Welcome to meeting number 23 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages.
The committee is meeting on its study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the government’s ability to deliver information in both official languages.
This is the last meeting on this study.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants to this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted, as the Speaker of the House has determined.
Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice at the bottom of your screen of either the floor, English or French.
I remind everyone that all comments should be addressed through the chair.
Please speak slowly and clearly.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the use of headsets with a boom microphone is mandatory for everyone participating remotely.
Should any challenges arise, please advise the Chair or the clerk. We need to ensure that all members are able to participate fully.
Since no one is in the room, I can now welcome our witnesses. First of all, they have my thanks for accepting our invitation.
You will have seven and a half minutes in which to give your presentations. May I ask you to glance at me from time to time, because I will signal to you when you have a minute left. I will use my red card to tell you that your time is up.
My dear members, given that we will have two opening statements of seven and a half minutes each, and given our start time, the final five-minute round of questions will not be possible. If you wish to share your time with others, please feel free to do so.
It is my great pleasure to welcome the officials from the Canada Border Services Agency. We have with us Denis Vinette, Vice-President, Travellers Branch, and Louise Youdale, Vice-President, Human Resources Branch.
From Ombudsman Ontario, we have with us Kelly Burke, French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, and Carl Bouchard, Director of Operations, French Language Services Unit.
We will start with the Canada Border Services Agency.
Mr. Vinette, the floor is yours.