Official Languages Committee on Feb. 7th, 2008

[Jean Vaillancourt]

I'll explain that to you simply.

The university owns a building that is financed jointly by the federal and provincial governments. That building houses a research centre which is a non-profit organization and which receives funding in cash and in kind from the federal government, the provincial government and the City of Gatineau, in addition to co-funding from the university.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I want to be sure I've clearly understood. The federal government has entered into an agreement with the Université du Québec en Outaouais. Is that correct?

[Jean Vaillancourt]

In fact, the National Research Council of Canada, a federal agency that is one of the partners, has a team that is housed in the university's building. The NRC researchers collaborate with those of the university. There they do work to develop new technologies to expedite and improve translation and develop techniques for language training and second-language training.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I'm going to ask you a brief question, but I don't know who can answer it.

This week, in the committee, we met with the representatives of the Canada School of Public Service and the Canada Public Service Agency. There seem to be a lot of titles in the federal government. I can't get over that.

The subject was language training for public servants. I'm really talking about the public service. I'm not talking about members who have another system.

I understood that a transfer was currently being made to you. We know there is a shortage of funds, but, whether you are unionized or subcontractors, there's always a shortage of money somewhere and we're the ones who will ultimately be paying. So I want to hear what you have to say about that.

Could you tell me how you work with the public service? Ms. Demers seems a bit reluctant. There seems to be a conflict between you because you aren't offering the desired services. On the other hand, they're saying that, if they offered those services, they would be better than yours.

I'd like to know what we're talking about.

[Alain Chamsi]

We work with the Canada School of Public Service. That school's functions have changed. It used to provide training, but it now subcontracts with the industry, the private language schools that we represent here.

We're sitting down at the table together to find a supply method that would work for the public service, which is represented by the school, and which would also work for the private schools, to enable them to participate and respond to this need, and also to validate the quality of services provided by the schools.

We are currently working with the Canada School of Public Service and the industry to define quality standards that public servants can rely on. So the subcontracting isn't done with just any school that hangs out a sign and claims to provide language training. That's not the goal. The goal is to have schools that provide approved language training the quality of which can be validated. That's what we're doing in the industry. We're trying to establish a partnership with the Canada School of Public Service.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Petit.

That completes our three rounds.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, we have a few minutes left.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Bélanger, if you could let me finish, please.

It will be difficult to start another round of questions since witnesses are already arriving for the next meeting at 11 o'clock.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, we have five minutes left. We could certain make good use of it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I just wanted to make a comment.

First, I would like to thank our witnesses, who have expressed the respective views of their organizations.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, I'm listening.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you. Could you check to see whether a majority of the members would like to use the next five minutes or not?

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

The Chairman doesn't have the right to make a comment at the end?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I'm asking the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Bélanger, I just have a question to put to the witnesses.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Go ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Let me finish my remarks, or we'll run out of time and I won't be able to ask my question.

I also wanted to say that I found Mr. Harvey's testimony interesting. I was also a public servant, an engineer at the institute. Ms. Demers, I may even have voted for you in a previous life.

[Michèle Demers]

I hope so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I was to be an engineer and had to meet the language requirements.

I feel there have been constructive discussions this morning. The federal public service is the biggest employer in Canada. How is it that it isn't able to tell the training institutions its needs regarding scientific, technical and language training? I think this is an option that the committee will definitely have to monitor.

With a view to promoting linguistic diversity, Mr. Peralta, you discussed an International Year of Languages in 2010, but, on page 13 of your document, you mention 2009. However, I would perhaps like to hear from Mr. Cashman or Ms. Demers on that subject. Do you think it's a good idea for Canada to have its Year of... You call it the International Year of Languages, don't you?

[Gonzola Peralta]

The Year of Languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

The Year of Languages. Do you think that's a good idea?

[Ed Cashman]

It's an excellent initiative. We should promote the use of both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Cashman, you believe that.

Ms. Demers.

[Michèle Demers]

It's a start, but that initiative has to be accompanied by much more concrete actions to promote language, rather than merely proclaim a year. That's fine, but it's not enough.