Official Languages Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to meeting number 21 of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f) and the order of reference of December 9, 2025, we are meeting today to study the official languages (advancement of equality of status and use of English and French) regulations.

Before welcoming our witnesses, I want to consult my colleagues. We are starting our meeting 40 minutes behind schedule. We have access to resources for two hours, so we could meet for two hours, as planned. However, I know that, often on Thursdays, members cannot stay after 5:30 p.m.

Therefore, I want to ask you how you wish to proceed. Do you want to meet for two hours? If not, when do you wish to adjourn? I would like your thoughts on this matter.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As you know, there was an important vote in the House of Commons today on a bill you introduced. You won the vote and we are very proud to have supported you. That is one of the reasons why we are late. I consulted my Conservative Party colleagues and, unfortunately, we are unable to extend the meeting because we have other obligations. You know that we are returning to our ridings.

I suggest that we take perhaps 30 minutes to hear from Treasury Board officials and then spend the rest of the time hearing from representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

I agree with this suggestion; if necessary, we could invite the Treasury Board representatives again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, you have the floor.

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

Our members agreed to meet for two hours. I see that my colleagues are unable to do so. We understand that, but we feel it is important to hear testimony from both panels. Our suggestion would be to divide the speaking time into two equal blocks of 45 minutes for each panel of witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin and Mr. Beaulieu, what do you think of this proposal? Do you prefer to stick to your motion?

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

Mr. Chair, I told you the Conservative party's position.

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

I would stick to the two 30-minute blocks and, if necessary, invite the Treasury Board representatives to come back.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I see that a majority of MPs want to spend 30 minutes with our first panel and the rest of the time with the FCFA representatives.

Shall we vote?

Madam Clerk, please hold a recorded division on Mr. Godin's motion.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 5; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Since Mr. Godin's motion has passed, we will spend 30 minutes with the Treasury Board witnesses and the remainder of the time with the FCFA representatives.

I have a quick reminder for my colleagues. At our last meeting, we had decided to reserve five minutes at the end to conclude our discussion on Kelly Burke's nomination. I will reserve five minutes at the end of our meeting, meaning 5:25 p.m.

Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.

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

Before we start the 30 minutes, could you tell us the allocation of time per member? How much time will each member get?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Indeed, Mr. Chair, I did not know that information before I moved my motion. I will consult my colleagues; they will react if they disagree. Can we add five minutes at the end of the meeting?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You want to add five minutes at the end of the meeting?

Is that right?

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

If there is no vote at the end of the meeting, I will not stay. I need to leave at 5:30 p.m.

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

All right, forget it, Mr. Chair. There will not be a vote.

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

Instead of losing five minutes at the end of the meeting, we are adding five minutes. I agree.

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

However, there will not be a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I will then keep—

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

Mr. Chair, I move we add five minutes so the FCFA does not get shortchanged.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

We agree then to add five minutes and conclude at 5:35 p.m. Perfect.

With regard to the allocation of speaking time, I will keep the first round at six minutes for the Conservatives, six minutes for the Liberals and six minutes for the Bloc Québécois, and I will shorten the time in the second round proportionally, like always. I will do the math.

Is that acceptable?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Agreed. We are ready to resume.

I would now like to welcome our witnesses.

From the Treasury Board Secretariat, we have Vidya ShankarNarayan, senior assistant deputy minister, people & culture, office of the chief human resources officer, Carsten Quell, executive director, official languages centre of excellence, people & culture, office of the chief human resources officer, and Annie Proulx, director, regulations and policy, official languages centre of excellence, office of the chief human resources officer.

You have five minutes for your opening remarks. Then we will proceed with a question and answer period with committee members.

Ms. ShankarNarayan, you have five minutes.

[Vidya ShankarNarayan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and Culture, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Good afternoon.

Before we begin, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families and community members affected by the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. Our thoughts are with all those grieving this profound loss and with the first responders and local leaders who continue to support the community during this difficult time.

We share the entire community's pain, and we stand with them during these trying times.

Chair and committee members, it is a pleasure to be here today to speak with you about the draft regulations for the implementation of part VII of the Official Languages Act.

On December 9 of last year, the President of the Treasury Board tabled in the House of Commons draft regulations that clarify how federal institutions must meet the obligations set out in part VII of the act.

The part VII regulations are a key element in the Official Languages Act reform launched by the federal government in 2020. This reform includes legislative, regulatory and administrative measures. The cornerstone of this reform is, of course, the modernized version of the act, which was passed in June 2023.

The regulations seek to create solid guidelines and a common framework for the consistent and comprehensive implementation of the part VII commitments by all federal institutions. These commitments include enhancing the vitality and development of English-speaking and French-speaking minority communities; fostering the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society; protecting and promoting French throughout Canada, including in Quebec; and advancing quality learning opportunities in the minority language, from early childhood to post-secondary education.

In order to develop the draft regulations, Treasury Board Secretariat consulted with 23 organizations from francophone minority communities, 17 organizations from English-speaking communities in Quebec, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and federal institutions. It also maintained a dialogue with representatives of the provinces and territories. In total, we held more than 60 meetings, including about ten with the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne and with the organization Talking.Advocating.Living in Québec.

Following these consultations, we carefully analyzed each contribution and developed regulatory proposals in close collaboration with the Department of Justice and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The result of this work is draft regulations that we believe are balanced. They would provide federal institutions with a clear framework for complying with part VII.

The key advancement of the regulations will be that, for any federal program, policy or initiative launched by an institution, that institution must seize the opportunity and consider taking positive measures. In doing so, it must consult official language stakeholders, conduct an analysis that takes into account the uniqueness and diversity of English- and French-speaking linguistic minority communities and document the actions it is taking to promote part VII commitments.

The draft regulations clearly set out when an institution must consider whether positive measures can be taken or whether the negative consequences of certain decisions with respect to part VII commitments can be avoided or mitigated.

This includes, among others, when developing, restructuring, abolishing, or transferring responsibilities with respect to a program, policy, or initiative.

Federal institutions must consider how their decisions affect part VII commitments, including effects on community vitality, for example in culture, education, health, justice, employment and immigration.

The draft regulations clarify that institutions must provide reasonable notice for dialogue and consultation activities, and that they must provide consulted stakeholders with a summary and an opportunity to provide feedback.

To wrap up, the regulations are not the end of the process. To ensure they are fully operationalized, additional policy instruments such as a directive and guidance are being developed to complement the regulations.