Official Languages Committee on Nov. 24th, 2016

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

Mr. Chair, may I speak?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You have the floor.

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

Private businesses obviously attend each of the Destination Canada fairs. How are those businesses selected? Do most of them come from urban centres? Do some come from rural areas?

[Jean Viel]

Part of my answer will be somewhat anecdotal, and I apologize for that. Perhaps we can send you more factual information at a later date.

Businesses from all sectors attend Destination Canada. We often make the mistake of automatically speaking about francophone businesses. The event is open to all businesses, whether they are in rural or urban areas. We saw businesses from the west, for example, attend Destination Canada a few years ago to hire truck drivers and heavy equipment mechanical specialists.

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

However, the event is not attended by 3,000 businesses. How is the selection made?

[Jean Viel]

It is simple. We have to know whether they have job offers for potential francophone immigrants? If that is the case, they are welcome.

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

Is it as simple as that?

[Jean Viel]

It has to be based in large part on job offers. Employment is not a new idea for anyone here.

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

Mr. Viel, you come from Rivière-du-Loup. So I have a conflict of interest with you.

I did not know it, but I am the member for the riding where Mr. Viel was born.

You are familiar with businesses from your part of the country, such as Premier Tech, Aliments Asta, in Saint-Alexandre, and duBreton, in Rivière-du-Loup. They bring in immigrants, particularly from Colombia and the Philippines, to fill pork processing positions. They are having trouble finding employees.

Would those businesses be welcome at these fairs? We want to go after people who speak French, but they are forced to hire people who do not speak a word of it. I cannot remember what language they speak, but translators are required in order to train them.

[Jean Viel]

You are obviously talking about immigration to Quebec.

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

Yes.

[Jean Viel]

I am far from being an expert on the immigration program in Quebec, but, from what I know, Quebec has its own recruitment missions abroad to recruit the necessary manpower.

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

Is it nevertheless possible for Quebec businesses to attend Destination Canada?

[Jean Viel]

As I told you, Quebec has control over—

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

Does Quebec take part in the missions when Destination Canada—

[Jean Viel]

There is obviously close cooperation between Quebec's office and colleagues from our department at the Canadian embassy in Paris.

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

I see.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Choquette, you have the floor.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I believe I have three minutes.

Just before asking my questions, I would like to table a notice of motion. I believe you have it before you. It could be debated at greater length next week. It reads as follows:

That the Committee ask the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Honourable Judy Foote, to delay the implementation of the Translation Bureau's new procurement system for interpretation services until the Committee has heard from the Canadian chapter of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AllC Canada) and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada on this issue.

I know that many of you met the representatives of AIIC Canada, the International Association of Conference Interpreters, who explained to us that the new procurement system was really a problem. It is currently delayed between phases, but it may be introduced in January, when we will not be here since we will be in our ridings.

I think it would be good for the committee to consider the possibility of exercising a little pressure so that we can have at least one meeting with the minister, particularly following the Phoenix pay system scandal. If you do not have that opportunity, we should call the AIIC Canada people to find out what this is about. They have asked to appear before the committee. We know that will not be possible until January or February. Consequently, the introduction of the new system should be delayed until we have met and heard them so they can explain their concerns to us.

Mr. Chair, I know not everyone has had the time to meet them in order to understand why this motion is very important, but I am tabling it and leaving it up to you to call them so that we can meet with them. Then, next week, we can debate this motion with my colleagues' consent. Does the committee agree to this way of proceeding?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Choquette, you are still within the three-minute period allotted to you, but I would like to tell committee members that I am waiting for confirmation from Minister Foote, who should be appearing before us on December 6. It would therefore be appropriate to postpone consideration of your motion.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Talking about motions, I wonder when we plan to work on the report?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

The dates for work on the report are already scheduled.

I ask the witnesses to pardon us for discussing these routine matters.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, if my colleagues are in agreement, perhaps we could adjourn a little earlier to discuss the date of Ms. Foote's appearance.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I unfortunately have to attend another committee meeting immediately after this one. I have only 15 minutes between the two meetings.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I am talking about finishing earlier, not extending the meeting.