Evidence of meeting #39 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 alberta.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
If you agree that French needs to be supported in Quebec, then you agree that there is an imbalance between the act and federal services.
President, TALQ
The two communities are not in conflict. We are not in conflict with the French language at all, and please don't misunderstand that. We are here to protect and to speak on behalf of the rights of the English-speaking community to be served, which is recognized by the Quebec government and by the Charte de la langue française, as well.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
We have nothing against English, but we want French to be the common language.
President, TALQ
I'm talking about the English-speaking community, not the language, sir.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Thank you very much. The time has elapsed.
Colleagues, given we have about 12 minutes left in the meeting, I'm going to have to shorten the second round. It's going to be two minutes each for the Conservatives and the Liberals and one minute for the Bloc Québécois.
Mr. Dalton, you have the floor for two minutes.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Thank you for joining us today and for sharing your thoughts.
TALQ recommends adding an explicit non-derogation statement confirming that nothing in the regulation reduces existing access to service in English where it's already provided.
Can you give more information regarding this recommendation? I know you've talked a bit about it already, but you're saying you don't want it taken away.
Conservative
President, TALQ
Right now, I can go into a bank and get service in English. I don't want that to disappear. English-speaking Quebeckers want to continue to have the right, at federally regulated businesses, to get our services and that what is there and what we can get now does not disappear.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Okay.
TALQ recommends that small and medium-sized enterprises under federal jurisdiction receive compliance support before any punitive measures are taken.
What do you mean by compliance support? What federal agencies could offer that program?
Finally, does the Government of Quebec offer such programs?
Conservative
President, TALQ
I will very quickly say that this is a sea change for federally regulated businesses. Small businesses will have to adjust, and they will need support from the Department of Canadian Heritage and from others as they transition to this new regime.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
From your perspective, you see a lot more regulations, regulatory burden and costs related to this.
President, TALQ
We see a lot. It's complex, with a lot of regulations, a lot of control and a lot of compliance. What we are saying is that this is going to be problematic for federally regulated businesses.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Please send in what we could do better on that from your perspective.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Thank you, Mr. Dalton.
I pass the floor to Mr. El-Khoury for two minutes.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Ludvig, I completely agree with my colleague Mr. Godin when he says that Quebec is surrounded by a sea of anglophones. You know very well that, for francophones in Quebec, language and culture are values, an identity and a heritage for these people. Every human being must protect these elements.
Do Canadians in other provinces take this unique characteristic into consideration? Do they understand Quebeckers' concerns about preserving their heritage and values?
What's your opinion on this matter?
President, TALQ
I'm sad to say I don't know about Canadians across the country, but I do feel that our colleagues—our confreres—in the the francophone community in the rest of Canada need the support of the Canadian government to ensure their existence, to ensure their continuity, to ensure their vitality and to ensure that they have access to French-language services.
We don't object to that. Not only do we not object, but we support that. We think it's important. Yes, you're right; it's important.
I'm proud of bilingualism in Canada. I'm proud of being able to speak in both languages, and I wish all Canadians were able to do that.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
That's great, but we would like to see it done practically by other provinces.
Quickly—
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
As of now, would you see companies adopting the LUFEP or sticking with the French language charter, and why?
Liberal
President, TALQ
I hope that the organizations will make their own decisions. I'm hoping that they will make the right decisions for themselves.