Evidence of meeting #43 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 departments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
The staff was larger before.
12:45 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
The team was bigger prior to 2006.
12:45 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
I would have to check.
12:45 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
Let's just say that the team operated differently. The direction we've taken is to make the departments responsible and to build on the support we have across the 200 institutions subject to the act. Each of them has at least one person responsible for official languages, a champion. The big departments have entire teams. The idea was to focus on giving those people tools, since they are the ones working on official languages and the ones most familiar with their department's operational reality.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
Do you have the resources you need to do your job? Were you better off before? Did you have an easier time doing your job before?
12:45 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We have what we need to do our work.
During our briefing—
12:45 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We have diverging views, and I really don't want there to be any misunderstanding with the committee, which I have the utmost respect for. I want to provide the committee members with whatever information I can. You are asking us to operate in a way that does not line up with what Treasury Board asks of us. That is the constraint I'm under.
I operate however the Treasury Board dictates. I am bound by that. I am able to satisfy the Treasury Board's requirements with my 22 or 23 employees. We see ongoing improvement being made. Earlier, we briefly talked about the figures from 2004 to 2015. Things continue to improve. The results are positive. I simply don't have the framework you are asking me to apply.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative John Nater
Very good.
Okay. If there's nothing further—
Yes, Mr. Choquette?
12:50 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
On second thought, yes, I would like to say something. I'll make it very quick.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Job postings are still a concern for me. We talked about them. You indicated that we would likely see some results from the working group in the spring.
Would you mind sharing the working group's results with the committee?
12:50 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
No, of course not. During the technical briefing, we would be pleased to tell you about all our activities.
12:50 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
We've held three meetings, I believe. I can't speak for the commissioner's office. We expect to identify potential solutions come the spring. We can definitely share that with you.
12:50 p.m.
Director, Policy and Legislation, Treasury Board Secretariat
We haven't yet decided what form the report will take. We are at the data collection stage. That said, a report will certainly be produced. Potential solutions need to be laid out. That will come from the group's work.
12:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We could share the information we collect with you.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
The important thing is that you let the committee know once you've completed the work. Then, we will invite you to share your findings with us.
12:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Of course.