Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the witnesses for being here with us and for presenting their very important annual report, although it is more an account of what has been happening for some time, touching on aspects we are still working or that require further work.
In particular, you mentioned a great increase in the number of complaints related to section 91 of the act, as regards the linguistic classification of positions.
In this regard, the Radio-Canada journalist Catherine Lanthier wrote an article about French being in decline in the federal public service. Roughly translated, it says:
The current situation in the public service is causing dissatisfaction at all levels, including the highest levels, according to an internal report obtained by Radio-Canada under the Access to Information Act.
Moreover, the article quotes the following remark that was heard in the public service:
Not a word of French is spoken at certain deputy ministers' committees.
The article also quotes the following report excerpt:
A new deputy minister arrived who spoke only English. From one day to the next, all the assistant deputy ministers stopped speaking French, even the francophones.
This is not a new concern. Even Mr. Fraser mentioned it. He sent a letter to the prime minister. He said that something had to be done, that it was urgent, and that he was getting a lot of complaints about this. Yet we still see this problem today.
I know there is a working group, headed up by Mr. Borbey and Mr. Mendelsohn, that is examining the language of work issue. I see differences, however, between your position, which is similar to mine, and the government's position. This is worrisome. The government said that people must be able to speak their preferred language only in regions designated bilingual, whereas in my opinion, the act very clearly stipulates what the Commissioner's office pointed out, namely, that the act “gives the right to every employee in these regions, regardless of the linguistic requirements of their position”.
Can you clarify your position? What will you do to convince the government that each employee must be able to work in their preferred official language?