Evidence of meeting #46 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 questions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
There's no problem with that, but as I already mentioned, very clearly, Statistics Canada must conduct rigorous and very thorough reviews to ensure that those questions are feasible in a census.
Liberal
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
That's the only answer I have for now.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I have two quick questions for you.
I'm sorry, but I just have six minutes.
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
No problem.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Has Statistics Canada consulted experts on education rights in minority communities so that the questions are designed to reflect section 23?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada regularly consults representatives from official language minorities, but not necessarily people from the legal community.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Do you think it would be desirable to consult the constitutional experts who have fought for all those years to build schools in minority settings?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
As I mentioned earlier, as soon as the consultation process is under way, anyone wanting to submit opinions to Statistics Canada—
Liberal
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
—can do so and they will be given consideration—
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
That's not what I was asking, Mr. Corbeil. I don't have much time.
Has Statistics Canada consulted or does it intend to consult its experts?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
We will be consulting anyone able to provide as much useful information as possible to Statistics Canada, so that those needs are met.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
By the way, I suggest that you consult all the Supreme Court decisions that, under the charter, led to authorizations to build schools. Check which lawyers were there. That would be a good start.
My suggestion is for Statistics Canada, not you personally. I think that, by 2018, they could really help you establish your 10 questions so that they are consistent with the charter.
Do I still have a bit of time, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Okay.
The 2018 deadline worries me. There will be a test, but I feel that, if the result is not conclusive, time will have been lost for the next form. So we'll be losing generations of children in our francophone or anglophone schools in minority settings.
Could Statistics Canada consider it urgent that this be included in the 2021 form?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
My answer will always be the same. A very large number of communities and associations tell us about urgent measures. Everyone has their own urgent measures, and Statistics Canada, as the national statistical agency, must take into consideration each of those requests and assess them very carefully. Rest assured that we'll invest all the energy and attention required to consider this request.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
I'm sorry, but your time is up.
Mr. Corbeil, could you quickly tell me when the government decree that specifies the 2018 questions was issued?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
There's no decree for the 2018 test. However, we are indeed talking about a decree for the content of the 2021 census.
As for the 2018, the national census test—
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistic Division, Statistics Canada
—which is, for all practical purposes, a test survey, includes different versions of the questions. It is really based on the recommendations, the review of the issues, and the ability and possibility of asking this or that question. In addition, people need to fully understand those questions. Just because a question is on the test doesn't mean that ordinary people fully understand it. Statistics Canada is very well positioned to—
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I will let my colleague ask a question, because he is on a roll.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you.
Mr. Corbeil, I will be brief—you can see how things work here—and follow upon the comments made by my colleague, Mr. Lefebvre.
As I see it, questionnaire, which has to account for all rights holders in order to comply with the decision in the Mahe case and to facilitate school construction in minority environments, is a requirement under the charter.
Do you agree with that statement?