Official Languages Committee on May 25th, 2010

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Ms. LaRocque, I only have five minutes so I would like to keep going. Only five minutes, Mr. Moore. I am sorry, but the rules set by the Liberals and Conservatives when this Committee began holding meetings are that we only get five minutes—to punish the mean old New Democrats and Bloc members. What can I say?

As regards civilian positions at National Defence—National Defence is part of the Canadian government machine—I see that there are unilingual positions in Quebec. There are 1,035 unilingual English positions in Quebec. I wanted you to be aware of that, because I am sure you will be speaking to your friend, Mr. MacKay, and all the other ministers. At National Defence, 43% of the public service positions are unilingual English, compared to 5% of positions that are unilingual French. It is disproportionate. When a soldier wants to receive services in French from his own public service… There is a huge amount of work still to be done.

I would like to end on the interdepartmental issue. What is the status of your work in that area? In April, representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada told us they had no idea where the government is going in that regard. Canadian Heritage should not be the only one providing services in French to the community as a whole.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Regarding your comment on National Defence, I am certain that Mr. MacKay takes his duty to respect the official languages of Canada very seriously. As you know, there are a great many reports that deal with National Defence services. Mr. Fraser talked about them and I am sure that Mr. MacKay and his officials are working hard in that area.

As for our engagement with our partners and the other departments, I know that Ms. LaRocque and Mr. Sobrino engage with their counterparts on an ongoing basis to ensure that all commitments are met and that taxpayers' money is being properly spent. She may want to comment on that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Nadeau.

We move now to Mr. Godin, for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning. I would like to hear more about the “self-testing” method.

[Judith LaRocque]

There is a self-assessment that is available. You can use a computer to ascertain your level of bilingualism.

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

Yes, that is the way it works at Air Canada, from what I can see! At Air Canada, a flight attendant was supposedly bilingual, according to Jazz—which is not subject to the Official Languages Act as Air Canada is. She was telling us that she had passed the exams and that was why she was now assigned to flights between Montreal and Bathurst. So, I guess she must have “self-tested”?

[Judith LaRocque]

I am not aware of that case.

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

A complaint was filed with the Commissioner of Official Languages and with Air Canada in that regard. Now I understand. I wanted to know what the term “self-test” meant. If people are assessing themselves, that does not mean the results will be the same if they are assessed by someone else.

[Judith LaRocque]

No, that is only an initial step, and from there the training that is needed is planned.

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

When that is over, when these individuals are already in a position, you realize that they self-tested and do not speak both languages. Now I understand.

There will be a debate Wednesday afternoon regarding the Official Languages Act and Air Canada. This will be the fourth time a bill has been tabled in the House of Commons. Mr. Moore, why is it that the government does not introduce legislation to protect the Official Languages Act at Air Canada? Because Jazz is not subject to that legislation; Air Canada is. If we complain to Air Canada, we cannot go and talk to officials at Jazz. And that is what is happening now. If one of your officials could follow up on that, that is the fundamental issue there.

Do you support a private member's bill that has been tabled in the House of Commons two or three times by your government but which never comes to fruition?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I was the transport critic when I was in opposition. I understand what you are talking about. I am well aware of this issue. We will just have to see when the bill… At some point, there will be a debate in the House of Commons, and I hope to consider your position very seriously.

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

“Seriously” is not enough. Do you support the bill or not?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

As a government, we will see and be attentive to the debate in the House.

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

Minister, “being attentive” does not answer my question.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I am certainly in favour of a bill that my colleague, Mr. Baird, would table.

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

All right.

In Ottawa, in Montreal and in other cities in Canada, public servants can speak the language of their choice.

In Ottawa, would you say that Supreme Court justices are, in a way, public servants? Are they subject to the Act? They are, aren't they?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Supreme Court justices can speak the official language of their choice, yes.

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

Fine, but how can they speak the official language of their choice when the nine judges deliberating on a case in French are all forced to deliberate in English because one person does not speak French?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

The opposite can also be said, if someone is unilingual French. Right?

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

But no such case exists. In 143 years, it has never existed.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

You do not have confidence--

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

In 143 years, it has never existed.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I have complete confidence in the community--

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

In 143 years, Mr. Moore, there have been none.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

It is my hope that one day, young unilingual Francophones in Canada will have an opportunity to sit on the Supreme Court of Canada.