Official Languages Committee on March 1st, 2011

[Claire Dansereau]

We very recently spoke with the Treasury Board secretary to ensure that the department is meeting the needs of the Commissioner of Official Languages and that we are well organized.

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

Are reports on official languages filed with the Treasury Board?

[Michaela Huard]

It would be part of other reports.

[Claire Dansereau]

That's part of the accountability plan for the departments concerning management, and it's available.

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

We're told that, of the some 200 government departments and agencies, the Treasury Board may evaluate a dozen by consulting the official language reports. Do you know whether your department is one of the 12 lucky ones?

[Claire Dansereau]

No, I can't say. An evaluation of the basic official language issues is conducted through the Management Accountability Framework. All the departments are evaluated through that accountability framework. All the departments are subject to the MAF.

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

By whom?

[Claire Dansereau]

By the Treasury Board.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Thank you.

It's now Ms. Guay's turn.

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

I'd simply like to add one final point.

Thank you, Ms. Dansereau. We'll have to check what you're saying because I don't believe that's the case.

[Claire Dansereau]

All right, thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Go ahead, Ms. Guay.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you very much.

You don't seem to know exactly who you have to report to and that concerns me. It's very important to know that. You seem to say that it may be to human resources, perhaps to the Public Service Commissioner, perhaps to the Commissioner of Official Languages. You have to give us a clear answer. It's extremely important for us.

[Claire Dansereau]

I can officially say that it's part of what we call the MAF—and I really apologize for just using the English acronym. As part of what we do every year through the MAF, we report on the official languages of work and on what we do to—

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

And who receives that report?

[Claire Dansereau]

It's the Treasury Board.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Earlier you made a comment that shook me a little. You said that your official language efforts were focused on the departments or provinces where it's necessary to make them. However, there are francophones across Canada. There are anglophone everywhere as well, so the department has to display its bilingualism from coast to coast.

[An hon. member]

A mari usque ad mare.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Yes.

It troubles me to hear you say that you make efforts in certain regions. There are francophones in Nova Scotia, in Yellowknife and in Whitehorse; there are francophones everywhere who can work for your department or for any other department, and who are fighting to defend and protect their language and to work in their language.

So your comment earlier shook me somewhat. I'd like you to tell me a little more about that.

[Claire Dansereau]

Yes, I'll definitely be pleased to do that.

This is a matter of determining the bilingual regions relative to unilingual regions, and the directives are quite clear. The designated bilingual regions are bilingual based mainly on employee rights. Ultimately, the bilingual or non-bilingual designation is based on the percentage of citizens who are anglophones or francophones. It's for language of work. As for offer of service across Canada, we provide an offer of bilingual service. After the first offer, if the person needs that service in another language in Vancouver, for example, which is a designated unilingual anglophone region with regard to language of work, we provide a bilingual offer.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

But if a francophone answers you and is interested, what do you do?

[Claire Dansereau]

The person who answers the telephone will ensure that we provide that person with service in French. For client service purposes, we offer bilingual service. For employee rights and work on a day-to-day basis in the office itself, it's designated unilingual. It's somewhat the best effort, but it's also the act that—

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I get the impression that can be improved.

[Claire Dansereau]

Yes, absolutely. It could be improved.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

How many employees do you have at Fisheries and Oceans Canada?