Official Languages Committee on Feb. 17th, 2011

[Diane Jacovella]

That is why we have an advisory committee made up of employees from all levels, from the administrative staff to management. The committee represents all branches, this allowing us to gauge employees perceptions and identify issues.

I think that the committee was recommending a linguistic duality award to the president as a way to recognize the extent to which the agency values the promotion of the official languages, and that the issue deserved an annual award. That is a way to encourage people to develop best practices and get senior management to recognize the importance of official languages. I think that those things already convey a positive message.

As I mentioned, we also met with our union representatives in order to see what we can do together to ensure that people have a very clear understanding of their official language rights and obligations.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.

We will continue with Ms. Boucher.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Good morning. I have several questions.

A little earlier on, you said that you were unable to identify the needs of official languages communities, and that you had sent out letters. You have an action plan, and I see that you have consultations with certain partners. You are offering awards and organizing celebrations.

Have you thought to invite people or representatives from official language minority communities to come and meet with you? You also said that they had little or no interest in international affairs. If you were to explain how it all works and what you do for duality, that might be a step in the right direction for you. We always have the impression that when the communities don't come, they can't be reached, but it might different if you were to invite them. When we invite representatives from official language minority communities, they often come to tell us what they are experiencing.

Despite the fact that CIDA is very bilingual, your ratings do not necessarily reflect that.

I have another question about the active offer of service. What are you putting in place so that this accurately reflects what is expected of all departments in terms of Canada's linguistic duality? You have the active offer. You have sites that talk about the equality of service delivery to the public. What will you do to ensure that exactly the same thing is received in both official languages and to improve your performance?

[Darren Schemmer]

I like your suggestion to invite associations to the briefing meetings and consultations we hold. That is a very good suggestion.

Personally, during International Development Week, I went to Vancouver and Edmonton to make bilingual presentations on CIDA's new partnership programming. I even participated in a breakfast conference at the francophone campus of the University of Alberta. We do that kind of event, but I find your suggestion to specifically invite the associations to meet with us a very good one. We will adopt it.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Normally, when ratings are poor, people try to be proactive. What is the situation with service delivery to the public?

[Diane Jacovella]

I can add that CIDA's Internet site is perfectly bilingual. As regards our service delivery, it's the same thing with our toll free number, and it is centralized. As we mentioned, we do not really have regional offices. We have some representatives, but all service to the public is provided through our Gatineau office.

As mentioned, a memo was sent out regarding telephone messages to remind people again how they should be done. An investigation is underway to ensure that it is done. We also have training for new employees and a package of information. In the action plan, by way of a reminder, we propose developing a small package with key messages to help people so that they understand exactly what to do.

In addition, the champions of official languages from various departments are sharing our best practices. We are trying to learn from what other departments have done. For example, Natural Resources Canada made a short video for parks employees. We are trying to see what we can do to help our employees fully understand the message and the importance of the active offer.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Do I have any time left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have a mere 30 seconds.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

In that case, I will stop here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

My colleague would like the floor.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Go ahead, Mr. Lauzon.

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

There are 15 seconds left.

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

I would like to ask Ms. Biggs a question.

Ms. Biggs, I'm intrigued by this employee award, the official languages award. I think this is unique. I haven't heard of it before.

Can you very briefly tell me how this came about? You've presented one, I believe.

[Margaret Biggs]

We're going to present the first one in June.

The award was an idea that came out of the official languages advisory committee, which, as Diane said, is made up of active individuals from across the organization at all kinds of different levels. As Diane said, they have an active campaign called DARE/OSEZ, meaning take the chance to try it. Do it. Don't be afraid.

The idea of the award came from there, and I announced it in September. We will award it to an individual who is nominated for showing extraordinary efforts in the promotion of official languages in the workplace. We're looking forward to it. We're hoping it will help to create an incentive and that the motivation to be even better.

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

You have a wonderful human resources department if you have 50% francophones. You have to hang on to that department.

[Margaret Biggs]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Lauzon.

We will conclude with Mr. Gravelle.

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you.

Should you follow any specific instructions in preparing your action plan for official languages?

[Diane Jacovella]

I didn't understand your question. Are you asking if we have to follow any specific steps?

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes.

[Diane Jacovella]

In light of the recommendations in the commissioner's report, which stated that the plan wasn't integrated and that we did not have follow-up measures, we decided to organize our plan around five strategic objectives and to ensure that we were responsible for the timeline and progress. That is what we are going to do. As a project progresses, we are going to take note of that so that we can prepare a report once or twice a year on progress accomplished.

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

On the last page of the performance bulletin, there is a section entitled "Development of Official Language Minority Communities and Promotion of Linguistic Duality". I have two questions on that.

In the last sentence of the first paragraph, it says that the department "did not identify nor consult official language communities". Why is that the case?

The second sentence continues on saying that the department "is considering implementing a strategy to identify these communities". What strategy is that? How long will it take to put it in place?

[Darren Schemmer]

I don't know if I am on the same page as you, Mr. Gravelle. Regardless, our approach was to contact associations representing linguistic minority communities. As I said, we are not very satisfied with the response, which was in fact of no interest.

Consequently, we have to be more proactive this year with these associations. We will need to go through other institutions that represent these linguistic minority communities.We think that institutions like universities and colleges, which are more directly interested in international development, would be good contacts that could serve as the link between us and official associations representing these communities. That is something we plan to do over the course of this year.

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

But why wait so long to consult these communities?