Official Languages Committee on May 5th, 2026

[Richard Léger]

It's certainly the intention to do so, and the ministerial authority is there. This relates to sections 12 and 13 of the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act—

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

You mentioned sections 12 and 13.

[Richard Léger]

—which refer to the minister's role in ensuring the law is enforced and in informing the public of their rights regarding the language of work and service.

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

Mr. Léger, can you give me this information and point me to where I might I find it?

[Richard Léger]

Sections 12 and 13 refer to the text of the act itself. The act distinguishes between the minister's role and the commissioner's mandate. The commissioner clearly has a compliance mandate.

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

Mr. Léger, where in the act does it state that the minister must publish the list of companies?

[Richard Léger]

I was referring to ministerial authorization, but not specifically to a ministerial duty [Inaudible—Editor].

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

What we heard from Ms. Boily is therefore not entirely true.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin, I'm sorry. I have to cut you off as your time is up.

I'll now give the floor to Mr. d'Entremont for five minutes.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to address the same issues that Mr. Bélanger just raised. The situation is the same in Nova Scotia. There are small francophone communities. We can see that these may not be regions with a strong francophone presence. The southwestern region I represent has small and medium-sized businesses. Federal institutions are not represented there.

Halifax isn't either. Can you explain to us what criteria determine which communities in Nova Scotia are considered to have a strong francophone presence?

[Richard Léger]

As Ms. Boily mentioned earlier, there are three criteria. The second, which concerns census divisions, applies more specifically to Nova Scotia. These divisions determine regions with a strong francophone presence. Since the draft regulations were tabled, a map, which is available on the Canadian Heritage website, has been published showing the regions defined by this statistical methodology. It shows, among other things, the regions of Nova Scotia covered by the proposed regulations, and specifically, the regions of Yarmouth, Digby and Richmond. These regions have potential demand within the census division, as they exceed 20% in all cases.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

Why isn't Halifax included, though? The largest francophone growth region in Nova Scotia is actually in Halifax and Dartmouth. Schools are now being built in the Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth area. The Royal Canadian Navy and the federal government have a presence in Halifax. I would very much like to see this region recognized as an area with a strong francophone presence.

[Richard Léger]

According to our analyses, the Halifax region does indeed have a large number of francophones who use French at home and francophiles. It therefore meets two of the criteria for potential demand for French-language services. However, it doesn't meet the first part of the third criterion in the draft regulations: There is no potential demand for French-language services from 30,000 people in the Halifax region. We're close, but we're slightly below 30,000 people. The Halifax region also doesn't meet the other criteria. For example, it doesn't have at least 20% in a census division. This is strictly a matter of population density, according to the established criteria.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

In Nova Scotia's new francophone region, the population density in the Dartmouth area of Halifax is really growing. The problem we have in Nova Scotia is that the francophone community accounts for just 10% or less than 10% of the population. When I was a provincial minister and we introduced the bill on French-language services in Nova Scotia, it was about 16%.

We worked closely with the regions we just mentioned—Argyle, both the lower and upper parts, Yarmouth to the north, Richmond and Chéticamp. These are the main historic regions where we wanted to have French-language services.

How are we going to regulate or ensure that services are accessible? There is an issue related to the region and accessibility and to whether they will enforce the law in these areas.

[Richard Léger]

Ensuring compliance with the regulations is a role assigned to the Commissioner of Official Languages under the act. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages serves as the primary point of contact for all matters related to public services. It is empowered to enforce a range of authorities that will influence orders. This involves the ability to conduct investigations and receive complaints from the public, regardless of any reports submitted by the company or its francization committees, among other things. Aside from all these obligations, which obviously serve to ensure the proper application and implementation of the regime, the commissioner's powers are distinct from all of that and apply in all cases.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

It really takes somebody to complain. Acadians don't tend to complain. When they don't get a service, they just switch to English and do it that way. How do we make sure that doesn't happen?

[Richard Léger]

Regarding services, I can clarify—

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Please respond very briefly, as Mr. d'Entremont's time is up.

[Richard Léger]

I'll respond in English.

For services, it doesn't take a complaint. The law itself is specific on this, but that's not the case for labour rights.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

They'll just switch, then, probably.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. d'Entremont.

I now give the floor to Mr. Beaulieu for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to clarify the following.

One media outlet wrote that the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, the UFPBA, is a carbon copy of Bill 101. However, it is far from a carbon copy. It specifies that if there's no compliance, the minister may refuse to issue a francization certificate. I'm a bit surprised that the minister will directly enforce the law, because they could have a conflict of interest. Normally, the Office québécois de la langue française has some degree of independence, though it's not perfect. However, in this case, the minister practically enforces the law.

[Julie Boyer]

That's how the act was drafted. You can rest assured that behind every minister is a department that will enforce and monitor it closely. The work will undoubtedly be carried out by the team.

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

I see another problem here. For example, if a Quebec-based company did not have a francization certificate—it was very difficult to enforce the Charter of the French Language on large companies that did not really care—a provision outlines several measures and consequences. One of the consequences is as follows. If companies do not have their certification, they are not entitled to government subsidies or loan guarantees. This is very effective. However, there is no such consequence in the UFPBA.

[Julie Boyer]

There are other consequences, but this one is not included.