Official Languages Committee on Nov. 8th, 2023

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

What measures have contributed to increasing the number of bilingual positions in Canada?

[Anita Anand]

As I said, 96% of the positions are now bilingual. That means that the people who hold those positions already meet bilingualism requirements. We must therefore continue this work, which is the day-to-day work done by Carsten Quell and his team.

Mr. Carsten, you have the floor.

[Carsten Quell]

Thank you.

At present, 42% of public service positions are designated bilingual. The government has ensured a balance that will offer unilingual francophones in Quebec and anglophones elsewhere the opportunity to make a career in the public service. When necessary, positions are designated bilingual, of course.

As the Minister has said, 96% of the people who hold bilingual positions meet the language requirements of their position.

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

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Mr. Iacono.

We will continue with a period of two-and-a-half-minute questions.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Anand, Treasury Board plays a key role in the federal government when it comes to implementing the Official Languages Act. There is a section in the new Act that states that one purpose of the Act is to "advance the existence of a majority-French society in a Quebec where the future of French is assured."

In relation to that section, have you thought of ways to comply with and implement the Act?

[Anita Anand]

I am going to answer your question first and I will give my colleague the floor after.

We have to continue supporting the francophones of Quebec and the province of Quebec. The support needed for immigration is important. I know that my colleague Mr. Miller is working on that. As well, he has produced an immigration plan and he is working with Quebec.

As well, we know that there are areas in which the people in minority communities in Quebec have to get the support they need. We are continuing to provide that support.

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

Have there been discussions about adopting measures that will support French in Quebec?

You mentioned official language minority communities, but Quebec also comprises a minority within Canada and is part of a linguistic minority in North America.

Have there been discussions about this? Do you intend to analyze the situation to make sure that there really are measures to protect French?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

You have 15 seconds left, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Mr. Quell, you may also answer my question.

[Anita Anand]

In Quebec, all services are offered in French. At present, there are services in French in...

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Ms. Anand, I have to interrupt you.

Thank you.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to make a comment.

I am aware of the Minister's personal history. I, too, am the daughter of immigrants who did not speak French when they arrived in Canada. My parents insisted that my brother and I learn French, in immersion, since French is one of the two official languages of Canada.

Acknowledging that French is declining highlights the importance of implementing Bill C‑13 and Treasury Board's responsibilities as soon as possible.

Given this situation, I hope Treasury Board is going to move matters along faster; at a meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, there was talk of two or three years.

We know that all federal institutions are required to comply with the Official Languages Act, including Part VII of the Act, which deals with the positive measures needed to ensure the development of the official language minority communities.

Do you intend to clarify the concept of positive measures in the regulations under Part VII?

[Anita Anand]

The purpose of the regulations is to continue to ensure that the Act is more specific.

Of course, we are going to do that. However, my responsibility is to guide federal institutions and provide them with policies and advice so that they comply with all provisions of the Act. As Minister, I am going to continue to stress the importance of doing this.

If it is possible to implement the Act and the process faster, I will do it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton.

We will now begin a quick round of questions by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. We will start with Mr. Dalton.

Mr. Dalton, you now have the floor for two minutes.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Congratulations, Minister, on your appointment. I know you were put there to help put an end to some of the waste that's going on in government. I would say maybe that's the appearance of something happening, because the budget has increased by $10 billion in the past year, and one of your roles is to cut down $3 billion a year.

Do you not see it as ironic that KPMG was consulted with $670,000 of taxpayers' money to figure out how to reduce consultants?

Just give a simple yes or no.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

That's not relevant.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

It's relevant.

[Anita Anand]

That contract had nothing to do with me as President of the Treasury Board, in connection with the spending review. The Minister of Natural Resources decided to award that contract in 2022.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Excuse me, Minister, because my time is so short.

The government has, in the past year alone, spent—

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

You have the floor, Mr. Lauzon.

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair...

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Joël Godin]

Mr. Lauzon, unfortunately, you have not done the sound tests. To comply with procedure, could you ask someone else to state your point of order?

We cannot accept a communication when the sound tests have not been done.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I will do it, if I may.