Official Languages Committee on Oct. 25th, 2012

[Graham Fraser]

There's nothing specifically related to the Parks Canada report.

In the past we have had complaints about the RCMP. The RCMP has certain obligations in certain areas, but not in others. Where that has been problematic and ultimately became settled by the courts was in New Brunswick, where there was a conflict between what the federal government designated as a bilingual region and what New Brunswick designated as a bilingual region. Basically the courts said that the RCMP had to meet the higher standard. The RCMP has had some challenges in being able to offer services in both languages.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Do I have any more time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

You have time for a very brief question and a very brief answer.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you.

If you have any information, could you focus specifically with regard to Banff National Park, where the RCMP has a detachment, as well as Lake Louise? Have you noticed an improvement, shall we say, in providing both official languages?

[Graham Fraser]

I'll have to get back to you on that and I would be happy to do so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Prior to being elected, Mr. Wilks was an officer in the RCMP, so he knows a little bit about what he's talking about.

We'll now go to Mr. Dionne Labelle.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here.

Mr. Dion shared his concerns earlier regarding the low bilingualism rate among young people in Canada. It is said that the example comes from our leaders. This year, the examples provided by the government are not very good. The trivialization of appointing unilingual anglophones to positions such as Supreme Court justice and auditor general sends a terrible message to young Canadians. The message seems to be that they do not have to learn French because they will have access to the highest government positions anyway. That is a very bad message, a very bad strategy.

In your annual report, you recommend that the Minister of Industry create a support mechanism to encourage Canadian companies to develop their bilingual capacities. That is how I have understood your recommendation. You probably know that our party introduced, through MP Robert Aubin, a bill seeking to harmonize the Canada Labour Code with the Quebec labour legislation, so that thousands of Quebec workers employed by companies that fall under federal jurisdiction can also have the language rights granted by the charter. Five months ago, the government struck a committee, but that committee has still not begun its work.

Yesterday, I looked at the statistics on the use of French in Montreal. I think the situation is worrisome.

The right to work in French is not protected for employees who work for companies in Quebec that come under federal jurisdiction. What do you think about that? We have not heard you say much about that situation.

[Graham Fraser]

We have considered the issue. Our concern is somewhat technical, as some of those institutions are already subject to the Official Languages Act. The bill would make them subject to two different language regimes, which would be a problem. We have actually raised that....

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

It's better to protect twice than once. In Quebec, especially in some banks, all the top executives speak only English. Their employees have to communicate with them in English. Their right to use French at work is not being protected.

Those businesses fall under federal jurisdiction. It seems to me that a message is being sent when it comes to protecting French, at least in Quebec.

[Graham Fraser]

Exactly. We had waited, as we thought we would be able to better identify the problem once the committee you mentioned had examined the issue, but so far....

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

They have not been working hard.

[Graham Fraser]

We also want to consult the QCGN and the FCFA. This is an important issue, and we are paying special attention to it.

However, as those institutions are not subject to the Official Languages Act, I don't receive any complaints about them. That's why it is difficult for me to determine the scope of this problem. That's actually why I wanted to see what the committee thought about this issue. However, I am not fully satisfied.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Yes, we aren't fully satisfied.

As I have a bit of time left, I will come back to the statistics.

Francophone communities outside Quebec basically have three ways to ensure their survival: their birth rate, their ability to integrate allophones and the control of the assimilation rate. However, based on what I heard yesterday and what we have seen since 1971, I would say that there's much work to be done in that area.

I see that there is no government plan, especially in terms of immigration. Although francophones represent about 14% of the population outside Quebec, their communities receive only 4% of allophone immigrants. Considering the other factors involved, the decline can be readily expected.

What kind of a plan should the government adopt—be it in terms of the economy, immigration or education—to ensure the longevity and development of francophone communities?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Dionne Labelle.

Mr. Fraser, you have the floor.

[Graham Fraser]

I think that, across the country, communities are increasingly recognizing the importance of immigration to their development. There is a government policy aimed at increasing francophone immigration in those communities, but the fact that the provinces have taken back the power to select immigrants changes things. Be that as it may, I think that few provinces have a specific target. I think that Manitoba and New Brunswick are the only provinces that recruit abroad. In my opinion, the provinces and their local francophone associations should pool their efforts and use immigration to improve their institutions and the vitality of those communities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Ms. Bateman, over to you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for joining us, along with your team. I am proud to be here.

I want to begin by specifying that I am an anglophone and that I have two bilingual children because our school system and our country value both languages. The fact that my children are bilingual is a gift. I am very interested in the comments from your report.

You talked about Manitoba. Like myself, you hail from that province, and I am proud of that.

[Graham Fraser]

I am not from Manitoba. I was only giving Manitoba as an example because of how successful its immigration program has been.

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

No, but it's not just....

[Graham Fraser]

I have to admit something to you: I am from Ottawa.

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

Yes, but not only immigrants value both languages. It's very important to understand that.

In my riding, francophones account for less than 0.1% of the population, but many parents like me value both languages and enrol their children in late or total immersion programs. As I pointed out, that's a real gift.

So don't forget about the anglophones who value French, as they are a key element to your success.

[Graham Fraser]

I fully agree with you. Actually, one of the organizations whose work I greatly appreciate is Canadian Parents for French, which has done so much on the ground.

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

Yes.

[Graham Fraser]

I have noticed something in Manitoba's case. That's one of the only provinces, if not the only one, where the teachers from immersion schools and those from francophone schools belong to the same association.

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

I was a counsellor.