Evidence of meeting #54 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 employees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
March 24th, 2011 / 9:10 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to welcome you to the committee.
According to the documentation, a survey conducted by the commissioner's office showed that 59% of francophone employees and 66% of anglophone employees at Industry Canada felt free to use the official language of their choice in their written correspondence.
That means that 41% of francophone employees do not feel comfortable doing so. Is that correct?
9:10 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I think that the survey contained a range of five possible answers. Some people's answers were somewhere in the middle: Those people were not sure whether they agreed or not.
You cannot simply subtract 59 from 100 to obtain the 41% that you mentioned.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
It does say that 59% of francophone employees and 66% of anglophone employees at Industry Canada reported feeling comfortable using the language of their choice in their written correspondence.
If you make the calculation, 41% of people do not feel free to do so.
9:15 a.m.
Director General, Human Resources Branch, Department of Industry
The 41% are divided into three categories, including those who did not answer because they did not know what to state, and those who disagreed and indicated that there was a problem to be fixed.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
According to the survey conducted by the commissioner's office, 64% of francophone employees and 34% anglophone employees at Industry Canada reported feeling free to speak with their immediate supervisors in the official language of their choice.
You said earlier that you wanted to go to Montreal to meet with anglophones there. Is that correct?
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
That is all relative. There are two types of surveys. In some cases, the office of the commissioner used the results of a survey that was conducted among all public servants. For example, the sample in Montreal was made up of 20 anglophones, of whom 13 responded. Out of those 13, three or four indicated that there were some problems.
As public servants within a department, we believe that all sources of data should be validated in order to ensure that—
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, that is normal procedure.
Where will you go to validate the results pertaining to francophones? You did not mention the francophone region you would visit. Where will you be going?
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
According to the commissioner, that explained in large part why our rating fell from a B to a D. I first wanted to set priorities and target those areas with the most significant problems, as identified by the commissioner.
With regard to usage, we could ask managers to continue strengthening—
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
That was not what I wanted to know. You said that you would be meeting directly with employees on the ground to ask them why they feel the way they do.
Where will you go to meet with francophones who expressed similar sentiments?
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
That is a good question. What would you suggest?
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I know, but if you are aware of any—
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Allow me to give you an example concerning Industry Canada. Part VII of the act refers to the promotion of French and English. Let me quote section 41:41.(1) The Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
Your department has the same objectives, no? You are subject to part VII, including the duty to foster recognition. We met the francophone community in Newfoundland. When people at Industry Canada must deal with ACOA, they have to turn to people in Moncton in order to obtain bilingual service, because there is no such thing in Newfoundland.
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
What programs are you referring to?
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
There are Industry Canada programs for francophone communities. Part of their mandate is to advance official languages.
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I believe that ACOA is responsible for those programs.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
9:15 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Yes, but ACOA has its own minister and deputy minister. I have no responsibility over ACOA.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Very well. I will rephrase my question. Although ACOA does not fall under Industry Canada, your department must nevertheless foster the advancement of French in Canada. What are you doing for the francophone community in Newfoundland?