Official Languages Committee on Dec. 9th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Good morning to everyone and welcome to this 37^th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

This morning, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), we are studying the National Defence official languages program transformation model. We have the pleasure of having two witnesses.

We have with us Rear-Admiral Andrew Smith, who is the Chief of Military Personnel and Champion of Official Languages. Welcome Mr. Smith.

We also welcome back Colonel Louis Meloche, Commander of the Canadian Forces Base Borden.

Thank you for having accepted the committee's invitation. You have been briefed on the procedure, so without further ado, I would ask you to give your opening remarks. We will then move to a discussion with committee members.

[RAdm Andrew Smith, Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Members of the committee, ladies and gentlemen, I am Rear-Admiral Andy Smith. As stated, I am the chief of military personnel. I am also the Canadian Forces champion of official languages, and I assure you that it's a responsibility I take extremely seriously.

Today I am accompanied by Colonel Louis Meloche, who wears two hats, the first being commander of the Canadian Forces support training group, and the second being the base commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden.

He used to be Director of Official Languages.

I very much appreciate the opportunity to report on our progress since our last appearance before you, in November 2009, by providing you with an update on the implementation of National Defence's official languages program transformation model. I will also briefly discuss our annual review on official languages 2009-10 and the 2009-10 annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

Last year, we spoke about the progress achieved since we implemented the transformation model. Rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, that the program is continuing.

Since our appearance last year, we have continued with the active awareness campaign, which is intended to inform all of our military personnel and their dependents, as well as our civilian staff, of their language rights. We have published a policy dealing with parts VII of the Official Languages Act and are about to come out with other policies and directives. We have adapted the official languages performance measurement system, which helps us to monitor and assess our policies and programs, and provides us with a baseline upon which we can measure our progress.

More specifically, we have improved the first component that allows us to monitor the statistical data. We have also done wide-scale testing of the second component, which will allow us to measure dynamic data from bases and wings. The system will be rolled out in full by summer of 2012.

Finally, the department, under the stewardship of the Chief of the Defence Staff and deputy minister, completed a mid-term review of the model in order to update us on all the progress accomplished, clarify some of the model-related activities and provide level 1 executives, or associate deputy ministers, with a greater degree of precision.

The 2009-2010 National Defence Official Languages Annual Review assessed the quality of the active offer of services to the public. Only three National Defence organizations have an explicit obligation to communicate with and serve the public. These are the public affairs offices, search and rescue coordination centres and recruitment centres. In order to foster communications in both official languages, National Defence designated all of its recruitment centres as bilingual, which is over and above the legal requirements.

With respect to the annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages, on November 2, 2010, the Commissioner of Official Languages released volume II of his annual report. In it, he made reference to his audit of the Canadian Forces individual training and education system. The CF are firmly committed to implementing the corrective measures identified. In fact, in several cases corrective measures are already being applied, and we have a plan in place for the remaining recommendations.

With respect to engagement,

Allow me to ensure you that National Defence has worked hard on the official languages front. Much work was undertaken or completed last year. Our chiefs are at the heart of our commitment toward the Official Languages Act. It is thanks to them that progress can be achieved, and they are clear and resolute in their commitment, since they have all achieved the bilingualism level set out in the model for high-ranking officers.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, I would like to state that the fact that the official languages are now an integral part of the skills required for promotion to the highest ranks of the Canadian Forces remains without a doubt the strongest message that we have sent out within the organization up until now. For the first time in our history, the vast majority of officers and senior departmental executives have the profile required to lead our staff in both official languages.

In conclusion,

last year we told you that we were doing better than in the past; but that is even truer this year. We are continuing to achieve significant progress in many sectors. We are keeping up our efforts to resolve the systemic challenges. We are headed in the right direction. Our leadership is sound and motivated. Our plan is up-to-date, and our commitment remains unwavering.

I will gladly answer your questions once Colonel Meloche has said a few words.

Merci.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Col Meloche, the floor is yours.

[Col Louis Meloche, Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence]

Thank you, admiral.

Mr. Chair, members of the committee, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

After being Director of Official Languages for the past three years, I assumed the command of the Canadian Forces Support Training Group and CFB Borden on May 28, 2010. I would like to start by outlining some of the accomplishments realized in the last year as they relate to both CFB Borden and the Canadian Forces as a whole.

As commander of CFB Borden, I made official languages one of my top priorities. I have involved the leadership and made one of my school commandants the official language champion for Base Borden.

All new personnel posted to CFB Borden are briefed on their OL rights and obligations. We have a good partnership with the translation bureau and now have more translators on site. I have changed the name of the base newspaper from Borden Citizen to Citoyen Borden Citizen. Things are moving in the right direction.

I'll now touch on the Canadian Defence Academy and our training authority. The Canadian Defence Academy continues to provide second official language training. Since the last hearing, the number of registrations has exceeded 3,000. In this area, we should note that the number of candidates for the year-long language training has increased dramatically, from 91 in 2008-09 to 118 in 2009-10, and now we have 237 this year.

The three environments—the navy, army, and air force—are also making a lot of progress.

For example, the navy has produced naval training instruction that includes guidelines for the application of OL policy within the naval training system. Translation support to training establishments is one of the highest priorities for the Chief of Maritime Staff.

I'll give you another example, this time with the air force. We should note that all basic air maintenance courses for all four maintenance technician occupations, which represent 40% of the air force, are now available in both official languages.

The army continues to strive toward 100% of its training being offered in both official languages. All combat arms courseware is already available in this format.

You will recall that our communication strategy first focused on gaining acceptance of the functional approach by DND and Canadian Forces senior leaders and on securing their support. As mentioned earlier by RAdm Smith, we now have their support. In light of this, at the end of 2009, the Directorate of Official Languages shifted its focus to DND and CF managers, while continuing to educate CF members and civilian employees on their linguistic rights and obligations.

The directorate continues to raise OL awareness through other venues as well. A few examples are its participation in the orientation courses for new civilian employees, a kiosk at NDHQ during National Public Service Week, and a kiosk at the National Defence managers' network symposium. There, the Directorate of Official Languages conducted a workshop to enhance managers' general knowledge of the Official Languages Act and linguistic rights and obligations.

The directorate also created its own bilingual online newsletter, “Let's Talk--Parlons-en”, after redesigning its Intranet site. Six well-received issues have been published in 2010.

As for CFB Borden, we organized again this year the very successful OL open house.

Outside of our regular OL mandate, National Defence has continued to provide assistance for special events. One example is the support provided to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. In this case, I personally travelled to Vancouver to brief the commander and his team on matters related to the active offer and communication with and services to the public.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, we are advancing on all fronts. Much progress has been accomplished and more is well underway, and it is despite the unprecedented high operational tempo sustained by the CF for the past five years. From my perspective, as Base Commander Borden, I remain very confident that we are headed in the right direction to fully integrate linguistic duality into our organizational culture.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, colonel.

I will open the floor up to members. I have been told that the Liberal Party has given its turn to the Bloc Québécois.

Mr. Nadeau will therefore begin.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In my Parliament Hill office, I have a picture that shows my godfather, Maurice Nadeau, who was a member of the navy; his brother, Georges Nadeau, my uncle, who was a member of the airforce; and Benoit Nadeau, my father, who was a member of the army. All three fought during the Second World War. As for my uncle Fernand, he took part in the Korean War. All that to say that my mother, who was an excellent seamstress, would make clothes out of my father's military dress. I wore those clothes until the age of twelve and three-quarters.

I have always been interested in things military. That is probably why, at one point, I became an historian. I was literally fascinated by the Second World War. Still today, when I go to the Pointe-Gatineau Branch 58 of the Royal Canadian Legion and give a speech, I have something new to contribute to the combatants, whether they are veterans of the Second World War, Blue Helmets or soldiers who took part in peacekeeping operations. One of the members I met is Larry George. His father took part in the famous battle of Vimy Ridge. This shows how much I appreciate the armed forces.

There was a time when my father often would say that he spent more time battling the anglophones in Canada than the enemy during the war, because anglophones did not respect him. Conservative MP Mr. Hiebert was present when Mr. O'Connor gave a presentation, when he was Minister of National Defence. Given the lack of respect for francophones in the army, I must admit that I wanted to tell these people that I was extremely skeptical. Even if, after so many years, the Department of National Defence has established a program to assist francophone soldiers to feel at home in the Canadian Forces, I remain extremely skeptical.

Mr. Meloche and I have already met, but this is my first meeting with Mr. Smith. I am aware of the work and efforts put in by the Canadian Forces. There is a lot to be done. There have been many delays in this area. The issue of respect for the French fact dates back to the Crimean War. That was a long time ago, predating the First World War.

I would like to quote from an article that appeared in the June 3, 2010 issue of Le Devoir. That was not too long ago in the greater scheme of things. In the article, which deals with one of Graham Fraser's reports, the following is said about the navy:

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, in Ottawa, did not conduct a study on the navy per se but did examine the issue of language of instruction for professional trades in the Canadian Forces. Already at the initial learning stage, English is excessively dominant, particularly in the navy. The report by commissioner Graham Fraser, which was tabled yesterday, mentions the discomfort felt by recruits.

I will submit a copy of the article once I am done. I would also like to quote the following statements by francophone soldiers:

"When I studied in English, my grades were not as good. That almost gave me an inferiority complex,” it states. Or : "I pursued my training in my second official language because I had no choice, people in the navy speak English.”

The article also states the following:

The officers explained to the investigators that the students had to learn in English because of the conventions of the International Maritime Organization, which standardized the external maritime communications on board ships. It would therefore be safer to learn everything in English.

In his report, Mr. Fraser replied that was completely false, and the article quotes his comments on the subject:

"[...] But we do not believe the same applies when students learn theory and basic notions in these fields.” He goes on to state: "[...] Learning in one's mother tongue, enhanced with an English technical vocabulary where necessary, would ensure that francophones are not disadvantaged in their learning.”

Learning technical terms in English is one thing, but the real problem is when people cannot study in French. That example concerned the navy.

Can you tell me what you're doing in that regard and how things are progressing? When Mr. Semianiw appeared, I gave a concrete example. I am all ears.

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.

I experienced that in the navy for 31 years. External communications are done in the language of work designated by the unit.

With regard to training, I recently calculated that the Canadian Forces, through its Leadership and Recruit School and other advanced training centres, offered approximately 2,000 courses.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Are we still talking about the navy?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

No, that is altogether.

We do still have challenges to meet within the navy, but the basic courses are mainly given in members' first language. That said, not all advanced courses are given in their first language, but we are working hard to ensure that all courses will be.

Col Meloche mentioned that the navy had recently completed work on its naval instruction. Therefore, that is one of the navy's key objectives.

The navy is focused on doing this. But Mr. Chair,

I would like to reassure you that, onboard ships, French Canadians are free to talk with one another in the language of their choice. This is something I witnessed on numerous occasions. They can do so even if they are not on a ship that is designated as a French-language unit, even if it is a bilingual or anglophone unit.

The navy has some challenges to take up. We know that and we are working on it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Rear Admiral.

Mr. Nadeau, your uncle Maurice probably sailed on a ship that was built in Lévis at the Davie Shipyards.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

I have no doubt about that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

And he was onboard a very safe vessel.

We now move on to Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, gentlemen. Thank you for being here.

I have a rather simple question on the Official Languages Program Transformation Model. Is this initiative in effect from 2007 to 2012?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

Yes.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Okay, and now we're coming to the end of 2010. Have you conducted a mid-term review?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

Yes, we have recently done such a review. One of our challenges is to maintain the pace we had in 2007.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Has a report been done on that review?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

Yes, a report was certainly produced.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Are you ready to share it with us?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

Go ahead, Col Meloche.

[Col Louis Meloche]

Before my departure from the Official Languages Directorate, we published a document entitled Mid-term Review of the National Defence Official Languages Program Transformation Model. We reviewed all activities. We made an update on the situation to better identify the actions that needed to be taken before the model expires in 2012. The document was approved by the Chief of the Defence Staff and deputy minister. Yesterday, we were asked to provide a copy to our parliamentary affairs officials.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Could you provide the committee with a copy of that report.

[Col Louis Meloche]

Yes.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So you will be sending it to us?

[RAdm Andrew Smith]

We will send it to you through—