Official Languages Committee on Oct. 25th, 2012

[Graham Fraser]

So there is a spirit of co-operation between the two systems, which is not always the case in other systems, where the approach is more competitive. In fact, one side tends to think that one group wins at the expense of the other. However, I was struck by the spirit of co-operation in Manitoba between those two groups of teachers.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I have heard my colleagues say similar things across the country.

I have two quick questions, one of which is very short.

On page 38 of your report, you mentioned that your office received 26 complaints about Elections Canada. Those complaints came from Canadians who said they were unable to vote in the language of their choice. Could you tell us how the 2011 election ranks when it comes to the number of complaints? That's very important.

[Graham Fraser]

Off the top of my head, the figures indicated that there was an improvement from 2006 to 2008, but that there was about the same number of complaints from 2008 to 2011.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Do you have the complaint breakdown by province?

[Graham Fraser]

I think the figure was a bit higher last time—36 or 38, or something like that. There was an improvement from 2008 to 2011.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Do you have the breakdown by province or by region?

[Graham Fraser]

For the complaints, we could....

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Could you check?

[Graham Fraser]

We could provide you with those details. I don't have the figures off the top of my head right now.

In the report, we recognize that Elections Canada is faced with a specific challenge in certain regions of the country. That's in part explained by the fact that, as you know, the people who work on election day are not public servants. They are not Elections Canada employees, but rather employees provided....

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

That's a responsibility....

[Graham Fraser]

...by political parties.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, thank you.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

My time is already up? That's too bad, as I had another question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Ms. Michaud, go ahead.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know that other people want to ask questions, but I was beginning to fear I'd lose my floor time.

I want to thank the whole team from the office of the commissioner for being here. It's always very nice to have you with us.

I would like you to be fairly specific in your answer to my first question, as I want to broach another topic that is just as important but closer to my heart.

On March 30, you submitted a document to us according to which only 4 of the 39 recommendations you had made to the government since 2006 had been completely implemented. In addition, you received no response regarding 12 of them.

In the document you submitted to us, the follow-up covered 2010 and 2011. Have you had any new answers in 2012? Where do things stand in terms of that?

[Graham Fraser]

Ms. Charlebois, I turn to you again. Do you have anything to say about that?

[Ghislaine Charlebois]

Are you talking about the recommendations in the annual reports?

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Yes, among others.

[Sylvain Giguère, Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Communications Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages]

We keep it current by adding updates from time to time. We will check if an update has been made recently. If not, we will do one and send you the information.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Yes, could you do that as quickly as possible, please?

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify something. You mentioned before that you were going to send the committee information about how long it takes to deal with various complaints, did you not? Great, that clears that up.

Now, my main question is about the closure of the maritime search and rescue centre in Quebec. I come from the great region around Quebec City, so this particularly affects me. We have heard concerns from a number of fishers, pleasure craft operators and others. You received a large number of complaints yourself and you produced a report on August 9 in which you made a number of recommendations.

Has there been any response to those recommendations from the government?

[Graham Fraser]

We will follow up on that. Fisheries and Oceans plans to transfer the responsibilities in the fall. We are currently looking at the way in which that transfer will be done.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

But, for the moment, there has been no response to your August 9 report? My understanding is that there has been no government response.

[Graham Fraser]

Not yet, as far as I know.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

NDP members have asked to study this in committee on a number of occasions, actually. There really are a lot of things to consider. It is matter of life or death; often, every second counts. It is important that we study it here.

We hear the excuses that services will not be compromised, and even that it will create savings, although we know that that will not be the case. It is estimated that between $2.5 million and $3.5 million will have to be invested in the centres in Halifax and Trenton so that they are able to accommodate the new employees, and so on. So there are a lot of things to consider and a lot of questions remain.

You have already looked at this, but what concrete steps has your office taken, or are you planning to take, to ensure that services can be provided in French to those who really need them?

[Graham Fraser]

We have made a commitment to follow up on the matter in the spring. This is something that we are following closely.