Evidence of meeting #18 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
I would like to point out that active offer is applied in the offices or service outlets that are designed for the purposes of bilingualism. This means about 30 or 33% of the central government service outlets.
Bloc
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
Thank you, Mr. Nadeau. I am sorry, but your time is up.
Does the committee want to go to a fifth round?
Mr. Nadeau.
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
The major shortcoming pointed out by the Official Languages Commissioner was with active offer. A measure adopted by the Commissioner over the past 18 months, which we support and for which we provide some follow up, is to submit quarterly reports to agencies in order to help them improve the situation on an on-going basis. I was formerly Deputy Minister with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and in that capacity, I received my report from the Commissioner once a year. Now, these observations, or quarterly reports, help ensure that progress is made throughout the year on the part of the chief officers.
We work jointly with the departments. Through coordinators, we inform them of the tools available and of best practices. We want these services to be offered automatically and instinctively. We encourage them to opt for active offer.
It is important to point out that in the Commissioner's report, an improvement was noted in the ability to offer service. It may not be active offer as such, but the report refers to service availability and the ability to provide this service in both official languages.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.
I will now turn the floor over to Mr. Rodriguez.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Ms. d'Auray, do you meet with the minister regularly to keep him informed of this file? Does someone speak with him every day? He gave us the impression that he was extremely ill informed in this regard. I am not trying to be partisan, but I must say that we have seldom seen a minister so unable to answer questions. Does someone speak to him regularly about the coordination of official languages?
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
I started this job on March 2, 2009, and so—
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
And so, I have been meeting with the minister since I began my new job.
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes.
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes, about an entire range of subjects.
Liberal
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
Duly noted.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I am going to continue, Madam Chair.
Ms. d'Auray, you stated that you meet with the minister regularly, but that you have other duties besides those related to official languages. Do you discuss your responsibilities with regard to official languages regularly or rather infrequently?
Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
I will unfortunately have to repeat myself. I took up my new duties on March 2, 2009, and today is May 5. I think I should be given the benefit of the doubt. I can tell you that I meet with the minister regularly to address an entire range of subjects which, as you have just said, are part of my responsibilities. Perhaps you could ask me the same question again in a year.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
But perhaps the roles will have changed by then.
Mr. O'Sullivan, do you have the opportunity to meet with the minister regularly to discuss official languages, among other things?
Marc O'Sullivan Acting Senior Vice-President, Workforce Workplace Renewal Sector, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
The department and the minister communicate through the deputy ministers. We forward our information in the form of briefing notes, but I do not participate in briefing sessions directly with the minister.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I am going to ask you a final question. Do you often prepare briefing notes for the minister that deal with official languages?
Acting Senior Vice-President, Workforce Workplace Renewal Sector, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
I do this as needed. For example, I do this when the Commissioner of Official Languages tables his report or when requests for information are made.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
You are referring to occasions when documents are published, but not necessarily when there is a request. Requests are not very frequent, is that right?
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
Thank you, Mr. D'Amours.
I will now turn the floor over to Mr. Godin.
