Official Languages Committee on Nov. 2nd, 2006

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, Mr. Cannon, Ms. Gravitis-Beck and Mr. Pigeon.

I'm very happy to see that the Conservative government is taking measures to require ACE Aviation Holdings Inc., which has replaced Air Canada, to respect the two official languages. However, as a number of my colleagues have mentioned, many complaints have been filed against Air Canada in the past. It must be said that people don't always have the time or the opportunity to file complaints. I could have done so the few times I used Air Canada's services. Whatever the case may be, I believe we're doing a lot of talking for very little.

The point here is to maintain the obligation of our national carrier to respect official languages. But that obligation has even been reduced. Here we see that a large number of services escape the act. Mention was made, for example, of Air Canada Technical Services and Air Canada Cargo. An order in council will be necessary in order to apply the required provisions. We see that the idea once again is to reduce Francophones' rights.

I would especially like to remind the minister that, in June 2004, the Leader of the Conservative Party said, concerning the Air Canada question, that, if his party took power, he would extend the obligation to respect both official languages to all airlines. I think that's logical. Air Canada complains about being the only business that has to meet this obligation imposed by the government. The other companies are free to do what they want. However, they are all governed by a federal charter, and we know that air transportation is an essential service for the public that depends on the Canadian government. So I think that all these services should be offered equally to Francophones and Anglophones, which is not currently the case, even under the act that we will have to pass. It really constitutes a minimum.

I'd like to have your opinion on the statement by your leader. I found his position very logical.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you for your question, Mr. Carrier.

It's important that we parliamentarians file a complaint when a situation is unacceptable. You're absolutely right: some situations are such that we should bring them to the attention of authorities and sound the alert. We shouldn't trivialize these problems or forget our responsibilities on the pretext that we often have to take necessary action.

To answer your question as to how we can view the future together, particularly as regards air services provided in both languages, I will say that I think it's entirely normal that a business that, unlike Air Canada, won't be subject to the current provisions of the act should provide appropriate services so as to acquire a clientele. Otherwise it risks alienating a large number of its customers.

I know that the air carriers association is currently examining this matter. I would be entirely in favour of eventually enabling all businesses that provide services like those provided by Air Canada to offer them across Canada, regardless of destination or origin. I would even add that, from a commercial standpoint, those businesses have an interest in doing so.

Let's take the example of WestJet, which is a competitor of Air Canada. That company still doesn't have any flights to Jean-Lesage Airport in Quebec City. When you discuss this issue with the representatives or authorities of that business, they say they're ready to change their practices so they can acquire a market share. At the same time, they admit that, to serve that market, they'll have to offer services corresponding to the clientele they want to attract.

I believe these businesses acknowledge this situation. I believe they'll be able to take the necessary measures. I encourage them to do so. I'm in favour of the idea of providing these services not only to all taxpayers, but also to their entire clientele.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Thank you, minister.

Mr. Carrier, your time is up. That's too bad.

We'll now ask Mr. Godin to ask the minister the final question.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thought we were going to spend two hours with the minister, but I see that's not the case.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

I'm going to leave you in the company of specialists, Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Minister, you were talking about complaints earlier. I can tell you that we put the same question to the Air Canada people when they appeared before this committee. Out of 30 and I don't know how many million passengers, only about 109 complaints have been filed. It's true that's not a lot.

We asked who had filed those complaints. We asked how many complaints had been filed by Anglophones. The answer was “zero”. All the complainants were Francophones. The Air Canada representative even said that, when they did complain, Anglophones did so verbally and it was due to the fact that they didn't like French being spoken in the aircraft. You can read the minutes: that's what was said.

You refer to Jean-Lesage International Airport in Quebec City and to the fact that you'd like to see the clientele served in French. Once again, it must be said that the question isn't the number of people served, but the fact that Canada is officially bilingual across the country. We Francophones outside Quebec, who live in minority communities here and there, want to be served in our language when we fly. There are two official languages, and French is one of them.

When 5 or 8% percent of customers at an airport don't speak English, Air Canada, if I may say so, couldn't care less. But we don't have a choice; we can't travel from Vancouver to Ottawa in a canoe. We have to take the plane, so we shut up and get on board.

Air Canada bought Jazz. In regions like the Atlantic Region, you no longer see Air Canada. In Moncton, Jazz has taken its place. They didn't name it Air Canada, and, like everywhere in the country, it has enabled these people to reduce their official language responsibilities. In your brief, I see the following:

By the same reasoning, the Government was not prepared to fully support Recommendation 4, which requested that the new bill stipulate that Jazz, Air Canada Vacations and Aeroplan be subject to Part IV, language of service, of the Official Languages Act.

The Commissioner of Official Languages has made recommendations to that effect. Air Canada went through the back door and bought Jazz and retained Jazz's identity.

Your lawyer, Mr. Pigeon, says that we can't force these people, like in the case of Petro-Canada. I don't agree. Yes, we can. We're here to make laws and we can add provisions. The Supreme Court isn't going to tell the Parliament of Canada that it doesn't have the right to subject Air Canada and Jazz to the government's law.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Do you have a question, Mr. Godin?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I want to know why your government, which says it respects official languages, isn't prepared to subject Jazz to Part IV of the act.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

You'll have to answer very briefly, minister.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

I know my colleague, and I know he gets carried away when it comes to defending the French language. He's right to do so. We all agree.

However, colleague, I must tell you that Air Canada Jazz is already subject to Part IV. What's at issue here...

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

In that case, Mr. Chair, my question will be very clear.

In your brief, you say: “By the same reasoning, the Government was not prepared to fully support Recommendation 4 [...]”

What do you recommend excluding?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Jazz is subject to the act. In fact, we're talking about the part that concerns Air Canada Vacations and Aeroplan.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

They are completely subject to the act?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No. As Mr. Pigeon has just explained, that part isn't covered by the statutory provision under consideration, for constitutional reasons. I can give the floor back to him so that he can explain the matter to you again.

Go ahead, Mr. Pigeon.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

We're here to talk things out; I'm not asking for more.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

That's how we get to understand each other.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you very much. Even though the article in enRoute magazine was in English only, I want to go...

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No, it wasn't that. I can't wait to see the article.

[Jacques Pigeon]

Mr. Chair, subsection 10.2(1) applies to all Air Canada affiliates that come within the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada in respect of aeronautics; they are entirely subject to the act. I would perhaps add as well, to clarify one aspect of the issue raised earlier by Mr. Carrier, that, regardless of whether an order is made or not, the act will automatically apply to these affiliates from the outset. The order simply clarifies for the public which affiliates are subject to the provision. But the provision needs to cover the entire legislative field. The entire authority of the Parliament of Canada is included, to the extent that it is related to aeronautics.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

My colleague must understand that this is a distinct improvement over what previously existed. Before this, there was a void; that was worse.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Yes, the situation was worse before.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

The member from the Bloc is right in saying that it was worse. Today, we're correcting that. I hope we'll be able to rely on your support.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

We're going to study it, minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Minister, I believe the parliamentary secretary has a brief question to ask you, if you have a few minutes.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Minister, thank you for coming and telling us about this bill. We are very proud of it. I also hope we'll have the support of our colleagues.

Minister, under the Official Languages Act, Air Canada has obligations to customers, but also to its employees. Could you explain to the committee the bill's impact on the obligations of Air Canada and its affiliates toward their employees?