Official Languages Committee on April 13th, 2021

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I know.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Last week, I spoke with Quebec's Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge. We agreed on various points, and funding was sent to Quebec. It was indeed to support the English school system, but also to support the francization of anglophones, in this case, through French immersion within the English system.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I don't understand why the Quebec government is asking you for this if you are already doing it. That's not the case at all. That is not what is being done.

On the other hand, for federally regulated businesses, you have refused to apply Bill 101. [Technical difficulty—Editor] With respect to federal institutions, francophones told us that they had difficulty working in French. A study by the Commissioner of Official Languages even showed that 40% of people were not comfortable doing so.

What steps will you take to make French the common working language in Quebec?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

I apologize, but your time is up.

Interventions will be shorter in the next round. I will now turn it over to Mr. Boulerice for two and a half minutes.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I understand that the minister wants to blame the provincial governments and the Conservatives, but the increase in complaints [Technical difficulty—Editor] was really about federal institutions. There was a 25% increase in just one year. In the Commissioner of Official Languages' report last year, the commissioner's findings were really alarming. Among other things, the commissioner said this:

federal institutions are not complying with the Official Languages Act;

As we have seen over the past year, the Privy Council Office still sends documents to the Standing Committee on Health in English only. Senior officials have been forced to attend meetings that were conducted only in English, without simultaneous interpretation. There were also working documents that were not translated.

What can you do, Minister, to change that? These problems never seem to get resolved.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

When the Official Languages Act is not respected, it is really very frustrating. We all agree as allies of the cause. That's why we have to change the system from the inside. That is also why we are proposing a new reform document that changes the approach.

First of all, we plan to create a central agency. This way, the monitoring will be done. This is related to my colleague Mr. Arseneault's question.

Second, we intend to increase the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages. These are not just ombudsman powers, but also decision-making powers. It will allow him to go to the Federal Court to obtain orders to ensure that the Official Languages Act is respected. We're going to strengthen the role of commissioner.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Will there be an administrative tribunal to handle complaints?

Will the commissioner be able to impose fines or financial penalties?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

In fact, giving the Commissioner of Official Languages the power to enforce orders is comparable to creating an administrative tribunal. Instead of creating a new approach by setting up such a tribunal, we decided to strengthen the commissioner's powers. Basically, the idea is to allow him to manage complaints and enforce his authority.

Finally, it goes without saying that we need to increase the criteria for bilingualism in the public service. To achieve this and to get our public servants to become more bilingual, we must also support them. So we also want to increase the availability of training.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I would so much have preferred to hear you say instead that you wanted to increase the bilingual bonus.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I've taken note of the Borbey-Mendelsohn report, but we certainly need to strengthen the bilingualism reflex within the public service.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

With respect to the bilingualism of Supreme Court judges, we have lost four years. I'm glad you agree with us now, but I feel like the election has a little something to do with it.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

You've given me the opportunity to remind you that your leader, Jagmeet Singh, had not said that, until he changed his position again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Minister.

For the final five-minute round, we'll go to Mr. Godin.

Can Mr. Godin hear us?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Godin seems to be busy with other things.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Godin is next on the list.

Mr. Blaney, would you like to speak?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Yes.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Godin, I will be happy to answer your questions.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

We'll give him time to join us, Minister.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I am here, Madam Minister.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Very well.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. The schedule has been changed and I was not aware that I had a right to speak today.

I am very pleased to speak to you, Minister.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I am happy to answer your questions.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. You know I have great regard for you as a person.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I have a lot for you too. The feeling is mutual.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Now, Madam Minister, I will tell you what I find distressing. Since you have been the Minister of Official Languages, you have said that you are going to reflect, consult and always be there, but what can you present to me today that is concrete?

As my colleague Mr. Rayes said, it has been six years since the Liberal Party has been in power. What concrete steps have you taken?

Don't talk to me about Ontario's French-language university, because it was the leader of the Conservative Party who wrote to the leaders of the other opposition parties and the leader of the government to have a...