Official Languages Committee on Oct. 20th, 2009

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

I'd like an answer on this point. Air Canada has received 120 or 125 complaints. They all come from francophones; none from anglophones. The only complaint received from an anglophone had to do with the fact that people did not like to hear French on board, it was a verbal complaint. So, I'd like an answer as to the 20 complaints.

Regarding the complaint filed with the Commissioner of Official Languages, and determined to be unfounded, can you explain why that is? I believe Mr. D’Amours has not received the response to his question. You’ve told him what you do, what is available, but he was asking whether it was normal for a person to be told that it would be quicker for a person to sit an exam in English. That part of the question remains unanswered.

[Pierre Paquet]

The unit I work for is responsible for training. However, we were involved in the investigation. We supported the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages during the investigation.

When an individual is recruiting in a bilingual region, the aptitude test for Canada Border Services Agency officers, the interview and the psychological test are all instruments that are available in both languages. We make sure that we offer each recruit the choice of English or French during recruitment and training.

I know that we were involved in the complaint because the allegations also had to do with the fact that the person had not been given the opportunity to take training in French in Rigaud.

If, at some point, trainers or the management team, whose members are all bilingual, realize that a recruit who has chosen to receive training in English may have overestimated his or her ability to learn in the second language, there are mechanisms in place to transfer the recruit. That could also be the case for a recruit we consider francophone, who has chosen to take training in French, in a French class. My team is responsible for that.

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

No, that is not my question, sir. I’ve understood that.

My colleague Jean-Claude D’Amours' question had to do with the fact that someone said to the complainant that if she chose to take the test in English, it would go quicker. It wasn’t about knowing whether or not she had a choice. There is the issue of choice, but there is also the issue of speed.

Let's just say that I have the choice to either take a car or to walk to get to a movie. If I take my car, I’ll get there quickly, but if I walk, I may not make it. A choice was given to her.

I don’t know if you’re aware, but these days, when you call an agency—it seems to be quite common—you press 1 for service in English and 2 for service in French. If you press 2, you wait half an hour, and if you press 1, you will speak to someone within five minutes. Is that the type of problem we are dealing with here?

[Pierre Paquet]

I understand.

I can tell you that the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages' investigation dealt with both components, in other words training and recruitment. The office clearly ruled that active offer had been provided during recruitment, in the Atlantic region. In terms of commenting on the complainant’s allegations, as to whether that was done or not, or if she was forced to proceed in that way, I cannot say.

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

You don't have an answer to that.

[Pierre Paquet]

We have an answer which is based on the conclusion of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

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

The commissioner said that the complaint was unfounded. It is not the first time I hear this. I am only referring to the complaint itself.

Someone conducted an investigation. Is it true that she was told that if she passed her exam in English, things would move more quickly? It's easy to answer that question.

I am not here to hear what the official languages commissioner may or may not have said. Was this woman told that if she passed her English exam, things would move more quickly, yes or no?

[Pierre Paquet]

What I can say is that we have a predetermined schedule based on the needs of each administrative region and on the chosen language of the participants. This year, for example, we have 23 openings in our schedule.

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

No, you are not answering my question. It's simple, it's a yes or a no, or an “I don't know”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Godin, We will come back to that issue.

We will continue with another member, Mr. Petit.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Mr. Paquet. Good morning, Ms. Power.

My first question is a technical one. When you go to the airport, regardless of which one it is, you know that your luggage will be checked before you enter, even if you are on a domestic flight, and you can see the acronym CATSA or ACSTA.

Is CATSA accountable to you or is it a completely independent agency?

[Camille Therriault-Power]

It is completely independent.

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

That's not you.

[Camille Therriault-Power]

No.

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

Fine.

At what point do your employees enter the picture compared to CATSA employees? Do they enter the picture before or after CATSA employees?

[Camille Therriault-Power]

CATSA employees are the last ones you deal with before leaving and the first ones you deal with when you arrive.

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

When I enter the country, the first people I deal with are your employees. Is that correct?

[Camille Therriault-Power]

That's correct.

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

Fine.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

What exactly is CATSA?

[Camille Therriault-Power]

CATSA is the Canadian air traffic safety association.

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

CATSA employees check our luggage, our computers and so on.

[Camille Therriault-Power]

Yes.

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

My second question is directed at you, Mr. Paquet.

What exactly is your position within this agency? Are you its director general?

[Pierre Paquet]

Not at all. Under the organization hierarchy, Ms. Therriault-Power is responsible for the general management of human resources. I am accountable to the director of training. As for me, I am responsible for training recruits, be they cadets or recruits, otherwise known as Canada's Border Services agents.