Evidence of meeting #6 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was quebec.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Geneviève Boudreau  Director, Language Rights Support Program (LRSP)
Noël Badiou  Assistant Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Human Rights, Laurentian University, As an Individual
Faisal Bhabha  Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual
Pierre Foucher  Analyst and Professor, Language Rights Support Program (LRSP)
Marlene Jennings  Quebec Community Groups Network
Sylviane Lanthier  President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Sylvia Martin-Laforge  Director General, Quebec Community Groups Network
Audrey LaBrie  Vice-President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

10:45 a.m.

An hon. member

It is 10:45.

10:45 a.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Sylviane Lanthier

I believe our vice-president would like to speak.

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather

Did you want to say something, Ms. LaBrie?

10:45 a.m.

Audrey LaBrie Vice-President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

I would like to expand on what Ms. Lanthier said about provincial French-language services laws.

There are still provinces that do not offer such services or even have policies on French-language services. I am a Franco-Albertan. In Alberta, federal offices are the only places where I can expect to receive services in French. Moreover, pursuant to the Official Languages Act, the French-language services are not necessarily equivalent to those offered to the majority. To add to what Ms. Lanthier said, we feel a strong need for the federal government to exercise leadership on linguistic duality since our services are eroding and since, even in provinces with French-language services legislation, services are entirely inadequate. They need to be dramatically improved in order to be equal to those offered to the majority.

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather

Thank you.

I'd like to thank the panel for excellent testimony.

It was a great pleasure to have you with us here today.

We'll take all of your recommendations under advisement.

Can I have a motion to adjourn? It's moved by Mr. Fraser.

Everybody agreed?

The meeting is adjourned. Have a great day, everyone.