Official Languages Committee on May 4th, 2017

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

Obviously, if I noticed that I wasn't receiving service in the language of my choice, my first reflex would not necessarily be to go complain to the Commissioner of Official Languages. There must be hundreds, or even thousands of travelers who experience this, but who do not necessarily bother to complain. As for the 30 people in question, they may be a reflection of a certain number of people who are not happy with the services.

When you talk about visual active offer, does this mean you consider what happens inside airports as well as the service offered there, more specifically in certain locations? Do you consider the entire airport or only the location where the service must be provided?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Currently, it is only the locations where CATSA has its checkpoints, namely, the places where security measures are implemented in airports.

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

So do you feel that the display is clear enough for people to be able to request service in both languages or for them to understand that the service is offered in both languages? I see a difference between these two concepts. It's fine to post "French here" or whatever else, but this does not mean that people are encouraged to request service in French.

Do you see a difference between these two concepts?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Basically, visual active offer is simply ensuring that there are signs indicating that the service is available in both languages. This is only one component of active offer.

This is why it is also necessary to make an active offer in person. Of course, this must be followed by a service offered in both languages.

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

Unfortunately, I have not read your report. I wanted to let you know.

There is also no consistency in the training offered by suppliers. Are you talking about suppliers who are members of the association? I want to be sure I understand properly, and that also goes for the committee. CATSA is indeed an association, isn't it?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

CATSA is a federal institution.

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

So CATSA is a federal institution.

When we talk about suppliers to this federal institution, the same suppliers do not provide training across Canada. So there is not consistent training all across Canada. Is that correct?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

In fact, CATSA does business with three security companies. The people who wear the CATSA uniform are not....

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

All right, these are subcontractors.

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

They are subcontractors, they are not CATSA employees.

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

The people are not CATSA employees.

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Exactly.

There are three companies in Canada.

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

Can we name these three companies? Certainly there is Garda.

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Indeed there is GardaWorld, but I forget the name of the other two.

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

You will be asked other questions. You will have an opportunity to answer this question later.

These suppliers then are not subject to an obligation to offer a consistent training. For example, CATSA could offer these businesses a training plan for employees. But that is not how it works.

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

No, CATSA makes these businesses responsible for training their employees.

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

According to law, could this be required? Could the government require it?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

We examined this component and made recommendations in our report.

Normally, if the recommendation is implemented, it is a matter of ensuring that there is consistent training. CATSA certainly has a role to play in producing the training and making it available to the businesses.

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

In your opinion, should this training deal only with the language issue?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

As far as we are concerned, yes, and we would actually like this to be the case.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Généreux.

Mr. Vandal, you have the floor.

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

Thank you very much.

Ms. Saikaley, you chose six airports. How did you choose them? Why Halifax and not Winnipeg, why Edmonton and not Québec City?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Firstly, as I indicated, we wanted to choose class 1 airports, which have to serve at least one million passengers. These locations have an obligation to provide services in both official languages.

Secondly, we wanted to have a picture that covered all of Canada. So we restricted ourselves to these airports. We also chose the airports according to complaints received and locations where no service is offered.

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

You said there are more than six airports that serve over one million passengers. Is that correct?

[Ghislaine Saikaley]

Yes.