Official Languages Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you very much, Mr. Deschênes-Thériault.

I now give the floor to Mr. Beaulieu for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a very important question for Quebec. In the new version of the Official Languages Act, several provisions state that the federal government must also protect French in Quebec. It should therefore take new measures to protect French in Quebec. Do you agree with that?

[Shafqat Ali]

I can talk about the act. The Official Languages Act protects both minorities—

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

However, you are not able to—

[Shafqat Ali]

—English and French, equally.

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

So you’re not aware that the Official Languages Act contains new measures. Yet, you’re responsible for its implementation.

[Shafqat Ali]

I think I would like to correct my colleague that I'm responsible for implementation across the public service, federal public service employees across the government, but this question, I think, goes to Heritage. We have a team from Heritage. If my colleague wants to know, I can ask the deputy minister—

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

Treasury Board has no role to play in the implementation of part VII. Is that what you’re saying?

[Shafqat Ali]

That was not my colleague's question. It was a broader question. As Treasury Board president, I'm just saying it again and again to understand my colleague's—

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

My speaking time is really very limited.

Clearly, you do not fully understand the new version of the act and you are not ready to implement it.

The federal government is currently breaking its own law. There are new provisions. The Liberal ministers have spent their time assuring us that they would protect French, but that’s false. In section VII, all the positive measures seek to strengthen English in Quebec. Except in minor cases, they aim to develop English‑speaking communities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 10 seconds left, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

In Quebec, federal institutions are where French is spoken the least, according to Quebec’s Commissaire à la langue française. Do you agree with that statement?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Please provide a response in less than 10 seconds.

[Shafqat Ali]

I understand that my colleague wants to play politics here. This is an act. It stays with me, and I read it and understand it. It talks about public service. Your question was more towards Heritage, and you don't want to get answers; you want to get clips, and that is your choice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Minister, Mr. Beaulieu’s time is up.

I now give the floor to Mr. Godin for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To the President of the Treasury Board: Earlier in your testimony, you stated that the new act did not provide you with the tools to impose it on institutions. I’m using your words; I’m not putting words in your mouth.

To the President of the Treasury Board: I simply want to tell you what paragraph 41(10.4) of the act says:

(10.4) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board made after consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, make regulations in respect of the duties of federal institutions—other than…

I will spare you the exceptions and continue my reading a little further:

…under paragraph (7)(a.1) and subsection (10.1), including regulations: (a) prescribing the manner in which those duties are to be carried out and reported on…

What did you do when you found out that the Prime Minister was not using French in a respectful manner? What actions did you take?

[Shafqat Ali]

Thank you, Chair, for the question.

My colleagues still like to play politics. You're wasting everyone's time here—

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

No, I’m talking about a section of the act.

[Shafqat Ali]

You're not focusing on the issue that Canadians sent us here—

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

I apologize, Mr. Chair, but I would ask the President of the Treasury Board to stop there with respect to this question, since he does not want to answer it. I will instead move on to another question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Okay, that’s your right.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To the President of the Treasury Board: Why were you not the one who introduced the regulation on the new power granted to the Commissioner of Official Languages allowing him to impose monetary penalties? It was tabled by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, or more precisely, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture the day before his resignation from cabinet. Why did you not table it? It is, after all, you who are responsible for the regulations.

[Shafqat Ali]

Chair, do I have time to respond to questions? I see my colleagues ask questions, but they don't want to hear the responses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have the floor to respond to the question, Minister.

I would also ask all members to allow the minister to answer their questions.