Good morning, Mr. Chair and committee members.
Thank you for inviting me today to take part in this study on the situation of francophone and indigenous members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
My name is Becky MacIsaac. I'm an anglophone. I've taken language training with the forces. I'll do my best to speak in French today. I may ask you to repeat certain questions if necessary.
I'm a Métis woman who has served for 24 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. I've also dedicated a significant part of my career to learning French. I've held various positions in administration, recruitment and financial management. I'm currently the chief warrant officer in financial services as well as the chief warrant officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force's financial services administrators occupation group.
I grew up in a military family and community in the Prairies. My father was originally from Newfoundland. My mother is a Métis woman from Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta.
Since my mother was taken away from her family at the age of three, I didn't grow up with any knowledge of my Métis culture. Only later did my mother's research enable me to reconnect with my family and my history. My Métis identity grew stronger over time. I was proud to become a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. This marked the beginning of my own journey of cultural reconnection.
I joined the forces in 2002, influenced by my family background. I wanted to provide stability for my daughter, achieve my career goals and serve my country. After witnessing the deployment challenges in the 1990s, I was motivated to improve the quality of life of military members and their families.
From the start of my career, I've understood the importance of French in the forces. At first, it was difficult. I didn't understand much. However, I persevered. A key moment came when a supervisor clearly told me that I needed to improve my French. I took this advice seriously by pursuing full‑time training. I was then posted to Quebec for five years.
This immersion, both at work and in my personal life, was crucial. I learned to work in both languages, to adapt to the language preferences of my colleagues and to manage in a bilingual environment. Even when the going got tough, especially in training or in the field, I persevered by adapting and finding solutions, including in the career courses that I took in my second language and as an instructor for francophone administrators.
In my field, bilingualism is essential, especially for promotions. However, access to language training remains limited. I've been lucky enough to benefit from certain opportunities, such as a posting in Quebec. That isn't the case for everyone.
In general, I've had no trouble obtaining services in both languages. In Quebec, I often chose French, which gave me the opportunity to improve my skills. At work, I regularly used both languages depending on the situation.
In multinational environments abroad, the reality is different. The services are often provided in multiple languages, but English becomes the common language. I believe that what matters most in these situations is the competence and professionalism of the people speaking and the ability to properly convey key information.
In terms of retention, I've exceeded my career goals to date. As a single mother, I've been able to give my daughter a stable and rewarding life. My career has given me the opportunity to grow, learn a second language, complete a bachelor's degree in Canadian studies and serve in Canada and abroad.
As I approach 25 years of service, I'm thinking carefully about where to go from here. The values of respect and diversity, as well as safety and inclusion, remain important to me.
I'm ready to answer your questions. I'll do my best to answer them in French.