Evidence of meeting #117 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Mélanie Joly  Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
Emmanuella Lambropoulos  Saint-Laurent, Lib.
Mona Fortier  Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.
Jean Rioux  Saint-Jean, Lib.
Denis Racine  Director General, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yvan Déry  Senior Director, Policy and Research, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
France Fortier  Acting Director, Operations and Regional Coordination, Official Languages Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Thank you very much.

We now move to François Choquette.

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Thank you, Madam Minister.

I would like to continue with the subject that Ms. Lambropoulos just mentioned.

Does “very soon” mean ”in 2018”?

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

That's great. So, it will be in a month or two. That is very good news.

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

Yes, it is very good news.

We are pleased to have revived the court challenges program. To answer my colleague's question, I should say that the court challenges program was abolished by the previous government.

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Congratulations on reviving it.

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

We felt it was important to do so.

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

That's great.

The exact date of the decision escapes me, but how did you feel when you became aware of the Federal Court judgment in the matter of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique versus Employment and Social Development Canada?

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

That case is currently before the court.

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Yes, but what do you think about it personally?

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

Because it is currently before the court, I will respect their independence, but the impact of the judgment concerned me and still does.

That is why I decided to send a letter to all my cabinet colleagues, so that I could assure myself that they still support more positive measures from the government. In fact, for our official language minority communities to really have some vitality, we need Part VII to be strong. The Supreme Court tells us that our interpretation of Part VII must be broad and liberal.

I will be happy to continue this conversation both in the context of the modernization of the Official Languages Act and of any other instrument needed to maintain Part VII and the vitality of official language minority communities.

9:15 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

I am happy to learn that it concerned you and that are still worried.

I know that the FCFA and the QCGN sent you a joint letter on the matter. It was after that letter that you sent a letter to all your colleagues pointing out the importance of continuing to comply with the same rules of Part VII and reminding them that they still apply.

The Commissioner of Official Languages also changes his way of seeing things. I do not know whether we can still talk about the Netflix agreement—it happened when you were Minister of Canadian Heritage—but it also involves official languages and Part VII of the act. I am one of those complaining about that confidential agreement between the government and Netflix, and I received an answer. Seeing that answer, and in the light of the new interpretation of Part VII, it can be said that “positive measures” no longer means anything.

What would be a good definition of “positive measures” for you?

9:15 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

First of all, I had the opportunity to speak to the Commissioner of Official Languages last week and to encourage him to give his mandate a broad and liberal interpretation. With a proactive commissioner, while we respect his independence—which is fundamental—we can be assured of having language rights not only protected but also promoted.

As for the Netflix agreement, I must tell you that we are very proud that we were able to secure needed investments and resources in both our official languages.

As for the way in which we interpret the federal government's overall role in official languages—you ask quite a broad question—it goes without saying that it is a priority for our government. We recognize that the Official Languages Act is a quasi-constitutional act. We recognize that our Constitution protects language rights. By reviving the court challenges program, we can support minority communities that wish to defend their language rights.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Excuse me, Ms. Joly, I only have five or six minutes…

9:20 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

Generally, as I said, in terms of positive measures, it is important for us that the government be proactive.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

I see that it is complicated to define positive measures, isn't it?

9:20 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

No. The government has developed a guide that gives a number of examples.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Can you send us that guide that defines proactive measures?

9:20 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

Yes, with pleasure.

I think the Commissioner of Official Languages talked to you about it. The guide—

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Ms. Joly, I am sorry to interrupt you. I really do not have a lot of time.

Last week, the Commissioner of Official Languages told us that positive measures were everything and nothing at the same time. In other words, for example, the part of the action plan for official languages on early childhood includes positive measures dealing with the Netflix agreement. But there is no connection.

With online language courses, the plan puts the positive measures with Employment and Social Development Canada, in British Columbia. But there is no connection.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

That's what the commissioner said.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

This is why I am asking you about your definition of positive measures in connection with specific cases. For example, with the Netflix agreement, what would be some positive measures in your opinion?

9:20 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

As I told you, there is a guide in the government. My team will be pleased to send it to all committee members.

If the committee is interested in studying that issue, I would be happy to listen to your recommendations, because it is a concern for our government. As I told you, we have a broad and liberal interpretation—

9:20 a.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

I am really sorry to interrupt you, Madam Minister.

I have one last question for you.

9:20 a.m.

Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Mélanie Joly

Fine, go ahead.