Official Languages Committee on Nov. 13th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

Mrs. Lalonde, it is your turn for five minutes.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Dubourg.

Mr. Théberge, it's a pleasure to see you today. Although I am new to the committee, we did have the opportunity to meet in my previous life.

Thank you very much for your report. In it, you say about 100 official languages complaints came in related to the pandemic. A total of 72 were deemed admissible and are being investigated.

Can you give us an update on where the investigations stand?

[Raymond Théberge]

As you mentioned, we received 100 or so complaints, and a certain number were deemed admissible. They are all at different stages of the process. It is always hard to say when a complaint will be resolved; the timing of the preliminary report, the final report and so on is hard to predict.

Since the investigations are under way, they are confidential, so I can't say much right now. I can tell you, though, that things are advancing. It is worth noting that a considerable number of the complaints pertain to one issue, in particular. Once again, that shows the government does not necessarily have the right tools to address the needs of Canadians in both official languages in an emergency.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Unfortunately, the pandemic rages on. A number of provinces are seeing a major increase in cases, much to the dismay of all Canadians.

Do you expect more complaints to come in?

[Raymond Théberge]

We will undoubtedly receive more. When the pandemic was declared, we were quick to reach out to all the deputy ministers and organization heads to impress upon them the importance of meeting their official languages obligations. From the outset, we approached certain institutions directly, and as a result, they changed their practices straightaway. They are now holding bilingual press conferences and making sure to communicate with employees in both official languages. Since the pandemic began, we have seen improvements.

As you can see, the beginning of the pandemic brought a spike in complaints, much like the spike in cases. Now, however, the curve is flattening. My sense is that complaints will keep coming in because of the many deficiencies.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Unfortunately, no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

Air Canada came up. I'd like to discuss your report and the complaints regarding the lack of French-language services at Canada's international airports and border crossings, especially for Canadians returning from abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. You highlight similar problems in your 2019-2020 annual report.

Can you tell us more about the problems Canadians encounter at border crossings and international airports when they can't communicate with federal employees in the official language of their choice during this pandemic?

[Raymond Théberge]

When a traveller arrives from abroad, they obviously have to self-isolate for 14 days. Providing people with the information in only one official language can cause problems. Let's be clear, an individual can say they are bilingual, but not everyone's bilingual skills are equal; a person is always better in one language than the other. In stressful situations, people tend to use their mother tongue. If a traveller arriving at the airport can't receive the information in their language, that's a problem. A protocol is supposed to be in place to assist the traveller, but it is often not followed.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Sorry, Mr. Théberge, but the member is out of time. Perhaps you can finish your answer later.

Pursuant to the routine motion adopted by the committee, I will now turn the floor over to Mr. Beaulieu for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you.

Quebec is the only place where allophone newcomers can be immersed in the French language as they integrate into society, but official language transfers disproportionately favour English, thereby threatening the French language in Quebec. To accomplish its goal, Quebec endeavours to make French the common language. When newcomers see that French is the common language in Quebec, where the rights of the English-speaking minority are nevertheless respected, they tend to adopt the use of French and integrate into Quebec society. Then you have the federal government telling them that French is not the official language, that it is the language of their choice. Naturally, newcomers will be inclined to choose the language spoken by the majority of Canadians and North Americans: English.

What are your thoughts on that?

[Raymond Théberge]

It's certainly a thought-provoking question.

Canada still has two official languages, the two languages in which its national conversation is conducted. Unless I'm mistaken, people have to speak one official language or the other to immigrate to Canada, so it is up to them to choose which one. That's how it works under the current system. Obviously, some of your observations would come into play if there were talk of changing the official languages regime.

Francophone immigration outside Quebec is without question crucial to the survival of those French-speaking communities. Even though the number of French speakers is on the rise, as the numbers show, the francophone share of the population continues to decline.

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

That's right. Taking in more immigrants who choose to live in English does nothing to help the situation, in the end.

I have one last quick question—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Sorry to cut you off, Mr. Beaulieu, but your two and a half minutes are up.

It is now Ms. Ashton's turn for two and a half minutes.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Théberge, according to the federal government's open data portal, your office had standing offers for translation services with 17 firms in 2020. One of your recommendations was to establish a central translation service for emergency or crisis situations.

Would that give the commissioner's office and the entire government access to a public translation service at all times?

[Raymond Théberge]

The government has the translation bureau, but it's an organization that must—

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

That was my second question.

[Raymond Théberge]

The translation bureau operates on a cost recovery basis. Some federal institutions rely on outside firms for translation.

We recommended that the translation bureau provide expedited translation services in emergencies. I feel strongly that the translation bureau should have the resources it needs to do its job.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

My next question is about complaints. Once you receive a complaint and you open a file, how many days does it take before you launch an investigation?

[Raymond Théberge]

It varies enormously, depending on the analysis we have to do of the admissibility of each complaint. Some complaints are dealt with almost immediately, while others even require a legal opinion to determine whether they are admissible. It varies, but typically we are able to advise complainants fairly quickly that their complaint is admissible.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Can you tell us if it takes longer now than it did last year? The oldest complaint is still ongoing at the Office of the Commissioner. Can you tell us how long ago it was submitted?

[Raymond Théberge]

I will ask Ms. Saikaley to tell us which is the oldest. I don't know that specific complaint. I imagine it is a complaint.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Théberge.

Ms. Saikaley can respond a little later.

We now go to the final round.

Mr. Blaney, you have the floor for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Commissioner Théberge, pandemics and official languages do not mix well. As you said, the pandemic has exacerbated the chronic issues that already existed.

You mentioned 72 complaints deemed admissible. The chief public health officer has held news conferences in French only. You mentioned news releases and communications that were in English only. You said that this is not the first time the French language in this country has been trampled on in an emergency situation.

The pandemic is affecting seniors, who are more vulnerable and less bilingual. They are therefore doubly penalized, as you rightly pointed out. You have stood up for them, and I commend you for that.

Having said that, have you seen any improvements during the pandemic we are currently experiencing? You are suggesting measures to be put in place. Could you tell me how we might learn from the unfortunate situation we are in right now?

[Raymond Théberge]

As I mentioned earlier, we stepped in to work with some institutions from the outset and we are seeing some improvement. However, we currently don't have the structures we need in place to prevent this kind of situation from reoccurring. Emergency preparedness organizations are not ready. Structures and processes need to be put in place to improve the bilingual capacity of these institutions right now.

The same types of incidents have been reoccurring for 10 years. It's important that employees of federal institutions particularly affected by emergencies—Environment and Climate Change Canada, Public Safety Canada or others—are equipped to respond to emergency requests. It's too late to learn French when you are in an emergency situation. The big issue is lack of preparedness.

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

All right, thank you.

I would like to share my time with Mr. Mazier, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes, gladly.

Mr. Mazier, you have the floor. Please unmute your mic.