Official Languages Committee on Feb. 1st, 2011

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It should be shared with Canadians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, perhaps this information should be included in our communications.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

That's going to increase traffic. Ah, ah!

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Speaking of traffic, we have a few minutes left. I suggest we have another round following the usual order. I invite you to try and limit yourselves to one specific question, so that everyone will have a chance.

Mr. Bélanger, why not set an example for us.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I primarily have comments to make. Unfortunately, I have been around at times when the conduct of the Department of Public Works and Government Services was not as positive as it is today in terms of official languages.

Mr. Guimont, I want to congratulate you and your team for the work you are doing. I think this is the kind of leadership we are looking for when it comes to official languages. It is also the kind of leadership the Commissioner of Official Languages is looking for when he talks about going beyond obligations. Do keep up your work, because I believe things are off to a very good start.

In terms of there being 1,200 jobs in Quebec, I suppose you are talking about jobs outside the National Capital Region, because I would have thought the number was higher than that.

[François Guimont]

Yes.

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

In terms of your efforts to ensure there is equitable Anglophone representation, I suppose that the same is being done, or will be done, with respect to Francophones outside Quebec.

I would also like to have a copy of the kit you referred to, so that other departments can be made aware of it and make use of it.

I, personally, am aware of one area where there is room for improvement. I am talking about plans and specifications for a contract on the MERX website. There were previously major differences between the English and French versions of the specifications, which ended up costing the Crown and taxpayers' money to resolve the problem. There is still work to be done in that area.

I know there is a committee that deals with advertizing in minority community media—a committee that represents such organizations as ARC, the Alliance des radios communautaires, etc. Do you have any way of ensuring that minority media which are not members of these associations are also considered? I will let you reflect on that.

Thank you very much for being here this morning, and I encourage you to continue your work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bélanger.

Mr. Malo, please.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

I have two brief questions. The first has to do with the Portal. Does the general public know about it and use it? It offers some attractive tools.

My second question is addressed to Mr. Guimont. Is the reason you received such positive results with respect to official languages tied to the fact that you yourself are Francophone, and that there are a lot of Francophones on your management committee? Is that the reason why you pay particular attention to these issues?

[François Guimont]

I will answer the second question, and Ms. Kennedy can tackle the first one.

I have always wanted the members of my team to feel comfortable and be proud of speaking French or English. Around my management table, I have never been aware of any language-related tensions, and I would not tolerate that. That's where it starts.

Furthermore, the proportion of French and English probably helps. If there were slightly fewer Francophones at the table, things might be different. However, I find that the experienced Anglophone members are very comfortable speaking French. That is simply an observation.

As elsewhere, I believe this is a critical function within the department. I believe in it deeply, and that is also the case for the people who work with me. Furthermore, it becomes a question of culture. I must admit that I am very pleased with our results, but the most important thing for me is that everyone, both Francophones and Anglophones, feels comfortable and has the sense they are properly treated by the department. I know that I have to meet the requirements set out in the Act, but culture, pride and feeling comfortable in French or in English in a department that considers itself to be bilingual are what I really consider to be most important. That is how I see it.

[Francine Kennedy]

In terms of promoting the Portal, as I said earlier, this being the second year, we are starting to do much more active promotion of the Portal, even though we did some previously.

The Portal is accessible over the Internet. As I was saying, we hope that Internet traffic will result in greater access. However, it is absolutely necessary that promotional activities be expanded in order to enhance awareness. That is the reason why we have a strategic advisory board. It provides suggestions as to how to make the Portal better known across the country. We are currently looking at those suggestions.

One of the issues associated with the Portal which, in my opinion, presents a minor challenge even though it is fantastic, is the fact that it contains such a wealth of information that people have to click several times in order to access the information they are seeking. So, we still have some work to do to refine and develop this search tool. That is the kind of work that is underway now with a view to developing it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much.

I would like to ask colleagues whether they agree that everyone should have one minute.

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

I did not have a chance on the second round--

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We are working on that, Mr. Godin.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I really want you to understand that members of Parliament are important vectors when it comes to conveying information to the public. We work with many different people on a daily basis. I sincerely believe that you have a fabulous site and that you need to make people aware of it. You should be giving us additional information about it, so that we can promote it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We can discuss that among committee members. They can make a note of your suggestion.

Mr. Galipeau, please.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

I would really like to spend half an hour with you, but I only have 30 seconds. So, I want to fully endorse the comments made by Mr. Bélanger, so that they will count double.

Also, I would like to know whether your Portal contains lexicons. Previously, the Secretary of State published lexicons on different areas of activity. Even so, automobiles were one area where there were no lexicons. I used to deal with a garage where the employees didn't speak English, but they didn't know the French terminology. They would say things like: “Le tire de mon truck a un flat”.

Is there a lexicon now?

[Francine Kennedy]

The Translation Bureau, which is now part of Public Works and Government Services, is continuing this work. The terminology program is now managed by the Translation Bureau.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Is that part of your Portal?

[Francine Kennedy]

Everything is there.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Including a lexicon on the auto sector?

[Francine Kennedy]

I don't know whether there is one on that. We would have to check.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

But the most important thing is what Mr. Bélanger said.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Godin, it's your turn; I worked hard to save the one minute for you.

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

“J'ai brisé le bumper de mon truck quand j'ai frappé le poteau”, as they say.