Official Languages Committee on Dec. 14th, 2010

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

What measures were taken to resolve these problems in the long term?

[Neil Yeates]

Do you want to speak to that, Claudette?

[Claudette Deschênes]

We plan to ensure that some of the new judges that are about to be appointed are already bilingual.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

What were the complaints about?

[Claudette Deschênes]

There were concerns that not enough of the ceremony was in French.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

What measures have you taken?

[Claudette Deschênes]

We need to ensure that the main part of the ceremony is very balanced with respect to both official languages. We must also ensure the quality of the French spoken by the participants and judges and written in the department's records. We offer training as needed. We also need to recruit bilingual judges and ensure that all Citizenship and Immigration employees have the bilingual skills needed.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Are there enough bilingual people to meet the department's needs at this time?

[Claudette Deschênes]

Yes. There were some problems in one region, but they have since been resolved.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mrs. Zarac.

We will now hear from Mr. Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Hello. I would like to thank the people from Citizenship and Immigration for meeting with us, with staff from my office and with me. We talked about issues regarding service in French in Canadian embassies overseas. I would like to point out that you acted very quickly. I have fewer positive things to say about our friends at foreign affairs. I do not know what is happening in that department, which I would call the “department of strange affairs”. After I received the okay from the department, someone suddenly called and cancelled all of our meetings. We were supposed to discuss the same issue.

It is worth noting that when we talk about Canadian embassies overseas, there are two departments within the same office: the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Citizenship and Immigration. This was pointed out at the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. The ambassador or head diplomat is the boss. In my opinion, this is problematic to some degree. To fall under two departments is a little like having no boss at all. Some people take advantage of that to do as they please. I would like verify some things and look closely at the situation, in the best interest of citizens.

I know that Citizenship and Immigration makes 7,000 decisions a day around the world. For all citizens and any future citizens who are awaiting an answer, these are very important decisions. Regardless of whether or not the claimants like the decisions, this is a lot of work for immigration employees.

That being said, I realize that you have some doubts about the methodology and many other things with respect to the official language commissioner's report. However, that report exists and is what we are using as our work instrument. Personally, I have my own misgivings when you say you have doubts about the commissioner. It was mentioned that in Prince Edward Island, with a population of just under 200,000 residents, Citizenship and Immigration has one office. Yet in Gatineau, a federal riding and a city of 240,000, the department has an office, but it is open only two hours a week. Bloody hell! Two hours a week—think about that for a second. When people want to apply, they come to my office. We do our best, but we are not the ones who decide in the end. Do you know what claimants are told? “Go to Ottawa.” I know that only a river and a couple of bridges separate the two cities. Actually, we will soon have another bridge.

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

Two, actually.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

In any case, I am sure you see the problem there. Let's just say that in Gatineau, most applications are from francophones. Earlier when I said “bloody hell”, it was because my tires were slipping on the ice this morning. That is why it was a little harsher. But I would still like to point out that it is a major problem. I know you do not have a response to that. For goodness sake, at least open your offices two or three days a week! There is no shortage of applicants.

Regarding your employees, 42% of Citizenship and Immigration employees do not feel at liberty to write their documents in French. Furthermore, 35% do not feel free to speak French to their supervisors. Welcome to Canada! Mr. Linklater and Mr. Yeates, that is a real problem.

Mr. Yeates, as Deputy Minister, what do you plan to do to fix that?

[Neil Yeates]

It is true; that is a real challenge for us. It is extremely important. Within the department we are discussing things we could do, such as a campaign with all government officials and other managers. That is part of our department's plan for the next three years. I agree with you; it is a real problem.

[Les Linklater]

Absolutely. As official languages champion, I am very concerned. We invited all branches of the department to the table for our steering committee meeting. In the past, we focused only on part VII. Now we recognize that the department has a problem and must improve—

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

That is part V. Those are your employees, your world.

[Les Linklater]

Yes. That is why we are bringing representatives from human resources and other branches of the department to the steering committee's management table, so that we can get an overview of all issues related to official languages. We need to have discussions and action plans to meet the needs of our workforce and our partners.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Nadeau.

Now we'll continue with Ms. Tilly O'Neill-Gordon.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome. It's great to have you with us this morning.

I first want to join with my colleagues in congratulating you on the results of your evaluation. We know, from this indication, that lots of work has been put forth to make these things happen.

I am also happy to see that you are implementing some of your good work in my province of New Brunswick. As a bilingual province, I'm sure they'll be willing to welcome all of your good ideas, so I welcome those ideas as well.

On page 45 of the commissioner's report, he said, “Citizenship and Immigration Canada still has difficulty promoting the equal status and use of English and French at citizenship ceremonies when new citizens are sworn in.”

I'm sure that you're quite aware of this and that you probably have measures in place to help make this better. I'm wondering what specific measures you are planning to implement to find a solution to this problem, which affects new French-speaking citizens in particular.

[Neil Yeates]

Thank you very much, Chair.

I can just go over some of the things we're doing now to improve this situation.

First of all, we are increasing the emphasis on the recruitment of bilingual judges. We have seven right now, serving Fredericton, as it turns out, and Montreal and Scarborough. We are providing training to 20 of the 33 judges right now to improve their French and the use of French in ceremonies. We've provided additional materials to ensure that French is covered.

Whenever there is a complaint, we follow up on that immediately. Some of those complaints were made to the commissioner's office, and we've been able to resolve those in specific locations around the country. Certainly the chief citizenship judge accepts the responsibility to really take this on and improve the use of French in citizenship ceremonies. We think we will see some significant improvements here.

Some progress has certainly been made over the past 18 months, and we expect to see continued progress.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

I'm aware of judges in the Miramichi who are in this program as well.

[Neil Yeates]

Yes.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

It will make a difference, for sure.

The other thing, as you know, the official languages committee is always looking at is post-secondary institutions and study for foreign students. The French post-secondary institutions outside Quebec, of course, are an obvious means of increasing the number of French-speaking permanent residents. After spending two, three, or maybe four years at one of these institutions, a foreign student establishes a network of contacts that will facilitate his or her economic and social integration.

What does your strategic plan propose to support the efforts of French language schools and post-secondary institutions that want to recruit foreign students?

[Neil Yeates]

I'll ask Les to speak to that.