Official Languages Committee on Feb. 5th, 2008

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes, this comes from the notes prepared by—

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Committee Researcher]

That is according to the performance reports and the Reports on Plans and Priorities for 2006-2007 up to 2008-2009.

[Karen Ellis]

That is for the department as a whole, not for official languages. You are not talking about—

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré]

No, it is for the agency as a whole, not only for official languages.

[Karen Ellis]

I see. I cannot make any specific comments on the budget today, as I just started at the agency in the fall. I can, however, discuss funding for the action plan.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I was wondering whether the budget cut would directly impact—

[Karen Ellis]

Yes, I think it will have an effect. The action plan allowed us to invest in official languages. We received $2.6 million in additional funding for official languages under the action plan. That really strengthened our capacity, allowing us to do everything that I told you about: new policies; new tools; and so forth. The action plan provided for investment. The Action Plan for Official Languages was good news for us.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Of that I have no doubt.

Ms. Duchesne, the branch responsible for official languages in your department has several responsibilities, including the promotion of access to justice in both official languages. Is that correct?

[Andrée Duchesne]

In our department, a number of different branches share responsibility for official languages. My branch is responsible for access to justice in both official languages, as I said earlier. We are responsible for all issues relating to parts IV, V and VI of the act.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Given that we're discussing access to justice in both official languages, would you be able to discuss the impact of the abolition of the Court Challenges Program? Is that something that you would be comfortable discussing?

[Andrée Duchesne]

No, I am unable to comment as the matter is currently before the courts.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Did the government consult with you or your group before abolishing the program?

[Andrée Duchesne]

No.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I see.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much.

We are now going to move on to Mr. Richard Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning to all of our witnesses. Seven minutes goes by quickly but I will try to broach as many issues as possible while still leaving you enough time to answer.

Given that one of the agency's responsibilities is to try to recruit young bilingual employees for the public service, are you in a position to recommend to the powers that be that candidates for designated bilingual positions ought to be already bilingual?

[Karen Ellis]

I do not make such recommendations on an official basis. Your question is an important one, and I believe it comprises two elements. We have recruitment plans targeting young people and external candidates. Before beginning the staffing process, it has to be determined whether the position is bilingual. In order to do so, the manager responsible for the position must answer a host of questions. If it is a designated bilingual position, it must be clearly indicated in the advertising process that bilingualism is one of the job requirements. With regard to positions that target those who are already bilingual, the approach favoured will depend on the staffing process used by the department in question.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Okay, thank you. I understand what you are saying.

In his last report, the Commissioner of Official Languages noted that some 800 so-called bilingual positions were held by unilingual employees. It goes without saying that the majority of these unilingual employees were English speakers.

While it might not be directly related to your area of responsibility, I would nonetheless like to point out that only 47% of the designated bilingual positions in the Canadian Forces are held by bilingual employees. There is a problem and it needs to be addressed.

You spoke about employee training. Our committee is obviously interested in language issues relating to training. Are you responsible for ensuring that employees can receive training in the language of their choice during the course of their working day?

[Karen Ellis]

I am glad that you raised this question, as it will give me the opportunity to clarify the role of our agency, as well as that of the various departments and institutions. As I explained earlier, the new human resources management framework makes it clear that each department and its managers are responsible for official languages. It is a matter of leadership.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

It falls under departmental responsibility.

[Karen Ellis]

Yes, it is the departments that decide.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

I am going to return to a point I made at the last meeting; I am bringing it up again because it really does bother me. Allow me to read an excerpt from an article that was published in Le Devoir newspaper on January 28:

In her report, Ms. Fraser made particular mention of the case of someone in the commissioner's office who met the language requirements of her position but who was nonetheless sent to France to take training in French for one month, in July 2006. Ruth McEwan, the executive director of Corporate Services, paid her stay herself and her plane ticket to Bordeaux, but taxpayers picked up the tab for her tuition ($757.61) and for her return flight ($2,358.63).

Was your agency involved in that decision? Perhaps I should put the question to our witnesses from the Canada School of Public Service. I do not know what to make of this. One thing is certain, however, and that is that in this country we know as Canada, there are areas where people speak French. I can mention Quebec, Acadia, Franco-Ontarian and Franco-Albertan regions, etc. And yet we send people to France. That alone makes me ask some serious questions. How could this have been allowed? Is your agency involved in such decisions or is each department allowed to determine who is entitled to training and where they ought to be trained, be it in Haiti, Liechtenstein or France? I just do not get it.

[Karen Ellis]

The various departments are accountable for their decisions and will explain them.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

But as an agency of the Public Service Commission of Canada, do you not have oversight powers with regard to employee training, and particularly over where this training is undertaken?

[Karen Ellis]

It is incumbent on each department to decide how to train its staff.