Evidence of meeting #29 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was english.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll be sharing my time with my colleague Mr. Blaney. I'll give him two of my seven minutes, if that suits him.
Mr. Bolduc, first of all, I understood that you represent 600,000 workers in Quebec.
Do any of the businesses you represent operate in federally regulated sectors?
4:55 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
A lot of them do. That's the case in the communications sector in particular. You also have to include sectors where the longshoreman of the Port of Montreal operate, as well as other Quebec longshoreman who are members of the FTQ, and members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
My second question, Mr. Bolduc, concerns the option of choosing your language of work if you're an employee of a business in a sector under federal jurisdiction. Francophones are intimidated in meetings. You discussed that earlier. They can assert their wish to work in French all they want, but they can't do it.
Shouldn't French be established as the language of work in federally regulated businesses located in Quebec?
4:55 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
Yes, indeed. Earlier I cited the example of federal public servants who work in Gatineau. They're uncomfortable—and I mean "uncomfortable"—speaking French in the workplace. I don't think that should be the case in Quebec. People should speak French in a francophone workplace. As I said, when I attended national union meetings in and outside Quebec, people often spoke English if there was a single anglophone in the room.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Even as Quebec citizens, we automatically speak English when a tourist asks for information in English. We also have a responsibility to promote French.
4:55 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
Yes, we have the same responsibility when people enter a business in Quebec.
4:55 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
When someone answers us in English, we have a responsibility to ask that person to respond in French too.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Bolduc, after the white paper was released, you said you were pleased with any measure that promoted French but that you hoped the act would be modernized in a way that addressed these alarming declines. You acknowledge that there has been a decline in French, especially in Montreal, and you're pleased with the announcement of the white paper. I think everyone here is pleased to see there's an intention to do something. However, there's a difference between intention and tangible action.
Mr. Bolduc, what do you think is the most important measure that should be introduced now to offset the decline of the French fact in Quebec?
4:55 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
I often say that, as parents, our responsibility to our children is to set an example. I'll say offhand, without thinking about it too much, that, if the federal government set an example, in its institutions and the public service, regarding French in Quebec, that would be part of the solution.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Thank you, Mr. Bolduc.
I would've liked to ask other witnesses more questions, but, as I promised, I'm going to share my time with my colleague from the Rive-Sud, in the Quebec City area.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Thank you very much, dear colleague from the Rive-Nord.
My question will be for Mr. Leckey and the three witnesses.
Do you acknowledge that French in Quebec is in the minority in the North American context?
4:55 p.m.
Prof. Robert Leckey
Yes, of course.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Do you acknowledge that the federal government must take specific measures to protect French in Quebec in that context?
5 p.m.
Prof. Robert Leckey
What do you mean?
5 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Since French is in the minority in Quebec, does the federal government have a responsibility to promote one of its two official languages in its national home, which is Quebec City?
5 p.m.
Prof. Robert Leckey
I'd like to think about that.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I'll allow you the time to do that.
I'm going to put my question to Mr. Bolduc.
Mr. Bolduc, you said that French is clearly in the minority in the North American context. We nevertheless have to admit that we aren't speaking to each other in English, and that's a good thing.
Do you think the federal government has a bigger role to play in the new version of the Official Languages Act with respect to the promotion and preservation of French in Quebec?
5 p.m.
General Secretary, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
You have to accept that the situations are different if you're in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.
Can anyone seriously claim that English needs the same protection as French across the country, mainly in Quebec? The answer's obvious.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Thank you, Mr. Bolduc.
Ms. Meggs, should we put an end to the false symmetry in Quebec, by which I mean should we introduce specific measures designed to promote French in Quebec?
5 p.m.
Former Director of Research, Office québécois de la langue française, As an Individual
Yes, we should, somewhat as we've already done with regard to integration.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
All right. Thank you.
Mr. Leckey, have you had the time to consider my question, which was what approach should the federal government take with regard to the symmetry of language rights?
You acknowledge the minority status of French in Quebec. What then is the federal government's role in preserving French in Quebec?
5 p.m.
Prof. Robert Leckey
That's a complex question because the federal government also has a constitutional duty to see to the promotion and protection of the minority official language in Quebec, which is English. Consequently, in defining federal duties, you also have to consider those constitutional obligations, which you're not discussing.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Yes, you began by saying that the federal government had a responsibility to protect minority rights. Since you acknowledge that French in Quebec is a minority language, I thought you were going to tell me it's a federal responsibility to protect the French fact in Quebec.
Whatever the case may be, thank you very much.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. Blaney.
Pardon me, but time is flying by, and we must go to Ms. Martinez Ferrada.
Go ahead for seven minutes, Ms. Martinez Ferrada.