Official Languages Committee on Sept. 28th, 2017

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

A few.

[Michel Thibodeau]

I do not really want to go into the detail because, every time complaints are resolved amicably—

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

Less than five times?

[Michel Thibodeau]

Yes.

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

What Air Canada department did you contact?

[Michel Thibodeau]

I always use the same contact. As I said earlier, I do not want to reveal that person's name. It is a person with whom I have been in touch over the years, and that makes it easier for me. The other option would be to go onto the Internet and look for Air Canada's legal services, but I do not know where I would wind up.

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

That means that Air Canada opens a special door for you.

[Michel Thibodeau]

I would not put it that way because it would not be accurate.

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

I understand.

[Michel Thibodeau]

I do not get any special treatment. It has happened over the years, in the same way as I learned where the Federal Court was. I now know I have a contact in Air Canada's legal department.

Believe me, if you ask Air Canada whether I am one of its favourite customers, the answer will be “No.”

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

Thank you very much.

I have no further questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

The next speaker will be Ms. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Good afternoon and thank you for being here today.

It is good for me, as an anglophone, to hear what you have to say and understand your story better. Thank you.

As an anglophone, how could I offer support to someone and show that person sympathy in situations such as the ones in which you find yourself.

[Michel Thibodeau]

I am not sure I understand the question. Pardon me.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

If I witness a situation in which someone like you, a francophone, does not receive service in the language of his or her choice, how could I provide my support? Consider, for example, the situations you have described.

[Michel Thibodeau]

All right, I understand. Thank you for your question.

I would suggest filing a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. You do not need to be the person who is denied service. If you observe a breach of the Official Languages Act, you may file a complaint. What happens—and you can check the minutes of your previous proceedings, or you may already have done so—Air Canada still says that no complaints are being filed. I think the best thing to do in that case is to file a complaint. In any given situation, if the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages receives 5, 10, 15 or 20 complaints on the same subject, that may eventually help the cause.

I really think that would be the best way to do it. It is also possible to go and find the person responsible, if he or she is a unilingual anglophone, and to ask whether that person knows he or she is required to provide service in French. That can be done. What I have learned over the years is that it is not always the fault of the person behind the counter.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I understand, yes.

[Michel Thibodeau]

It is the Air Canada people who decide where an employee works, as in the case of the person in Wabush, who was a unilingual anglophone. I am not saying it was that person's fault for not speaking both official languages.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Yes, yes.

[Michel Thibodeau]

What I am saying is that Air Canada should not have put that person in that situation. Do you understand?

It would not necessarily be fair to go and find and blame that person. You could ask if that employee is aware that Air Canada has an obligation to serve its customers in both official languages. I think that would be very good.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you.

I have a second question. I believe complaints are currently sent to either the Commissioner or Air Canada. Do you think the complaints that are sent to Air Canada should be automatically forwarded to the Commissioner too?

[Michel Thibodeau]

Personally, without knowing Air Canada's system, I would say yes.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

All right.

[Michel Thibodeau]

I think that should go through a central place. Since the Official Languages Act protects rights, the complaint is the instrument that triggers the entire process, whereas I believe everything should go through the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.