Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning, everyone.
Thank you so much, Mr. Théberge, for being among us this morning.
I've read with great interest your various reports, and of course the annual report, and took great interest in the one on the impact of emergency situations on official languages.
In my questions, I'd like to delve into that particular topic, because there is also a motion that this committee has presented with regard to the effects on the minority language communities vis-à-vis the services received during the pandemic.
Many studies in Canada and elsewhere have looked at language barriers that make it impossible for citizens to communicate with health care professionals in their own language. These studies demonstrate the importance of considering the impact of language barriers on the quality of health care services for language minority communities, and this situation is even more daunting during a pandemic.
We know that health is an area of jurisdiction that is primarily the responsibility of the provinces and territories. Can you tell us whether or not you have worked with the provincial and territorial language commissioners to ensure that their respective governments communicate as effectively as possible with Canadians in minority communities? If so, what were the results, and what else needs to be done in that regard?
Thank you.