Evidence of meeting #41 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bilingual.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I wish to welcome our witnesses. Firstly, I wish to congratulate you on how quickly you made your presentations. This should be pointed out. I won't say too much, because I only have seven minutes. Time goes by quickly.
Ms. Verner, in response to a question that I asked in the House of Commons, you said that a plan had been drawn up in cooperation with the Official Languages Commissioner. After double checking these answers, it was found that there was no cooperation. The only thing that I was told—and we're going to check this on Thursday or summon the former commissioner because Mr. O'Connor had mentioned this—is that many recommendations were made, and of all of those recommendations, only three were retained.
I would like to hear your answer on this question, because there is a difference between cooperating, and simply hearing somebody else's ideas.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Thank you, Mr. Godin, for the opportunity to restate, once again, that as my colleague has ensured me, the transformation model is the result of collaboration and consultation with the Official Languages Commissioner. The transformation model was presented to Ms. Adam. I have been informed that of the twelve recommendations she made, ten were adopted in order to respect the spirit of the Official Languages Act.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I wish to thank our dear friend who once sat alongside us in this committee, Mr. Benoît Sauvageau. In a report published in May 2006 which would have been tabled by Mr. Sauvageau himself, or by the person who last held the report, the conclusion states:
Overall, we have observed that the Canadian Forces' commitment to increasing the number of bilingual CF members who meet the linguistic requirements of their position is being implemented too slowly. This appears to be the case because the CF gives priority to operational needs [...]
I will not read the entire passage, as it will take up more of my seven minutes.
Mr. O'Connor, you are practically telling us that we francophones are lucky because we make up 24% of the population, whereas 27% of the positions within the CF are held by francophones. Francophones are reputed to have better chances of being promoted within the officer ranks. If they have better chances, it is because they were forced to learn English.
What is the number of francophones who have gone through the ranks and reached the top echelons, and who do not speak a word of English? Are there any?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
What I'm saying is that a francophone has no disadvantage in the Canadian Forces. They have the same advantages as an anglophone.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Are you telling me, then, that you have a francophone who has not learned the English language and has had a promotion all the way? Are you saying that?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Yes, I'm saying that. And it's the same for an anglophone. We have English-speaking units. We have French-speaking units. We have bilingual units.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Which higher rate are you talking about?
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
As ranks go, some are higher, some are lower. Are there any francophones, not in the units, but in the senior ranks?
The situation with deputy ministers is similar: some don't speak French, but there isn't a single French-speaking deputy minister who doesn't speak English.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Yes. And what I'm saying is that today, for example, in the military about 28% of colonels and general officers are francophones.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
They speak French and English, and so do the anglophones.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
It's the same thing. To get to the very top, to get to colonel and above, you have to be qualified at a superior level.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Well, why is the official languages office saying it's not happening and we are behind? And why did Rémi Landry say we're behind by four years? Why, if it's so good? Why are you here if it's so good?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
I'm not saying it's so good. I'm saying the previous plan, where we tried to universalize everybody, to train everybody in the other language, is not too good. We have to focus on getting the people who are going to meet the public, who are going to command units, who are going to be the managers throughout the armed forces, to be bilingual.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I don't know how much time I have left. I'll give you a quick example. Recently, in September I think, we went to Romania for the Sommet de la francophonie. I flew home with the Prime Minister on a military aircraft. A film was shown. Normally, all you have to do is push a button if you want the movie to be in French or in English. But the film was only available in English.
Our francophone military personnel who have to take military aircraft when they travel abroad, to Afghanistan for example, aren't able to watch the films in French when every DVD you get at Blockbuster is in both languages. This shows a lack of respect.
Maybe you're going to tell me that I will no longer be entitled to travel on these planes.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
No. That was your experience on the plane. Let me tell you about my experience when I went to Afghanistan. I can assure you that the four officers aboard the Hercules I was travelling on addressed me in French.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The people on board my plane spoke to me in French too. But the example I gave was the onboard movie.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
I'm responding to your example and I can even tell you that one of the pilots I spoke to in English asked me to give him an opportunity to practice his French.
