French and English. That's clear. In Canada Post's francophone offices, it is also quite likely that people can be served in both French and English, because that's the way we are. It's simple. Quebeckers are like that by nature.

I understand all the regulations. However, I just want us to perform the intellectual exercise of understanding that, in Quebec, even if the status is francophone—and it's very important that it be so—services in English will be available for those who request them, because we have that respect.

So why change the linguistic status of these offices without taking into account Quebec's official status and the difference in the approach to official languages in Quebec?

[Carsten Quell]

I think that, in Canada, we are lucky to have services to the public that are provided politely and with a care for clients. That said, a person who requires service at a post office should be assured that they can be served there in the language or languages corresponding to that office's linguistic status.

If I wanted to use English at a post office, I could go to an office that is designated as French, but I couldn't be assured that I would be served there in English. However, if I went to an office with bilingual status, I would have the right, as a client, to be served there in English. It's that clarity that the linguistic designation is trying to provide.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you for demonstrating that Quebec's uniqueness and its cultural differences are not understood in Canada. I'm so sorry, but that's my understanding.

Thank you and have a good day.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mrs. Vignola.

Witnesses, thank you for being with us today. You are dismissed.

Colleagues, quickly, on Tuesday 26, we're going to be hearing from the Office of Supplier Integrity and Compliance. In the second hour, we're going to finish off, hopefully, the Canada Post study, which is rather timely. On Thursday, we'll have Liberal, Bloc and NDP witnesses for indigenous procurement. On December 3—thank you, Mr. Jowhari—we have the Treasury Board minister with us, and then we're working on PSPC. There's also timing regarding the estimates. We're trying to wrap those in. Once we hear back, we will advise everyone.

Thank you, everyone, for your patience and flexibility in allowing a bit of extra time for others, and for accommodating them. It is appreciated.

If you have anything, quickly—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

On the ministers, there are a couple of ministers we asked for in relation to indigenous procurement. Are they blowing us off so far?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We have not heard back further from them, but I will follow up and advise at the next meeting. We had Minister Hajdu.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Minister Duclos was on it, but he'll be here for the estimates. I'll be blunt. I doubt we'll have him separately, but we will follow up and let you know at the next meeting.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

We'd also be open to having him do two hours on the same day, with one on each topic.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We will make that information available to him. We will do our best.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Minister Anandasangaree is still....

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We'll update you at our next meeting.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks very much.

We are adjourned.