Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2017

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

How many translators were cut by the previous government? Because we were running into a cement wall. I don't want to play politics, but what was the scenario on the ground? I mean, adding 19, but also not eliminating 30 plus, that's 50 plus. That's exceptional on the first move. What in the long-term plan—you've talked about the short term—is different as far as the cuts taking place are concerned and what we need to do? Because of course, if Mr. Brison and Treasury Board approve that it's mandatory, now we're into major work.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you.

The number I have for those who were lost through attrition was 450. It's a significant number when you consider how many employees we now have in the Bureau.

I think our number now is 1,300...?

[Marie Lemay]

It's close to 1,200 FTEs.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

It's close to 1,200 full-time employees.

It was a significant number, and it obviously had to have an impact. I want to go back again to your work and the work of this committee that enabled us to look at things a little differently and enabled us to look at other measures that we could take and should take. Again, in keeping with the philosophy behind where we are as a government and as the party of official bilingualism, it was really important for us to look at and respond to your report, but at the same time to hear your outcry because it really wasn't thorough enough and to say, “Well, if it wasn't, aren't there other things we could be doing?”

That's what leadership is about. That's what being in a department is about. That's what having different entities and departments is about: allowing them to look beyond, allowing them to go the extra mile, and allowing them to come up with.... When I first met with the Translation Bureau, I remember saying to them that the sky is the limit. We may not be able to do it all, I said, but I said to think beyond what they would normally think of as things we'd like to see happen within the Translation Bureau. I commend the Translation Bureau for doing that, but I also commend each and every one of you for the role that you played in helping us get there. Eventually we would have, but working with you makes a difference.

To go to quality, I want to again repeat that the new position of chief quality officer is really important to me. That individual will report to the new CEO.

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

Thank you very much.

I know my dream was up there too.

I'll finish, but maybe someone will continue the question. I did want to ask what measures will be put in place for accountability to ensure that it is happening on the ground, that it continues to happen, and that the improvements are in place. I know that I've run out of time, but maybe some of my colleagues might allow you some time to expand on that. I'd really appreciate hearing about that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

I'll now turn the floor over to René Arseneault.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Foote.

I'm sure my colleague from Nova Scotia will agree with me when I say that the light often comes from Atlantic Canada.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

I'm kidding. Honestly, thank you.

I want to add some things to the first part of our friend Darrell Samson's brief remarks.

Since being elected, I've participated in several committees, and I can say that this committee is special. The clear, specific and strong recommendations made were the result of an incredible joint effort by our liberal, conservative and new democrat colleagues. The work was astonishing. Since this meeting is public, I want Canadians to know it. Democracy works. We often hear quite cynical comments about democracy, but it works well. Your department was given quality recommendations and was therefore able to take quality action. Thank you.

I would have wanted to ask you the same questions as my colleagues and tell you the same things. However, I won't repeat all their remarks.

My legal expert and lawyer side tells me that the minister before me is responsible for purchases from toilet paper to jet aircraft, in the same way she's responsible for services ranging from simple carpet cleaning to optimal security services. The Translation Bureau is included in all this.

We need to think of the future. I imagine that Minister Foote won't be here for the next 50 years. How can we make sure that, in the future, for all procurement of goods and services, translation will be considered a service of unique quality in Canada, as you said at the outset? How can we make sure that, in five or ten years, we won't need to present the arguments again, and the service will remain as crucial as you describe it today?

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

I can certainly attest to the fact that as long as this government continues to exist there will be a place for the Translation Bureau and it will be focused on quality. There is no doubt about that.

Within the government itself, it really doesn't matter where it's located as long as the commitment is there to do what needs to be done to respond positively and, again, to promote and defend official bilingualism. That is as much as we can commit to as a government.

As you know, we've talked about jobs lost, and I'm glad you took the time to commend your colleagues on the committee, because the committee did work very hard to come up with very concrete recommendations. I appreciate that. The reality is that not every government thinks the same way, but I can assure you as minister and as a member of this government that we will deliver on the measures we have announced today. I'd like to think that the proof will be in the results: that people will see that these were the right measures to take, and that because we have an obligation as a country to respect both official languages whoever follows this government will look at the impact of these measures after they were introduced.

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

Thank you.

More concretely, I was pleased to learn that the much talked-about co-op program will be restored so that students in the process of becoming translators can have internship opportunities.

It's supposed to start in spring 2017. Will it happen that quickly?

[Marie Lemay]

Yes.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Absolutely. We've already put out the ask. We've had expressions of interest from eight universities, I think, so the interest is there. This is something that we should have been doing before and that previous governments should have been doing. We all should have been taking advantage of an opportunity where you have a co-op program, where we have people who are adhering to the idea of official bilingualism and who focus on quality. For us, this is an opportunity. While we say that it's five years, this can go on forever as long as we have the students we need in the co-op program to deliver on the program through the Translation Bureau.

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

Thank you, Minister Foote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Arseneault.

We'll now move on to Sylvie Boucher.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Hello, Madam Minister. Thank you so much.

First of all, all the work we have done together would not have been possible without all the witnesses and interpreters who came to meet with us, and I commend them for that. I must say that, in this committee, we have risen above political games, as my Liberal friends said, and we have put citizens first in our discussions. We often debate our respective visions, which are not necessarily the same, but we have done a tremendous amount of work in this committee with regard to translation. I would especially like to thank all the witnesses who appeared, who took the time to come and share their concerns with us. We have worked together to ensure that their vision, our vision as parliamentarians, lines up with your vision, Ms. Foote. I must thank you as well.

I would like to play politics a bit though, but just for two minutes. Your party is not necessarily the party of bilingualism. If that were the case, the official languages would be included in Ms. Joly's title.

That said, we have had concerns regarding interpreters because the issue of privatization has often been raised. Can you reassure us that the Translation Bureau will not be privatized?

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

My goal with the Translation Bureau is to make sure we deliver the quality services that we should be delivering. We want to do that with our employees. We want to build the morale of our employees. At this point, we are hiring additional employees, so it is certainly not my goal to privatize the Translation Bureau. Again, I think we have an obligation as a government to provide quality services because this government is committed to official bilingualism.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Would you like to add something, Mr. Généreux?

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

Yes, if I may.

Last Tuesday, we welcomed witnesses who kindly came to share their concerns. They include Mr. Thompson and Ms. Gagnon, who represent all translators and interpreters in Canada. I truly believe that they have made a very conscientious contribution. They have helped us better understand how the federal government works and how outside groups can influence it. They influence us as parliamentarians to make decisions that benefit all Canadians. So I would like to salute their presence here today and thank them once again for their work. They have approached us all with great respect, regardless of our party. Their arguments were very strong. This is how Canadians can contribute to the evolution of our society, and of the successive governments guiding us over the years. We must thank them for that.

I would also like to say that the committee works very closely together to address the real needs of Canadians and to safeguard the essential place of the official languages in Canada. I think that we all agree on that, regardless of our party affiliation.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I will turn it over to Mr. Vandal.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Hello, Madam Minister.

First of all, I would like to thank you on behalf of my constituents of Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital, in Winnipeg. It is clearly a priority for them and for all Canadians. You have addressed a controversial issue, and you have truly found solutions that are not just for the short term, but for the long term, I hope.

I know that the last 10 years have been difficult for the department. Positions have been left unfilled, and there have been cuts and contracting out, which was an approach that did the bare minimum to comply with the requirements of the Official Languages Act. Based on what you've said today, I'm confident that this has changed, but what insurance or what measures can you point to such that the improvements we're going to get in the short term are going to stay with us in the long term?

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

I think our commitment to hiring additional employees is an important part of this, as is our commitment to co-operate with the universities that have the co-op programs and to make that an ongoing initiative. I think the idea that we're putting in a chief quality officer who will report to the CEO is important as well, as is the idea that I'd like to see the use of the Translation Bureau made mandatory. Those are all measures that we are taking now as a government.

You have referenced the fact that people weren't hired.... Once they left, they left. It was through attrition. We lost a significant number of individuals from the Translation Bureau. That's a decision that was made by the government of the day.

From my perspective here with you today, allow me to repeat that we are the party of official bilingualism. We're a government that's committed to quality. We want to make sure that we provide the services that Canadians need. We want to engage all the stakeholders. If you look at the department I lead, you'll see that it's a lot about consultation. It's about reaching out to the stakeholders and recognizing that no one person or group has all the answers.

From our perspective here and working closely.... I'm so pleased to hear the reference to the interpreters and the translators, those who came forward to be witnesses to the committee. That was really important. We need to hear first-hand what their experiences were and what they have to say about those experiences.

We're going to do everything we can to ensure the measures we are taking last for a very long time.

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

You talked about hiring 50 students this year, I believe, and a co-op program with the universities.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Yes.

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

Can you tell us more about how the co-op program will work?

Since my time is nearly up, I would like to say right away just how much I hope that you are still thinking of including the Université de Saint-Boniface as one of the Canadian universities in this initiative.