Official Languages Committee on May 30th, 2017

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

During its second appearance, Air Canada did mention certain strategies that were put in place in the west in order to hire bilingual people.

Could the government make some suggestions? In reality, we are here to support Air Canada, to ensure that the carrier respects its obligations. How may the government contribute to the search for strategies?

[Sara Wiebe]

I think this is again where we have to be careful in the context that these are private sector organizations.

It's not a government entity. When we privatized Air Canada, we wanted to put it outside of government for it to manage its own affairs in a competitive, market-driven environment. It would be difficult for us to step in and help that private sector organization with taxpayer dollars to support obligations that it already has in statute and to intervene with what is, in the end, a private sector organization. This is where we continue to look to Air Canada to fund its own initiatives for it to meet its own obligations under the Official Languages Act.

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

Precisely.

However, we must comply with parts IV, V and VII of the Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I'm sorry, Mr. Samson, but your time is up.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Vandal.

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

Thank you very much.

Every year, Air Canada presents a report on its official language responsibilities.

Does Transport Canada receive a copy of that report?

[Sara Wiebe]

That's a questionnaire that, as you say, Air Canada completes each year and is provided to the Treasury Board Secretariat. We at Transport Canada do not receive that specifically, but we have an ongoing dialogue with our colleagues at the Treasury Board Secretariat with regard to the results of those questionnaires.

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

Could you tell us about your relationship with the Treasury Board Secretariat? I believe Canadian Heritage acts as a watchdog, if you will, regarding official language regulations.

How does that work?

[Sara Wiebe]

Again, I've mentioned how complex these issues are. You've been hearing advice. Imagine us having to deal with a variety of different departments on the same issue.

That's a very good question. Why are there so many departments involved? From Transport Canada, I've talked about how we—for myself—established a policy framework for the air sector.

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

Just for clarification, I didn't ask why. Just describe the working relationship.

[Sara Wiebe]

The working relationship is actually quite good, particularly in the context of deliberating some of the issues that are before this committee. I have an ongoing dialogue. We meet on a regular basis with my colleagues at Heritage, Treasury Board, and Justice. It's very collegial and collaborative, if that answers your question.

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

Thank you.

In your presentation, this morning, you stated that “we can say that Air Canada has made some concrete efforts regarding its commitment to official languages.”

Can you tell us more about that?

[Sara Wiebe]

Sure. Again, we have our own conversations with Air Canada, but we were particularly interested in the presentations they've made before this committee. They came to you and I think talked to you in great detail about their linguistic action plan, their internal language policy, and their internal procedures and training of employees. They have quite a machine in place in terms of achieving that place where they can demonstrate ongoing progress with regard to hiring bilingual staff and training unilingual staff to be bilingual and then having them maintain that. That's one thing I would refer to in answer to your question.

The other point I would make is that we're also following very closely the number of complaints made against Air Canada. That's been discussed quite frequently by this committee. Let's take a look at Air Canada's history. Going back to early 2010, let's say, they were delivering about 30 million passengers at that time, and I think they had—I have the number right here—around 69 complaints. That was in 2000, actually, with 30 million passengers.

We're now at a stage where Air Canada is moving 41 million passengers, so that's a significant increase since the year 2000, but if you look at the numbers of complaints, they're more or less static. They move up and down a bit. In terms of numbers, I can see that they went up to 59 in 2013, but overall, you can see that the volume of Air Canada passengers continues to increase significantly each year, yet the number of complaints is not increasing at the same rate.

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

I understand.

I think my time is getting short, and I have a few more questions.

In the conclusion of your presentation, you said that “Transport Canada expects that all federal institutions under its responsibility ensure that their official languages obligations as outlined in the OLA are met.”

Can you tell me what other federal institutions under your responsibility have official language obligations?

[Sara Wiebe]

Within the Transport Canada portfolio, we have a series of crown corporations. This would include crown corporations such as CATSA and VIA Rail. There's a wide series of crown corporations. When I talk about the federal institutions within Transport Canada's control, I'm referring to those entities.

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

Thank you.

I'll transfer my time.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I would like to add something about the the number of complaints and the increase in the number of passengers.

When the president of Air Canada testified before us, we filed a complaint regarding official languages, on the company's website. At a certain point, we were no longer able to access the site to file our complaint; the site blocked us. I'd say that the fact that complaints have not increased is due to the fact that people can't access the site. There are no phone lines, or if there are, you are on hold for half an hour.

I think you need to change what you have just said to some degree.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

I'll now give the floor immediately to Mr. Généreux.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Wiebe and Mr. Blasioli, if I had to hire someone today to promote Air Canada, it would be you. You seem to have a very good opinion of the work they do.

Ms. Wiebe, I suppose it is your opinion, as deputy minister in charge of policy. When you put policies in place, I assume you start at point a and arrive at point b with a final product.

I am going to continue in the same vein as my colleague Mr. Samson. If all of the airline companies are not subject to the Official Languages Act, this means in my opinion that Air Canada has competition, competition that has a certain weight. That is inevitable. What are your thoughts on this at this point? You said that you were in a process of reflection. Where are you at as we speak?

[Sara Wiebe]

If I may, I will clarify my title.

I am acting assistant deputy minister, policy.

I wouldn't want my deputy minister to think I'm taking over his job.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Sara Wiebe]

Again, it's not that I'm trying to avoid the question. I want this committee to understand the position I'm in, in the sense that we are studying the issue. We are looking at the different considerations. We are looking forward to the advice of this committee. We are very much aware of the report of Mr. Fraser, but I am just one person in a large number of individuals who will have a view in terms of the forward direction on this.

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

You are here representing Transport Canada. I suppose that you have the competence, and surely the opportunity, of telling us about the thoughts of the committee you sit on.

My question is very simple. What are your thoughts at this time in light of what the Commissioner of Official Languages said, and of what we discussed here in committee? You say that you study and analyze everything we do, and that you are informed about the work we do in committee. I understand all that, and I also understand the mechanisms of your reflection. However, where are you at in that reflection?

I will ask you a question. In your committee, did you discuss, for instance, the relevance of making all airline companies subject to the Official Languages Act, so as to level the playing field?

[Sara Wiebe]

Absolutely. To assure this committee, that is one of the issues we are considering and for which we are doing the analysis.

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

Do you think that that could be put in place quickly? Does it seem relevant to do so? Do you understand what I am getting at?

[Sara Wiebe]

Yes.