Official Languages Committee on May 26th, 2026

[Alain Dupuis]

Precisely; if we reduce the measurement scale, we will be able to target the small communities that are currently being overlooked. In addition, I think that several communities still have one bank branch or a Bell Canada outlet, for example, like a small store. It's still important for us. If we narrow down the geographical area, we can reach many more of these small communities.

However, I believe that the federal government will also have a role to play in promoting these new regulations and supporting businesses so that they can comply with them.

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

Now, let's talk about urban regions. In Nova Scotia, the region with the largest number of francophones or Acadians is the Halifax area, which includes Dartmouth and Bedford. However, this region is not on the list.

How can this be managed when the most francophone region is not currently designated?

[Liane Roy]

That's partly why we offered you the other calculation system.

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

Could you explain it a little bit more? I haven't had the chance to look at that closely yet.

[Alain Dupuis]

First and foremost, we propose keeping the same 20% criterion, but to reduce the unit of measurement. That's going to include a much larger number of communities.

However, what you are referring to is the reason why we propose adding other criteria, such as including provincial capitals like Halifax, where at least 1,500 francophones live and where there are francophone schools. It's important for us that the capitals are designated because the governments are there, as are a number of headquarters. Many francophone organizations and many post-secondary institutions are in these capitals where there is a core of francophone vitality.

That doesn't mean the entire Halifax area would be designated, but it would be possible to determine a dissemination area, such as a neighbourhood. The goal is to identify where the francophone institutions are in Halifax to ensure that if banks, telecommunications businesses, or transportation businesses, for example, have branches in this dissemination area, people can receive services in French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 40 seconds left.

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

I don't really have any other questions.

We really need to see what we can do in this region. The schools are there. In the Dartmouth area, I forget the name of the road where everyone is, but the high school and the elementary school are there. We hope that a bank will be able to offer services in French in this location.

[Alain Dupuis]

Absolutely. That's what we are suggesting.

We know that large cities and capitals are also focal points for francophone immigration. Annually, we already welcome 30,000 permanent residents who speak French in francophone communities. This number will continue to increase. It's important that urban centres are included in the regulations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. d'Entremont.

I'd like to say that I come from Toronto, and I've been trying for years to attract all the francophones to Etobicoke Centre. I haven't had any success. However, if you have any suggestions, I'd like to hear them.

I now give the floor to Mr. Beaulieu for six minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our guests.

I think using the dissemination area is a good method. Eventually, it might be appropriate to lower the threshold, say to 15%. I think we should be able to adjust the thresholds with restoration in mind. Rather than changing the indicators, we should lower the thresholds.

The act will apply to federally regulated private businesses that have 25 employees or more in Quebec or 100 employees or more outside of Quebec. You propose that the threshold be set at 25 employees across Canada. I think that's a good thing.

Regarding the certificates for the fostering of French, I know that they are for companies with 100 employees or more. I don't know if, outside Quebec, certificates for fostering French are also required. I think it would be important because it's what would encourage the widespread use of French in a business.

There's another thing I'm wondering about—

[Alain Dupuis]

Regarding this last point, if you'll allow me, I'd say that the regulations are not clear to us about the procedures for businesses outside Quebec. In Quebec, it's clear that we essentially apply a regime similar to Bill 101, but in the regulations, we do not have the same framework for these businesses regarding French-language committees and reports. Very few reports are required from designated businesses in regions with a strong francophone presence outside Quebec. These are aspects that we would like to see strengthened in the regulations.

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

Even in Quebec, businesses with at least 25 employees but fewer than 100 may be required to establish French-language committees if there is resistance.

I don't want to stray too far from the scope of the UFPBA, but it would've been interesting if the UFPBA applied to federal institutions as well, to ensure the widespread use of French in regions with a strong francophone presence.

Basically, the use of dissemination areas would cover Toronto.

[Alain Dupuis]

Yes. They would cover many more regions. In our report, you'll see we have maps. We cross-referenced data to illustrate where francophone institutions are located and where the dissemination areas reach the 20% threshold. The Toronto area would partially reach this threshold. The additional criteria we propose, such as the presence of strong francophone institutions and the presence of francophone vitality in certain dissemination areas, would make it possible to designate at least a few neighbourhoods in large centres like Toronto where there would be obligations.

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

Basically, if you take Toronto as a whole then there aren't enough francophones. However, if you take different parts of Toronto, there would probably be several neighbourhoods that could rightfully be designated. I think it would be very important.

Furthermore, the Commissioner of Official Languages has no authority over consumers. I think she can only act regarding consumers and services. In the UFPBA, it appears that only the minister is responsible for the process of francization or the fostering of French. So we'll see. However, I think it would be important for the commissioner to be able to conduct investigations on her own initiative, and not only when she receives complaints. I don't know if it's in your proposals.

[Alain Dupuis]

One of our recommendations is that the list of businesses subject to the Official Languages Act be automatically provided to the Commissioner of Official Languages, not only to facilitate investigations but also to educate and foster French. This is because if everything depends on the minister's political will, we believe that will not be enough.

According to what is currently being proposed, it will be a system based solely on the number of complaints. First of all, if we could know which businesses are subject to these regulations, that would help. According to the regulations that were submitted, no list was provided. In our view, the obligation to provide this list to the commissioner would be a proactive measure.

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

I haven't had time to look at this in detail, but if we keep the provision that requires it to be based on complaints, it must be possible to complain anonymously. Often, people don't dare make complaints if they cannot do so anonymously, especially workers. I think it would be good for the commissioner to be able to investigate on her own initiative in places where it's more problematic.

Apart from that, do you have any other suggestions that you haven't had time to mention?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 45 seconds left to respond.

[Alain Dupuis]

There are a few more.

We also want a non-reversal principle to be set out in the regulations. In other words, once a region is designated as a region with a strong francophone presence, even if there is a demographic change afterward, we request that its designation cannot be removed when the regulations are later reviewed.

We also want the regulations to be revised every five years to better capture demographic changes. Things can change between one census and another. For example, in the last three years, Toronto has welcomed more than 15,000 francophone immigrants. So, if we wait 10 years to implement the regulations and apply them, unfortunately we will not be able to reach several communities that are seeing francophone demographic growth, from immigration in particular.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Your time is up.

We will now begin the second round of questions.

I give the floor to Mr. Gill for five minutes.

[Dalwinder Gill, Conservative, Calgary McKnight, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The regulations use numbers and percentages to decide which regions outside of Quebec have a strong francophone presence.

In your view, should the government also consider qualitative factors such as French language schools, francophone institutions and the historical presence of francophone communities?

[Alain Dupuis]

Absolutely.

These are elements that we have included in our proposal. We believe it's important to take into account the historical contribution of communities that had a francophone presence. We need to see how these regulations can revitalize certain regions where French has declined in recent years.

It's also necessary to interpret not only the percentage of francophones but also the absolute number of francophones. As we can see, large cities like Toronto, whose greater area has nearly 200,000 francophones, do not fall within the current definition in the regulations. These francophones also have the right to live in their language, to have opportunities to receive services in French, and perhaps also to work in their language, even in predominantly anglophone areas.

[Dalwinder Gill, Conservative, Calgary McKnight, AB]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I'll give the floor to Mr. Godin.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin, the floor is yours.

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

Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Let's talk about Toronto.

What status has the province granted Toronto regarding official languages?

[Alain Dupuis]

The city of Toronto is located in a region designated under Ontario's French Language Services Act. As a result, all provincial government services offered to the public in Toronto are also offered in French.