Official Languages Committee on March 23rd, 2022

[Sarah Boily]

I can confirm what Ms. Mondou just said.

Many of the supports and programs are for education. As you know, some schools closed during the pandemic. There were also some exchange programs that we normally funded to give young people immersion opportunities in the communities, and language-learning opportunities, that were put on hold because it was impossible to travel.

For the programs that were affected, we adjusted things to carry over the funds to the following fiscal year in the hope that the rules would become more flexible, that travel could resume and that schools would open again.

And that, in fact, is what is happening.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you.

I am still somewhat apprehensive. One of my daughters lived in Edmonton, Alberta, for 14 years. She was on my grandchildren's elementary school parents committee, and the fact that the committee had not received the expected funds was creating anxiety. It seems a bit onerous. My questions are about how we could streamline the process. I hope we will be able to emphasize this in our discussions about the bill.

I have another question about the Treasury Board's committee of ministers. It consists of five or six ministers, including Ms. Fortier, Ms. Freeland, Ms. Lebouthillier, and Ms. Murray as well as Mr. Hussen.

Does the minister of Canadian Heritage sit on this committee?

[Isabelle Mondou]

If my memory serves me correctly, I don't think Minister Petitpas Taylor sits on the Treasury Board's committee of ministers. However, this committee is not the only one to deal with official languages. Several cabinet committees deal with matters of policy, economics and other areas. Official languages is therefore not exclusively with the Treasury Board. I wanted to point that out.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

What is the percentage of bilingual officials at the Department of Canadian Heritage?

Can you give us a number? If not, could you forward it to us?

[Isabelle Mondou]

We can get that to you, because we have it somewhere. There is a very high level of bilingualism at the Department of Canadian Heritage. We're lucky.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

I'd be grateful if you could provide that to the committee. It would be interesting to see that information.

[Isabelle Mondou]

Yes, of course.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Could you also provide the committee with the list of organizations that were consulted in connection with Bill C‑13?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Yes, certainly.

There were 50 consultations, including some roundtable discussions and a summit. We'd be happy to send you the list of people and organizations consulted.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have one minute left, Mr. Lehoux.

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

Mr. Chair, my colleague is giving me the rest of her speaking time, so I will avail myself of it and carry on.

Ms. Mondou, earlier, you told me that according to the act, the Treasury Board could not transfer its responsibilities and you asked me to quote from the bill. We can read the following in section 25:

25 (1) Subsection 46(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

... (3) Subsection 46(2) ...by replacing paragraphs (c) to (g) with the following:

(c) delegate any of its powers and duties under this section in respect of another federal institution to the deputy head or other administrative head of that institution.

What I want to demonstrate, Ms. Mondou, is that it's extremely burdensome. You just answered my colleague by saying that there were several committees discussing official languages in addition to the Treasury Board committee of ministers. It's complicated and difficult, and that's the problem with respect to the Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Vice-Chair, that's all the time we have.

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

Oh no!

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm sorry, but I warned you.

The next person to speak is Mr. Iacono, who will share his speaking time with Ms. Kayabaga.

Mr. Iacono, you have the floor.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

That's right.

I'd like to clarify something for my colleague Mr. Beaulieu, who was speaking earlier about consultations with Quebec organizations. I remember that the Mouvement Québec français had come to testify. The Quebec organizations were there.

Ms. Mondou, Bill C-13 includes a provision about the right to work and to be served in French in Quebec and in other regions with a strong francophone presence.

Can you give us the definition of “strong francophone presence”, and tell us whether it's the same in Quebec and outside Quebec?

[Isabelle Mondou]

Thank you for your question.

The regulations that are going to be adopted—and we are hoping that the bill will be adopted, of course—will address this matter and establish parameters to define what constitutes a region with a strong francophone presence. It's not in the bill itself because there are going to be consultations to make sure that the definition is appropriate and that it will meet the needs of the communities.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Will a single definition apply to Quebec and the other provinces?

[Isabelle Mondou]

I'll let Ms. Boyer answer that question.

[Julie Boyer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Official Languages, Heritage and Regions, Department of Canadian Heritage]

It will apply to all federally-regulated private companies in Quebec. Outside Quebec, it will apply to regions where there is a strong concentration of francophones, as defined in the regulations.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll give the floor to my colleague now.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Over to you now, Ms. Kayabaga.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here today.

I have two questions, which will be brief because I don't want to take up much of your time.

First, are funds set aside for the support and assistance of francophones who immigrate to mainly anglophone regions?

I am thinking mainly of newcomers and immigrant women who move to places where there is no access to medical care in French and who have to figure things out for themselves as best they can.

Also, have funds been earmarked for the support of organizations that provide assistance to racialized immigrant women settling in francophone communities outside Quebec?

[Isabelle Mondou]

I'll ask my colleague Ms. Boily to answer that.

[Sarah Boily]

Our colleagues at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada could give you all the details about their programs. They do in fact have programs to support reception and integration services in francophone regions outside Quebec. I know that they fund a series of networks called RIF, or Francophone Immigration Networks, whose mandate is to help francophone immigrants settle in these regions and to inform them about where to go to find services.