Official Languages Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

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

Thank you very much.

We have before us draft regulations that, based on the comments received, could be amended.

Mr. Keyes, you've studied several types of monetary penalty regimes in various federal government regulations.

What lessons could we learn from this exercise?

Are there any specific elements that should eventually be added to the regulations?

Do you have any suggestions in that regard?

[John Mark Keyes]

I would remove a lot of the details that are required in section 6 of the draft regulations. As I said earlier, this is good advice for managing the penalties process, but it's not the kind of thing that should be put in the regulations.

Putting all that in the regulations means that the Commissioner's decisions will be challenged.

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

We've talked a number of times about the issue of the cap on penalties, which you feel is insufficient. However, the regulations must reflect the content of the act. What is currently provided for in the act poses limits. The act talks about a $25,000 limit.

Given that, how do you see those higher caps? I'd like to understand.

Furthermore, you believe that the cumulative effect would not be sufficient.

Am I understanding that correctly?

[Liane Roy]

What we said was that it would be important to ensure that the penalties are applicable for each complaint and that the amount of the penalty can be multiplied.

For example, if 10 complaints are filed, the Commissioner could multiply the amount of the penalty by 10, rather than imposing what is already mentioned.

Mr. Lepage may have more details on that.

[Roger Lepage]

The Official Languages Act provides that the maximum amount is $25,000. The act also says that it can be increased by regulation. The act makes it possible to increase it even up to $1 million or repeatedly. It also makes it possible to create another criterion for repeat offenders, for example.

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

I have 15 seconds left.

As for the idea of setting up a public registry, in addition to the amounts, we have to realize that the repercussions of repeat violations on companies like Air Canada can be harmful.

What do you think about that aspect, about publicly disclosing that type of information?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

There are 15 seconds left. Please be brief.

[Roger Lepage]

The registry is a good idea. However, a registry is just one more tool to try to get attention. I think administrative monetary penalties have a stronger impact.

The departments themselves should also be subject to it, because it draws attention to some of them who are violating the Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.

First of all, on behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank the witnesses who appeared either in person or online. I thank them for being with us.

Before we adjourn, I have two quick points for committee members. Last week, the clerk circulated the budget for the study we just started on regulations. Since the committee wasn't sure how many meetings would be needed to complete the study, the clerk has set a budget for four meetings and about 20 witnesses. If that changes, we can create a supplementary budget or return the unused money to the committee's envelope.

Is the committee in agreement with the budget?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

The second point is that the Commissioner of Official Languages will be appearing at our meeting next Thursday on the use of French in government communications. The Commissioner is only available for the first hour of our meeting.

The clerk has indicated that we want him to testify on the use of French in government communications. The Commissioner contacted the clerk again to ask if he could split his appearance in two so as to testify for 30 minutes on this subject and 30 minutes on the regulations.

I am therefore addressing the committee on this request. If that's the will of the committee, we can change it. Otherwise, we will stick with what we decided.

I give the floor to Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, and then it will be Mr. Godin's turn.

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

I think it would be beneficial for the committee to hear from him on both topics, knowing that his mandate is coming to an end and that he has been very active in the process of modernizing the act. He had made a lot of comments.

These regulations are the ones that affect the Commissioner the most. I think it would be in the committee's interest to have his comments on the study of the regulations as well. I think we could expand the scope of Thursday's meeting.

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

Mr. Chair, I don't share the opinion of my colleague opposite.

Considering that this is probably the Commissioner's last appearance here, I think it's important to have his expertise on the Prime Minister's situation, the use of French in government communications and federal institutions.

I prefer that the committee focus the entire hour on this issue. That's what's in the summons. We'll be working with the new Commissioner when he or she comes back next year to talk about the regulations. That's the person who will have to live with these regulations, unfortunately.

I would have preferred that the Commissioner be available for two hours, the first hour to discuss the main topic and the second hour to discuss the regulations. However, it's the holiday season, and he too has the right to celebrate at the end of his term.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Beaulieu, do you have any comments?

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

I would agree to keep it on the use of French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

So we are keeping the use of French.

Mr. Godin?

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

We saw it this week, when the President of the Treasury Board appeared. It would be very important for the Commissioner to be well informed about the subject being discussed at the Standing Committee on Official Languages, because I was very disappointed by this week's experience.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Is there any further discussion?

Ms. Chenette, do you have anything to add?

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

So Thursday's meeting will last only one hour.

Is that correct?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

That's right.

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I just wanted to make sure that was clear to everyone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Is there any further discussion? I see none.

The meeting is adjourned.