Evidence of meeting #20 for Official Languages in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was burke.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Thank you.
I will now give the floor to Mr. Villeneuve for five minutes.
Liberal
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Ms. Burke, we'll see if our timing is as good as it was earlier. We're nearly done.
If you are appointed Commissioner of Official Languages, you will have new and stronger powers. You touched on that at the outset. The committee has just completed a study on the administrative penalties regulations. What we've heard from witnesses is that the process is far too long and that the notices of violation are too detailed. You touched on that earlier. I imagine you agree with that, because you've read it.
How do you think you can handle that? Do you have an opinion to share with us?
Lawyer, As an Individual
The act and the regulations set out the path to follow. In order to navigate those waters, I think you have to determine the criteria that need to be in the notice of violation. The reason for the administrative monetary penalty must be justified in accordance with the criteria set out in the regulations. We need to make sure that the office is well equipped to handle that. We have to make sure that, if an administrative monetary penalty is considered, we have the evidence and we meet all the criteria that justify imposing the penalty.
Liberal
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Earlier, we talked about the challenges facing the anglophone community in Quebec. I don't think the situation is the same everywhere in Quebec. I want to talk specifically about the Eastern Townships, where I'm from. In my riding, the population is about 20% anglophone, and they are mostly in the south, very close to the border. They have trouble getting certain services in their language.
As commissioner, how would you be able to establish a climate of trust in that community and address problems?
Lawyer, As an Individual
First, I have always been there on the ground to determine where the problems were in order to determine how we could remedy them.
We have to work with a unique language regime in Quebec. We have to try to work with governments across the country, but with the Government of Quebec in particular, we have to ensure that, when the implementation of the federal act intersects with provincial legislation, we can find an environment, the right conditions, to ensure that the services you refer to are upheld.
Liberal
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
What are the most useful lessons you learned from your role as French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario?
Lawyer, As an Individual
I think it's a question of the approach. What I found when I took office is that, for the most part, governments are willing to do the right thing. Those are the words I used regularly. Often, I would determine what was required under the act, based on my reading and my interpretation of the act. The challenge, which also exists at the federal level, is the ability and power to do so.
What I've often done in Ontario is start the conversation with people who wanted to find solutions but didn't necessarily have the ability to implement them in the work environment. I had to influence the government, through recommendations, to obtain additional resources. Ability is often related to resources, for instance. We need to have the necessary funding so that programs can offer services in French.
How to go about that wasn't necessarily obvious. As a result, I developed a language compass in the province to make tools available to all Ontario public service offices. That allowed for self-assessment to determine whether or not we met the requirements of the act.
Liberal
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Do you think you'll be able to import that into your new role?
Lawyer, As an Individual
It's possible. I did that right after the pandemic. I wanted to assess the linguistic health of each department. It was popular at the time.
Liberal
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Thank you very much.
I think I've kept to my speaking time. If you wait five seconds, it will ring.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
I'm really impressed. Thank you very much.
That concludes our conversation with Ms. Burke.
Ms. Burke, thank you for being with us today. This is a very important conversation. We could keep asking you questions for hours and hours, I'm sure. You've been here for almost two hours. We appreciate your time with us.
I will suspend the meeting before we continue in camera.
I'd like to thank the visitors, including the members of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, who were with us today. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to ask them to leave the room while we suspend.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]