Evidence of meeting #47 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.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Mr. Généreux, we are going to have to give the final word to Mr. Godin.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, I know that everybody asks the same question about Air Canada. I want to go back to this issue to ensure that I understood correctly. From your statement, Madam Deputy Minister, I understood that if the minister were to ask you to do something, you would do it and do it by the deadline.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you. I now have a question for Mr. Doiron, the official languages champion who hails from the Atlantic region. Since Air Canada is under the purview of your department, and since you are the official languages champion, would Air Canada also come under your responsibility?
Regional Director General and Champion of Official Languages, Atlantic Region, Department of Transport
No, because I am the official languages champion at Transport Canada but not the champion for organizations or crown corporations that come under the department's responsibility.
NDP
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
That would be me and Ms. Gravitis-Beck has direct responsibility for the file.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Air Canada appears before the Standing Committee on Official Languages on a regular basis and we receive complaints about it on a regular basis. We have also tabled four bills with respect to Air Canada.
Is your department following up on the Air Canada file?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Of course we followed the Air Canada file.
Now, there are a number of issues. If there are complaints around Air Canada, the commissioner does follow-up. For example, this year he is going in for an audit of the Air Canada operations.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I mean the official languages commissioner.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
He reports to Parliament. He does not report to Transport Canada.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
We are responsible for policy options that will be presented to a minister around transportation issues, including the Air Canada official languages file.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Okay, it's your responsibility. This is the problem I have with that. The commissioner goes there, and he makes a report. We all know that Air Canada broke the law with regard to the 60%, which they don't respect, and all of that. You ask for an orange juice, and they don't know it's un jus d'orange and all of that.
You go to Ottawa, which is one of the worst ones, and you get service in one language. Who does the follow-up?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Air Canada's activities regarding the complaints are managed by the official languages commissioner. As well, the overall Official Languages Act falls under the Treasury Board Secretariat.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, but there is no penalty. Is that why it just stays where it is?
We have the law. They break the law. The commissioner can only report to Parliament. But does your department, as the Department of Transport, have any power to go to Air Canada and say, hey, look, you're breaking one of our laws?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Under the Aeronautics Act, with regard to safety and security, we have to make sure any announcements for airlines and any signage in airports are in both official languages, because it's a question of safety. But we're not the ones who would apply penalties or anything regarding Air Canada's official language--
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Then Transport Canada has no responsibility regarding official languages for Air Canada?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Other than for policy, we do not.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you very much, Mr. Godin. This brings the second part of our meeting to an end.
I would like to thank you for appearing before the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
We will meet again next Thursday. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.