Official Languages Committee on May 30th, 2016

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

It's always nice for me to hear that I am kind. I appreciate that.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

We agree with you on the fact that Mr. Samson is very nice.

I find it very admirable and good that you have named your girls Claire and Rose, the idea being that they have names that can be said easily in both languages. My children are named Sarah, William, Simon and Victoria for the same reasons, that is to say that their names can be pronounced as easily in French as in English. My children went to a French school. They are bilingual and even trilingual. The more languages one speaks, the better. In any case, I wanted to congratulate you.

Earlier you spoke about the champions in the organization, and of the fact that you try to adopt best practices and transfer them. How does this work? I would like you to tell us about the official languages champions. How did you manage to transfer the best practices? How did you go about it?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

In certain departments and agencies, there are official languages champions to promote the use of both official languages and share best practices everywhere. Frankly, we have to do more, and I would like to increase our efforts to improve services in government, in departments, agencies and among public servants, to improve the services we provide to citizens. That is a part of our efforts in this area.

The role of the official languages champions as a policy has only existed since 2012. It's a fairly short period of time.

I very much like the idea and I think they're doing good work. I want to strengthen the roles of the official languages champions. Even during our briefings it's important to encourage public servants to speak in the language of their choice, not just in my department or agency but elsewhere.

I don't want to miss anything. You may notice that in a committee sometimes, but even in cabinet meetings or in caucus meetings, I don't use the earpiece because it helps to improve my ability. This is a tool. It's important in an official capacity, sometimes, to have this so I don't miss anything and I don't disrespect any nuance in a question.

We want to ensure that people are encouraged to utilize their language of choice, but also to learn actively within the public service. Good progress has been made in the official languages champions but I want to make sure that we're giving them the resources and support they need to increase the value and capacity of their work.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you very much.

We know that our Prime Minister experienced linguistic duality and was raised in both official languages. In fact, he always uses both languages when he talks to us.

At Treasury Board, have people felt a new climate of openness regarding official languages? Have any changes been noticed? The previous government has been referred to repeatedly, but I would like to know if over the past seven months, people have been satisfied with the openness of our new government with regard to official languages.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Ms. Lapointe, I think that Ms. Smart or Mr. Tremblay can answer your question if they want to. It is up to them. That said, it is difficult for public servants or government officials to answer that type of question.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Yes.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

It is up to them, but they might be made to seem partisan. I understand why it is difficult for them to answer that question.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

It's a difficult question for them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Ms. Lapointe, perhaps I can settle the issue, since your time is up.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Your smiles were sufficient.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Ms. Smart, you have a few seconds.

[Anne Marie Smart, Chief Human Resources Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I can confirm that official languages are an inherent part of daily activities at Treasury Board. When we were preparing our meeting today with the minister, things took place entirely in French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Very well, madam. Thank you very much.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

That must have been tiring for the public servants.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being with us today.

Talking about our spouses and partners, my wife is an anglophone Montrealer so I have been having lessons. I laugh about it because I would say that I learn on the pillow, which is the best place to learn English, and she was in the best place to learn French as well.

We both make a lot of mistakes. I've been married for 27 years to an anglophone and I've been making mistakes for 27 years. I could call her Ms. Berlitz or Rosetta Stone, because she is starting to get fed up. Nevertheless, I think we have to make those efforts. Our children were raised in French and in English. In fact, the Committee on Official Languages should propose that Canadians in future be made to marry persons who speak the other official language. That way, they would become bilingual quite quickly.

But seriously, Minister, your government has some big ambitions with regard to the public service and to hiring, especially young people. That is what we understood, in any case based, on what has been said over the past few months.

How are you going to implement equity, in that the Canadian men and women who are hired by the public service, especially young people, respect our official languages?

As Ms. Lapointe was saying earlier, our young people now are very inclined to learn other languages. Consequently, I think that there are surely Canadian men and women who are equipped to work in our public service. More specifically, is it a top priority to hire these young people?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

One of our government's priorities is to hire more millennials. The average age of new employees in the public service is 36. We have to do more to attract them to the public service.

The percentage of bilingual employees in the central public administration has gone from 35% in 2000 to 41% in 2010. There has been some progress, but we have to do more.

We have to give public servants even more opportunities to become bilingual earlier in their careers. There are the traditional schools in Saint-Jean, Montreal or Chicoutimi. People can also use technology, which is more advanced than it used to be. That's very important.

But the problem persists. Our country has to do more to increase bilingualism everywhere in the country, and not only in the public service. We have to work on this with the other levels of government and the Department of Canadian Heritage. It is very important to continue our efforts to make the public service more bilingual. That is one part of the solution, but we have to do more throughout the country to increase and promote bilingualism.

I'm sorry, Mr. Généreux, that we don't have more time to talk about it.

It's a subject I'd like to have a longer discussion on with you as well.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

No problem.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Vandal, you have the floor.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and thank you very much, Mr. Brison.

As the representative of a minority francophone community in Winnipeg, I very much appreciate your efforts to promote French. Your leadership in the country is truly exemplary in this regard.

I read the report that is before us.

I'm wondering if you knew that in 2010 we had 1,715 employees, full time, and by 2013, we were down to 1,397 for a loss of about 315 employees. I'm wondering, Mr. Brison, if you were aware of that and if you could offer any insight or comment on that.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I was aware of the decrease in the number of positions in the translation bureau. Once again, I have a lot of respect for the important work the bureau does. Our government will ensure that it has the necessary resources to maintain its services.

Our government's objective is to broaden the services of the bureau and its capacity to serve the public with traditional means and with the help of technology. All departments have to be open to using modern technology.

I was aware of the changes and of the reduction in the number of positions. My priority is to ensure that the quality of services is excellent and will continue to be.

Moreover, we are open to the use, at the translation bureau, of technology as a comprehension tool, for instance.

We are open to the idea that technology be used everywhere to increase bilingualism in the public service. I think that everyone understands the phenomenon of technological change. However, we must recognize the role of professional translators, which is very important. We have to ensure that we have enough of those translators in the public service.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Do I have any time left Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You have one minute.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

We have often heard it said that the Portage translation tool is in fact a comprehension tool and that it is not adequate for communication.

It's a comprehension tool and not a communication tool. Can you comment on that briefly in the time we have?