Official Languages Committee on May 5th, 2026

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

Okay.

[Julie Boyer]

In this case, we're talking about 100 employees. We need to keep in mind that federally regulated businesses include telecommunication companies, banks—

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

Maybe financial services.

[Julie Boyer]

Exactly. There are also transportation businesses.

If TD Bank, which has a branch in Winnipeg, a region with a strong francophone presence, has more than 100 employees throughout Canada, then even if the branch doesn't have 100 employees, an employee there can work in French, and services will be provided in French.

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

They can work in French, but they are not mandated to do so in regions with a strong francophone presence. Is that so?

[Julie Boyer]

The obligation is not on the employee, but on the employer. The employer must provide all the tools for the employee to be able to work in French. The requirement is on the company.

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

How was the threshold for 100 employees determined?

[Julie Boyer]

It takes into consideration the number of employees that the company has in Canada.

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

That's not what I'm asking. How did you determine that number? How come it's 100 employees and not 50 or 200 employees?

[Sarah Boily, Director General, Official Languages, Department of Canadian Heritage]

I'll speak to the factors that were taken into consideration for the implementation of the regime. We looked at the size of the business to find out whether it would be able to find the tools, training and policies to sustain the services and a work environment in French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you.

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

I don't have further questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

Due to technical reasons, the clerk has asked me to suspend for a minute, and so I'll do so. We'll resume in one minute.

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

Can I get the floor back for six minutes?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

No, but all the same, we're suspending.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Colleagues, we're back in session and we will continue with questions from members.

Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The passage of these regulations is a major step forward for the substantive equality between our two official languages. They impose new obligations on federally regulated private businesses in regions with a strong francophone presence. That includes the entire province of New Brunswick, which I represent, as well as regions in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.

My first question is as follows: What, exactly, is going to change for the public and consumers? What new rights are going to be created?

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you very much for that question, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.

I agree with you that the new rights are a real gain for the francophone community outside Quebec, because it means that a French-speaking individual can work in a federally regulated private business in regions with a strong francophone presence. It also means that a French-speaking client seeking service in a federally regulated private business can receive the service in French.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Can you give us examples of these types of businesses? When we talk about federally regulated private businesses, which sector does that refer to?

[Julie Boyer]

As I said earlier, that could be businesses in the financial sector, such as banks. A bank branch in New Brunswick should be able to offer employees the right to work in French, if it is not already doing so, and say that services are available in French, serve clients in French and provide documents in French for clients and employees.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

The draft regulations on the use of French in federally regulated private businesses introduce a new responsibility for the Commissioner of Official Languages. How will we ensure that the commissioner will have adequate resources to enforce the regulations?

[Julie Boyer]

There was definitely an amount allocated in budget 2021.

[Sarah Boily]

It's in budget 2024.

[Julie Boyer]

I went back a bit too far. It was in 2024. Luckily, I have Sarah Boily with me.

This money laid the groundwork for the Commissioner of Official Languages and for Treasury Board, which will also implement regulations for Canadian Heritage.

We did a needs/cost analysis for the implementation of the regime. We're definitely going to request for the rest of the money to fully implement the regime when it comes into force.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

As you know, considerable efforts have been made to ensure the demographic growth of francophone communities across the country. However, we know that there are regions where the regulations would not apply today. If these regions exceed the established threshold in five to 10 years' time, what is the established review mechanism?