Official Languages Committee on May 5th, 2009

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

When I go to anglophone universities throughout the country, I don't get the impression that this is at all the focus. When you go on campus, you don't get the sense that the general student population is at all aware that if they have post-university aspirations to join the public service, they really ought to learn the other official language. You don't get that impression at all, whereas for other careers after university, whether they be in high tech, research, finance, or the like, students have a fairly clear idea of what they need to do in order to be competitive in the application process, and what they need to do to make sure they're equipped to join those workforces. But in many university campuses throughout the country I don't get the impression that the public service is very visible in its recruitment efforts, or that students have any idea that while this is a potential career path, if they want to choose it, they need to know the other official language.

[Michelle d'Auray]

You are correct in pointing that out.

Last year we participated, as the minister indicated, in four career fairs, because we had not had a concerted presence, an organized presence. It made a huge difference. This year we will be continuing. We bring departments and agencies together, piggyback on the career fair days that are actually organized by universities, and establish a very visible federal presence to give a sense of the range of opportunities that exist within the public service.

For example, our slogan is “One Employer, A Thousand Opportunities”. We might actually want to say two thousand opportunities, but the thousand actually rings better, though the other is in fact the case. Students, as we go out and explain all of the opportunities that are available in the public service, are quite enthused, and we have seen, in that sense, quite an increase in the level of interest and application.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Thank you, Ms. d'Auray.

Mr. Chong, your time is up.

Mr. Rodriguez now has the floor.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Mrs. Racine, your name does not appear on the notice. Could you please explain your duties?

[Louise Racine, Acting Director General, Official Languages, Treasury Board Secretariat]

I am the Acting Director General of Official Languages.

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

And what is this position, exactly?

[Louise Racine]

I am responsible for a section with duties that come under Part VII of the Act, namely, the development of policies for Parts IV, V and VI of the Act. We produce the annual report and support Mrs. d'Auray, Mr. O'Sullivan and the minister.

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

Do you consult the minister? Do you occasionally speak to him about official languages?

[Louise Racine]

I report to Mr. O'Sullivan.

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

And through him, to the minister.

I have a general question for each of you.

The coordination for official language activities used to come under the Privy Council Office, where there was a secretariat. This responsibility was transferred to Heritage Canada. In my opinion, this structure is more complicated, and official languages certainly do not have the same weight. It is not as easy to coordinate all of the official language responsibilities from a department just like all the others than it would be from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Has the elimination of this secretariat from the Privy Office Secretariat made things more complicated?

[Louise Racine]

Ms. d'Auray could answer this question.

[Michelle d'Auray]

The changes made to the structure and responsibilities are in accordance with the organizations in the best position to deliver the services. In this case, the Department of Canadian Heritage is officially responsible for coordinating all activities. Accordingly, it is quite logical that coordination be done from this department. Given the changes that were made to my office and my responsibilities within the Treasury Board, the two main responsibilities are now much simpler and more accessible. It is either one or the other.

Another fundamental component of the legislation is that compliance now lies with the institutions. Accordingly, it is essential that they themselves take action to fulfil their obligations, whether it be the Department of Industry or the Department of Justice. Coordination remains important, but these organizations, departments and institutions must nonetheless fulfil their obligations.

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

I agree with you. However, when this responsibility came under the Privy Council Office, one had the impression that this office carried a little bit more weight when it told organizations that they were not doing their jobs. It was easier back then to compile and centralize information in order to understand the official language activities being carried out by the various departments or organizations.

As far as coordination was concerned, do you not think that it was easier?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Coordination is just as effective. We receive the reports, just as the committee does. The institutions still have to provide them. We are in the process of refining and better targeting the information required, for the express purpose of being able to prepare more in-depth reports and to work with organizations and institutions where more progress is needed.

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

I asked the minister a question and I did not really understand his answer very well. What are his responsibilities with respect to the Roadmap?

[Michelle d'Auray]

As he told you, the minister is responsible for coordinating the policies and programs under Parts IV, V and VI of the Act. In the Roadmap, he is, in particular, responsible for the centre of excellence, which comes under my group. This is his specific function and this has been set out in the Roadmap.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I do not know where we are headed with all of this. The minister came here this morning, we asked him questions and he felt insulted when Mr. D'Amours asked him what came under Part IV. He thought this was a trick question. He spoke about this issue in his presentation and he did not even remember it. He would not have had to look very far. I think that he was poorly prepared or maybe it was something else.

Ms. d'Auray, you stated that every institution or department must submit a report. Is that accurate?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Every organization must produce a report.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

It must produce a report. The Department of Canadian Heritage never tabled a report on official languages — this is supposed to be done once a year under the Act — for the years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. I had to ask about these reports in the House of Commons. Finally, one week later, we received the 2006-2007 report. We have yet to receive the report for 2007-2008.

Who coordinates the tabling of these departmental reports to Parliament and citizens? You said that this is an annual responsibility. I can tell you that, right now, the minister responsible for official languages was to present an annual report for the years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. We finally got the report for 2006-2007. Where is the report for 2007-2008? We are now in 2009.

[Michelle d'Auray]

If I understand the question—

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Who follows up on that?

[Michelle d'Auray]

The report on official languages—which is this one, I believe—is produced by my agency and it is the 2006-2007 report which was tabled by Minister Toews in March of this year.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

When was the Treasury Board report tabled?

[Michelle d'Auray]

It was the 2006-2007 report that was tabled in March of this year.