Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This discussion started because some committee members weren't sure who had this responsibility. Mr. Godin therefore suggested that we invite the minister.
Now we're talking about witnesses, and I'd like to know whether we have to hear more and, if so, why. I would like to move that we invite
the Public Service Agency of Canada. We had them here.
The Canada Public Service Agency is responsible for the general management and review of official languages for all the departments.
So they actually have very specific official language responsibilities, particularly when it comes to the implementation of official languages within the departments, within the public service. I have a couple of concerns. The first is that if the minister comes, my colleagues may ask many questions about the official languages plan, what's coming and what are the priorities. Of course, she won't be able to comment on that. In our Speech from the Throne we have reiterated
our commitment to the action plan. However, the minister won't be able to go into details. That's why Bernard Lord conducted those consultations across the country and why we decided to conduct our own on the priorities, successes and challenges involved in implementating the last version of the action plan, which is currently being prepared.
My concern is that if we have the minister come, she will not be able to comment on the specifics of le renouvellement du plan d'action. I actually think the Public Service Agency of Canada is the one responsible, for example, for issuing directives that give effect to parts IV, V, and VI of the Official Languages Act. They are responsible for recommending regulations.
So in terms of the hands-on portion, we spoke about asking to see if we could see an organizational chart, and I think there's value in the research analyst putting together an organization chart to basically show the key players, where they fit into the implementation of the Official Languages Act within the government, and then we can have a discussion about the roles and responsibilities to make sure we invite the appropriate people. I don't think any of us wants to lose a meeting by inviting someone who will not necessarily be able to answer our questions in the detail that we will be asking.
For example, as I said, the Public Service Agency of Canada has a lot of direct hands-on responsibilities with respect to the implementation of official languages. By having them come, coupled with having the researcher put together a chart that we can look at to see who the key players are, what their roles and responsibilities are...if we still have misunderstandings, if we still have questions about who is responsible for implementing what, then that will allow us to be able to focus our questions on the appropriate person.
Mr. Chair, that's what I would like to recommend. It's part of debating Monsieur Godin's motion, but I would like to discuss this, having this agency come in, because I think they would offer valuable information.
Let me just confirm this. Was the Public Service Agency here before?