Evidence of meeting #33 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you.
Good morning.
The ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Trade represent Canadians and promote Canada internationally. How do you explain why the 2009-2010 Departmental Performance Report, which is 58 pages long, makes no mention of official languages?
Do you really think you are meeting your obligations under the Official Languages Act if they are not integrated into your program activities?
Director, Corporate Resourcing Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
What report are you referring to?
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
I'm talking about the Departmental Performance Report 2009-2010, which is 58 pages long.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes. Let me look into that and get back to the committee. That's a very good question.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
What specific instructions have you received from the Clerk of the Privy Council with regard to official languages?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Pardon me?
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
What specific instructions have you received from the Clerk of the Privy Council with regard to official languages?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
To my knowledge—
Roxanne Dubé Director General, Corporate Secretariat, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
As you know, Mr. Wouters is very concerned about the official languages issue. He regularly communicates with the deputy ministers about enhancing use of the official languages.
Recently, on September 9, a news release was forwarded to all deputy ministers in the context of Linguistic Duality Day. In that document, they and departmental staff were invited to take part in an informal discussion. The clerk attended the event for half a day.
The Privy Council's instructions are very clear. The departments are expected to comply with their obligations under the act.
NDP
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
When was the last time the council discussed official languages?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I don't know. I'm a new assistant deputy minister. I'll ask the question and give you the answer later.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
What specific commitment regarding official languages has the council kept?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I'm going to forward the answer to you in that case as well.
Director General, Corporate Secretariat, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I am director general of the department's Corporate Secretariat. So I attend the meetings of the Executive Council, as we say at our department, as secretary. On the one hand, I can assure you that the meetings take place in both official languages. You don't need to wonder a lot about that since three current deputy ministers are perfectly bilingual. On the other hand, all documents for review and discussion in the Executive Council are presented in both official languages.
In addition, as Ms. Gregson noted earlier, we read the report prepared by Mr. Fraser. Perhaps you'll remember that we had not been evaluated for five years. We didn't expect a mark like that. Immediately after the report was published, Deputy Minister Rosenberg contacted Mr. Fraser by telephone and invited him to present the report card results on December 20. We will devote an entire Executive Council session to that.
So I believe you don't need to be troubled. Departmental leaders are very much aware of this issue and want to correct the situation.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
The action plan of the 2009-2010 Official Languages Program expires in 2011. What will replace it? What aspects of the new plan will directly affect Canada's overseas missions?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The plan will be updated and replaced. It will focus on our services and all our requirements under the act, including service at missions abroad.
Director, Corporate Resourcing Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
That will be in April 2011.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes, that will be in April 2011.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
How do the deputy ministers have to report to the Clerk of the Privy Council on official languages?
Director General, Corporate Secretariat, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I'm convinced, but I can't tell you this with any certainty, that that's part of their performance agreement with the Privy Council. We can check. You no doubt know what I'm talking about. Every deputy minister has a performance agreement with the Clerk of the Privy Council. We can check, but I'm absolutely convinced that must be addressed in that agreement.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
A little earlier you said that 16 departments had been evaluated. Can you tell us where you ranked out of the 16?
Director, Corporate Resourcing Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I believe we were fourth last. So that's not enough. Our evaluation was better than those of only two or three other departments. That was the first time we were evaluated by the commissioner. Ms. Dubé and I previously met with the employees of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and we have a better understanding of our mark. At the outset, we were given overall marks for each element, and it was explained to us what we were lacking. We're already working on improving those points.