Official Languages Committee on April 15th, 2010

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I should stress that I am very much open to doing so and I have emphasized the need to introduce a new bill.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Are you going to do so this spring?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

That is possible, yes.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

A committee member whom you know well, Royal Galipeau, informed us, just like the newspaper Le Droit, that Michel Thibodeau had trouble at one point with Air Ontario. It ended up in court. In the end, the court found in favour of Mr. Thibodeau and ordered that Air Ontario pay him $7,000 for the injustice he faced when he asked to be served in French by a partner. Last February, through the media, Mr. Thibodeau asked you if you had any intention of tackling this again and introducing legislation. He never ended up getting an answer. I'd strongly encourage you, Mr. Baird, to use all your influence within cabinet because this is extremely important.

Unilingual flight attendants have power over those of us who are bilingual. Unilingual anglophone flight attendants have power over unilingual francophones. Those francophones are entitled to service in their language. That's what the law says. I've even tested this myself. I have filed complaints with the commissioner because the service we get from Air Canada and its partners is extremely rude in many ways. I hope that you will have more than just a feeling, but a real political will to make this issue a priority.

Tell me, what steps are currently being taken to put this bill back on the order paper so that it can be studied as soon as possible?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

We're ready to introduce a bill in the House. Of course, I have now taken under advisement your suggestion and that of your colleague from Ottawa—Vanier, that is that it may be a priority to move ahead with this this spring. I'm going to share your opinion with my parliamentary House leader and we will see when this could be done.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

The committee called on the official languages commissioner, Mr. Fraser, to prepare something for us to help us with a future bill. When the bill is studied, in the very near future, we hope, we intend to make contributions to improve the legislation. What can you see that might enhance the bill?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Are you asking me if I have a bill—

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

I'm referring to the bill which was introduced and which you're aware of, the one that died on the order paper due to—

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

The former—

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Do you think that there's anything that should be improved in the bill?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

We're definitely going to have to make some changes. The bill was drafted two years ago. There have been corporate changes. Jazz is now no longer a part of Air Canada. Their relationship has changed, which forces us to make changes to the previous bill.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Is there anything that you would like to add to improve the bill, to strengthen it?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Of course. Currently, Ace Aviation is not subject to the Air Canada Public Participation Act, nor is it subject to the Official Languages Act. So that's the first thing we're going to have to do.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.

We'll continue with Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Minister, welcome to the committee.

You said that there have been a lot of changes since the bill was announced. You also said yourself, Minister, that since 2004, Jazz has been a third party with respect to Air Canada, that is that it is no longer really a part of the company. That's what you said earlier, isn't it?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Currently, Jazz is not part of Air Canada. Jazz is an independent company. Over the last two weeks there have been changes at Jazz. It was about to purchase Skyservice Airlines.

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

Mr. Baird, we are in 2010. In 2006 there was a bill, but since 2007 there has not been one. Are we supposed to wait for the next 100 years so that Jazz and Air Canada can make all their changes before we see a bill or will we have a comprehensive bill so that everything that is connected to Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act?

I received a letter from you on February 17, 2010, which stated that since the privatization of Air Canada in 1988-89 a number of obligations were imposed on the corporation pursuant to the Air Canada Public Participation Act mentioned in a letter I sent you. You said that official languages obligations still apply to Air Canada pursuant to the above-mentioned act.

Meanwhile, Minister, Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Ground Services, Air Canada Vacations and former Air Canada subsidiaries have become independent corporations. That was the reason why there had been a bill. It was to try to ensure that all those entities that had left would be subject to the act.

You yourself have just said that the official languages commissioner has no authority over Jazz because it is not a federal entity. You're practically telling me that you do not have any authority over it either. Who is going to address the problem of Air Canada and these third parties?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Air Canada was responsible for its subcontractors pursuant to the Official Languages Act and pursuant to the Public Participation Act. That is a fact.

I heard, from your colleague the member for Ottawa—Vanier, that there was a complaints division at Air Canada for Air Canada and for Jazz. I inquired about the substance of the complaints. I asked the commissioner about them and he told me that he did not have statistics as to whether the complaints were regarding Air Canada or Jazz. In fact, the complaints would be the best source of information on this point.

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

I am certain you've been made aware of the complaint I made against Air Canada which I sent to the Commissioner of Official Languages. On March 11, I took a flight from Montreal to Bathurst. The person was an anglophone and did not speak French. I took the Bathurst to Montreal flight and the person did not speak French either. People from Air Canada say that they checked with Jazz. The individual refused to speak in both languages, but was considered bilingual. So, who is going to do the work? Who is going to compel Jazz—not Jazz, but Air Canada, to respect the Official Languages Act?

This is the reason why I believe, and I think that you would see the use in it yourself, that there should be a bill to ensure that Air Canada respects the Official Languages Act. Would you agree with me?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I agree with the fact that we need a new bill. I've already said that. I will share your comments with my colleagues. As I've stated, I will also speak to my House leader to determine a date when we could table such a bill.

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

Minister, you have commended the committee for its good work. I would suggest that this bill be introduced in the House of Commons, as my colleagues mentioned, and referred to this committee so we may study it and help you.

You said that the company had to be viable. Would that prevent it from respecting the official languages of Canada?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I didn't say it was in good shape or viable. There's no doubt that the airline industry is in pretty tough shape. Air Canada came precariously close to going bankrupt last summer. A private-sector-led consortium had to pump a billion dollars into it, and they also had to take a major foreign equity to provide them with additional working capital. So I in no way, shape, or form said the industry is strong. It has struggled. That doesn't, though, eliminate or provide excuse for them not to meet their obligations under law.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

We will now continue with—

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Or any other law—whether it's civil aviation's safety or whether it's official languages, they have to follow the law.