In the public service, certain high level positions such as deputy minister positions, for example, require highly developed skills. We're not just talking about legal or medical training, but also scientific training, in certain cases. From what we've been told, many deputy ministers do not know the second language. They have come out of university, have extraordinary skills, but are incapable of expressing what they want or understanding what is going on in the other language. Is the federal government required to teach these people the basics of their second language, whatever it may be? Is that our role or yours?
On March 26th, 2009. See this statement in context.