Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2022

[Raymond Théberge]

Section 91 of the Official Languages Act requires an objective assessment of the language requirements of a position, which can be “English essential”, “French essential” or “bilingual”. When a position is said to be bilingual, the level of bilingualism required must be determined, as there are different levels.

A study we did last year showed that, across all the federal institutions, there isn't a good understanding of section 91 and what it actually means.

Properly identifying language requirements is crucial to creating the capacity to provide services in both official languages. If we can't properly identify the language requirements of positions based on needs, how can we create the capacity to respond to Canadians in the language of their choice?

I'll give you a perfect example: the issue of public safety—

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

Briefly, please, because I have other questions for you. I'll let you finish with your example.

[Raymond Théberge]

Let's just say that, when we talk about emergency situations and their impact on official languages, we quickly see that federal institutions, which play a role in this area, don't have the necessary capacity to communicate with Canadians in both official languages.

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

Do you think that rigorous upgrading of both French and English is required for federal public servants to respond to members of the public?

[Raymond Théberge]

At present, if we haven't properly identified the language requirements of positions, we won't be able to meet the needs of Canadians.

As I was saying earlier, I think that when we talk about the concept of linguistic insecurity, when we talk about the secondarisation of French within the federal government, we certainly have to do something to encourage greater use of French in the federal public service.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Commissioner, have you ever heard about the lack of qualified and perfectly bilingual candidates?

[Raymond Théberge]

We often hear this observation. However, the Treasury Board must ensure that people have the necessary tools to get the language training they need to do their job better. It isn't just a matter of seeking out language training, but also, more importantly, of maintaining language skills once they've been acquired. That requires creating a much more linguistic inclusive workplace.

What is also interesting is that Minister Fortier's mandate letter provides for scholarships to 1,000 people to improve their second language skills to better integrate into the public service. Means have been established to achieve this.

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

Okay.

You recommended that the Government of Canada implement internal procedures and communication work tools in federal workplaces.

Can you give us a few examples of tools that would allow Canadians to be served adequately in both languages?

[Raymond Théberge]

First, we have developed a tool that we've made available to the Treasury Board to better define the language skills of positions. That's a start. Without a good definition of positions, it's difficult to develop language capabilities.

Also, within the federal government, a series of workshops are given on how to properly manage and chair bilingual meetings. We need to find a way to ensure that French does indeed have a place within the federal government.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Commissioner.

We'll now go to the next speaker, our second vice‑chair, Mario Beaulieu.

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

To begin with, I'll give you time to answer my last question.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have two and a half minutes, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

The individual who criticized one of your decisions wondered why there was no independent organization assessing this.

How is it that the Commissioner of Official Languages is the judge and jury in this kind of situation?

[Raymond Théberge]

The best way to answer your question would be to hand it over to the general counsel, who could explain the procedures that currently exist in our work.

Ms. Giguère, please go ahead.

[Pascale Giguère, General Counsel, Legal Affairs Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages]

I'd be pleased to answer that question.

When the Office of the Commissioner receives complaints, they are analyzed. In all cases, the actions we take with respect to those complaints are consistent with our standard practices—

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

Thank you, but I don't want to know the whole complaint process.

When there's a complaint against the commissioner's work, what happens?

[Pascale Giguère]

We have some external investigators who can do this work. We can send them certain cases. Before referring complaints to external investigators, the commissioner examines the complaints and exercises his statutory powers, in accordance with the act.

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

Okay.

Mr. Commissioner, do you agree that there is a decline in French in Quebec?

[Raymond Théberge]

I think that French in Quebec is facing significant challenges and that this will continue, given Quebec's situation in North America, as are our francophone communities outside Quebec. French is the minority language in Canada, and it is the language that deserves to be protected.

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

You're not prepared to say that French is in decline.

[Raymond Théberge]

I think that—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm sorry, Mr. Beaulieu, I have to interrupt you, but you'll have another round later to ask that question.

We'll now go to Niki Ashton for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to come back to the issue of immigration, Mr. Commissioner. Specifically, I'd like to come back to the issue of consultations and the letters you sent.

Have you requested a meeting with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and his team?

Did you get a meeting to talk about the targets?

[Raymond Théberge]

We certainly have not had a meeting with the Minister of Immigration.

I will turn to my colleague to see if we had requested a meeting through the congratulatory letter.

[Pierre Leduc, Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Communications Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages]

I think so, Mr. Théberge.

As you know, I had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart to discuss the situation, but the discussion with the Minister of Immigration is still to come.