Evidence of meeting #37 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 library.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
The clerk might want to speak to that.
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
Yes.
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
We will have our liaison officers send it to you.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I apologize for not knowing the rank hierarchy within National Defence, but I would like to know what the equivalent position of a rear admiral is in the public service.
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
In the public service—
Liberal
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
That is correct, it is equivalent to the position of an assistant deputy minister.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Could you tell me if the Official Languages Act is integrated into National Defence objectives?
Each year the department establishes strategic objectives, which are included in its strategic planning. Now, is the Official Languages Act a component of that strategic planning?
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
That is a good question. I can tell you that it is included, perhaps not directly, but certainly indirectly.
At National Defence, we are very proud of what we call a learning institution. We also support Canada's multiculturalism. I cannot state for a fact that the Official Languages Act is directly integrated into National Defence objectives. Perhaps Col Meloche could comment on the matter.
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
We have a strategic direction for official languages. Have we integrated all of the country's laws into the objectives of National Defence? The answer is no. You know very well that there are many.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Excuse me, Mr. Meloche, but I am not referring to every single law, but only to the Official Languages Act.
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
No, it is not included in the national objectives. The national objectives are the protection of Canada, international cooperation—
Liberal
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
Our model of transformation is our strategic plan as far as official languages are concerned.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
It's your strategic plan for official languages, but how will it be integrated in your department?
I must admit that I have the impression that you have been delegated before the committee to tell us what we want to hear. In the past, I was an associate minister, so I am very familiar with the way a department operates. In fact, official languages is a bothersome and annoying issue. So, a department often finds people to send before a committee, and to tell them what it is thought they want to hear.
I would like to know whether this issue is integrated in the department's strategic planning. Is this issue integrated in your personal objectives?
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
Of course.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Is this issue integrated in the personal objectives of the chief of staff?
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
As an institution, we are accountable and we must produce an annual report. The Department of Defence's Strategic Plan is not put together in a vacuum. The difference between your time and what happens today, is that today there is a model of transformation which is based on leadership: the Chief of the Defence Staff sends a letter to all of his generals to instruct them that they must meet certain objectives and maintain them, otherwise they should start to think about retirement. In fact, we gave you a copy of this letter dated January 2009.
Therefore, I think that the issue is integrated into our everyday activities.
December 9th, 2010 / 9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Could you tell me whether there is a performance bonus for senior officials in the department who are proficient in both official languages?
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
I don't know whether our civilian personnel receive such a bonus, but there are no performance bonuses any more for senior military officials.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
But they still apply on the civilian side for a deputy minister.
So you don't know whether these people receive performance bonuses when they reach official language objectives?
Commander, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Department of National Defence
No, we don't know.
Chief of Military Personnel, Champion of Official Languages, Department of National Defence
I'm just wondering if I can make one clarification there. I would say that with integration of the official languages piece in Defence, there is a significant network,
a network created through the chiefs of the environment.
It enables our strategic plan model to be implemented, so there are coordinators of official languages.
It's a very tight network
that we use to make sure the goals of the model are diffused through the organization.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
In your presentation, Mr. Smith, you did not give us any specific figures. But that's what I'm interested in, since figures are the best way to measure progress.
In your evaluation half-way through this process, do you have any figures?