Evidence of meeting #52 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 french.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
One moment please.
I simply want to clarify what was suggested earlier.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
I said earlier that we would consider that right after the question and comments period.
We have received a notice. We will discuss it later.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I will simply read the notice and then move on to the questions right away. The notice reads as follows:
“That the Committee invite the Interim Commissioner of Official Languages for an additional hour on Thursday, April 13, 2017, to present and explain the report on bilingualism in airports.”
My questions for the witnesses are as follows.
Do you know whether the number of MPs who have taken courses in the other official language has increased or decreased?
11:20 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
The number has increased considerably since the start of the new Parliament. We currently have 119 members in French training and 19 members in English training.
11:20 a.m.
Chief Human Resources Officer, House of Commons
The number of people registered typically increases after an election, but then it drops off gradually. After each election, the administration of the House of Commons has to adapt the services it offers to the new members elected by Canadians. It depends on the members' demographic profile. If a great many members are anglophone, that will impact the French training we offer. We see an increase after each election, but the number then drops off gradually in the four subsequent years, when there is a majority government. Other than that, it is cyclical, but above all it depends on the members' profile.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I don't know when this changed, but, in the past, official languages training taken by assistants came out of the government's budget and not the member's budget.
11:20 a.m.
Chief Human Resources Officer, House of Commons
The administration of the House of Commons took part in a strategic review of activities that led to budget cuts. That was in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The Board of Internal Economy then had to consider where to make the cuts. That was before I arrived, in about 2011. It was a decision by the Board of Internal Economy.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Did that affect the percentage of assistants who took language courses? Do you have figures on that? Our member's budget is limited. We have to decide where to invest our budget to offer services to constituents. Cutting the language training budget for our assistants is one possibility.
11:20 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
No, not really. There is roughly the same number of assistants taking language courses.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Can you send the committee the previous percentage of students and the current percentage so we can see how things stand?
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Language training is very valuable. I am in language training and my teacher is excellent. For public servants, there is a language profile, level A, B, or C, for example.
11:20 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
That's right, a position has a language profile attached to it.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
That's right.
When an MP takes a course, why not evaluate their knowledge and language skills at some point? It could be just for the member's purposes; it would not have to be made public.
11:20 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
Many MPs have come to take a bilingualism test at our centre. As an MP, you are welcome to take a bilingualism test.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
If I only have a few seconds, I will stop here.
Thank you very much, Ms. Maimone.
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you.
There seems to be a problem with a microphone. We will take a break until the technician can fix the problem.
11:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We are back.
Ms. Lapointe and Mr. Samson will share their speaking time.
Ms. Lapointe, please go ahead.
11:25 a.m.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I would like to thank the witnesses for being with us.
This is very interesting. My colleague Mr. Choquette is taking English training. I am also among the 19 members taking English training, and I am improving.
Is it possible to do English immersion training? I know some anglophone colleagues are in French immersion. If I wanted to do English immersion this summer, where would you suggest I go?
11:25 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
In the past, I have arranged for English immersion in Toronto, New Brunswick, and Vancouver.
11:25 a.m.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
In that case, which budget would it come out of?
I know that, for our assistants and all our staff, it comes out of the constituency office budget. Does the same apply for MPs?
11:25 a.m.
Chief, Official Languages, Language Training and Assessment Centre, House of Commons
No.