Official Languages Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

[Sarah Boily]

We took the same approach that was used to develop the regulations on administrative monetary penalties. The Official Languages Act provides guidelines on how to conduct consultations for the development of regulations. We conducted extensive consultations.

This will be the first time the Official Languages Act will apply to private businesses, namely federally regulated private businesses. It is therefore important to conduct extensive consultations on the subject.

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

It is a matter of political will. It should not take this long to conduct consultations. Two years is far too long.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Your time is up, Mr. Beaulieu. Thank you very much.

Mr. Bélanger for five minutes.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Boyer, earlier, you made a comment that resonated with me. You said the government was taking money from one pocket and putting it in another.

The federal institutions we are talking about do not really want the work on the regulations to continue.

What do you think?

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you for the question.

First, there is a legislative framework. Regulations cannot be drafted without a legislative framework. In this case, it was clear that this would apply to entities supporting the travelling public.

That said, I think this is a good thing, because the Commissioner's other powers can be applied to the department. The possibility of imposing a compliance agreement is new. The specific department and the Commissioner of Official Languages agree on the objectives and the areas for improvement. Then, if there is a failure to comply with the act, the Commissioner can go to court to impose the compliance agreement on the department.

In the case of a federal entity, this would lead to greater compliance than from moving taxpayer funds from one account to another.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

My other questions have already been asked. I will give Mr. Godin the remainder of my time. No doubt, he has more questions.

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

I thank my very dear colleague.

Mr. Léger, what was the result of your consultations with regard to clients who may be subject to penalties?

I am told this was based on the result of the consultations.

[Richard Léger]

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to the question, Mr. Chair.

I think the choice about those identified in the act and those who might be considered is nonetheless rather limited by legislative criteria.

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

I understand that, Mr. Léger.

I want to know the results of your consultations, which took almost a year.

How did you determine the target entities, meaning Air Canada, Via Rail, Marine Atlantic and the airports?

Are they the only ones who were primarily targeted and mentioned in the regulations?

[Richard Léger]

What has come out of various discussions, including the Commissioner's comments, is that it was necessary to target entities dealing with the travelling public.

The public was made aware of the fact that the criteria specifically targeted services to travellers. It was a matter of collecting comments on travellers' experiences as well as comments on border services.

The public mentioned the same entities. We have already explained why they were not on the list today.

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

Let's come back to the fact that federally regulated private businesses are not subject to these sanctions.

It is important to understand that, in Quebec, the Office québécois de la langue française adopted a mechanism allowing it to issue penalties and force businesses to comply with the Charter of the French Language. We know that, pursuant to part II of the current Official Languages Act, businesses will be able to choose to comply with the obligations set out by the office or with the requirements provided for in Bill C‑13. I still call it that.

Don't you think this will encourage federally regulated private businesses, particularly in Quebec, to choose to comply with the Official Languages Act, which will not subject them to penalties, rather than be under the supervision of the Office québécois de la langue française?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 40 seconds left.

[Julie Boyer]

Okay.

First, I would like to clarify something. The administrative monetary penalties are not the same thing that the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act—

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

I understand, Ms. Boyer.

I laid out the situation regarding part II. One day, the regulations will be tabled. We don't know when. It may take us by surprise, as it did this morning.

Now let's get back to the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.

Will the companies be able to choose?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Please give a brief answer.

[Julie Boyer]

I would say that the power to issue orders is stronger than a fine.

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

Can the company choose whether to fall under the supervision of the Office québécois de la langue française rather than the federal Official Languages Act?

[Julie Boyer]

Yes, that's right. This is set out in the act, and it will be included in the regulations.

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

The company will then never be—

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin, I'm sorry. Your time is up. I gave you a bit more time to finish the discussion.

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

Okay.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Villeneuve, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Louis Villeneuve, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the witnesses for joining us this morning.

Canadians travel a great deal. So do I. I must confess, quite humbly, that I too have complained about not receiving service in French from Air Canada. I'm pleased that this matter is being taken seriously and that efforts are being made to improve the situation.

Many Canadians travel on Air Canada flights, both here in Canada and abroad.

Will international flights be subject to administrative monetary penalties? If not, why not?

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The short answer is yes. International flights must provide bilingual services. They're also subject to the regulations governing administrative monetary penalties.

Ms. Boily can give you some examples.

[Sarah Boily]

I provided a figure earlier, but I'll take this opportunity to correct it.

The number of bilingual routes on Air Canada flights subject to the regulations under part IV of the act is 248. I gave the wrong figure earlier. When I said 122 routes, I meant bilingual routes for international flights. So there are 122 of those routes.

For example, a flight from Toronto to Copenhagen and a flight from Toronto to Atlanta are Air Canada international flights designated as bilingual. They may be subject to an administrative monetary penalty.