Official Languages Committee on June 9th, 2026

[Nathalie Lachance]

Your question has two parts.

First of all, I'd like to talk about a study done a few years ago with University of Alberta students. The study showed that some francophones were leaving the province because it offered limited opportunities to work in French or in French and English. If the government, institutions and private companies could create bilingual job opportunities, I think everyone would win.

Secondly, Alberta's francophone population is growing fast, whether because of immigrants arriving in Alberta or arriving from elsewhere in Canada, or other immigrants arriving from abroad. Among Alberta's francophones, 32% were born outside the country.

The tremendous popularity of immersion programs in Alberta also plays a role. There are a large number of programs and a lot of students. Some of them are confident that they will go on to study at Campus Saint-Jean and pursue their post-secondary studies in French. I believe that continued support for the francophonie is important during all stages of life.

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

Your recommendations mention the non-regression principle.

Can you tell us a little more about that? Why are you recommending it?

[Nathalie Lachance]

I think that we absolutely must stabilize the services we offer. Obviously, census data every five years would help identify where needs exist.

The non-regression principle forces us to make a 10-year commitment, finally, before deciding to do the opposite. I also think it relates to the question of how regions are designated and how the number of francophones with access to services in French is recognized.

A few minutes ago, we were talking about the percentage question in Alberta. Sometimes, this percentage works against us, because the francophone population is spread out across the province. We really have to look at the number of francophones that we can serve and how we can best serve them. If we look at where francophone schools are being built, and where we can create a living environment that offers more opportunities to use both official languages, I think we will all come out winners.

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

You talked about expanding designated sectors with a strong francophone presence in Calgary.

Why would that be important? What consequences would follow from not doing it?

[Nathalie Lachance]

On looking over our population figures, we realize that the number of francophones living in Edmonton is roughly the same as the number of francophones living in Calgary. With so many people, it's hard to imagine not serving them in French.

I think that we really have to provide as many opportunities as possible to offer services in both official languages and recognize a community's needs. I understand the percentage question, but I almost want to turn back the clock to the time when I was a school counsellor, and we used the expression “where numbers warrant”.

I think we have to be careful. If we go by percentages only, we might sometimes disadvantage communities that have a significant number of francophones, but are growing, which could lower the percentage. This happened in Alberta, where we grew quickly, but our percentage didn't necessarily reflect that reality.

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

You also advised us to review the regulations on a regular basis.

Witnesses have suggested that we conduct a review every five years, with each census. Others tell us it should be every ten years. They say that we need to factor in a two-year adjustment period after the regulations are implemented, and that five years doesn't necessarily leave us enough time to assess all of the resulting repercussions and challenges.

What do you mean by “regular reviews”?

[Nathalie Lachance]

We mean a review done every five years, although we would really prefer that it cover at least ten years once a community is designated as a region with a strong francophone presence. That way, it would include two census cycles, precisely to allow enough time to transfer the information.

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

There's something I would like to add concerning Edmonton.

You have started enlarging sectors designated as sectors with a strong francophone presence in Edmonton, and you have already noted the consequences.

Do you have anything else to add on that?

[Nathalie Lachance]

I might point out that some neighbourhoods outside the francophone sector include a lot of newcomer communities. When receiving francophone immigrants, we need to do what it takes to maintain this francophonie and this capacity to speak French, not to facilitate their assimilation.

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

Thank you. It's always a pleasure to discuss things with you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.

I'll hand the floor to Mr. Beaulieu for six minutes.

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

Thank you.

To begin with, Ms. Lachance, could you describe your situation for us at this time?

Are francophones where you live readily able to work in French and obtain service in French?

[Nathalie Lachance]

That is an excellent question.

I think it depends on your location, in Edmonton. It also depends on luck.

Do we hear French spoken more often now than when I arrived in 1999? Absolutely. The fact that we are now 260,000 francophones strong is a game changer. We feel it in daily life when we go looking for services.

Do we have access to the full range of services in French, even from private companies under federal jurisdiction? The answer is no.

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

That is going to be good.

Right?

[Nathalie Lachance]

Yes, it will be.

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

I think that francophone immigration helps. Studies show that francophone immigrants are integrating as quickly as francophones in general. I think the percentage was 42%.

Do you think that the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, or UFPBA, is going to fight assimilation and retain francophone immigrants?

[Nathalie Lachance]

I think we need to fight assimilation for everyone. Efforts by all of the stakeholders are going to help us fight assimilation, whether for people born in Alberta, born elsewhere in Canada or born abroad. These people made a choice to live in Alberta. Assimilation is a daily risk. We see it in the education system. When the only services available are services in English, the incentive not to speak French is obvious.

So I think that all of the services we can offer to generate more opportunities to provide service in French will help us fight assimilation and enhance the importance of French as an official language of Canada.

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

Thank you.

UFPBA includes provisions requiring companies to generalize the use of French.

Do you think that would be good for federal institutions as well?

[Nathalie Lachance]

I think that every opportunity we have to speak French is good for the francophone community. We live in a minority context.

I have the privilege of working with the ACFA and having worked in francophone organizations. It really is a privilege. It gives me the opportunity to speak French. It's not necessarily something that we can all do by walking around our neighbourhoods.

The more opportunities we have to live in French and express ourselves in French, the better we preserve our language and successfully pass it on. We don't just pass on our language, but also our culture and our identity.

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

I think that the brief submitted by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada mentions the need to have an active offer of services in French. Since people are used to being served in English, they won't automatically ask to be served in French.

I think signage should also be in French. I don't know if it will be like that outside Quebec, but in Quebec, French will predominate.

What other means could be used to determine which businesses will be subject to the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to encourage people to ask to be served in French?

[Nathalie Lachance]

You make a good point about signage. This isn't related to the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, but in Edmonton, police officers now wear a patch on their uniform that indicates which languages they speak. That would be another avenue.

I took a flight last week, and I saw that airport security staff are now wearing lovely blue jackets so that we immediately know who speaks both official languages. We always have to find ways to make sure that people are clearly identifiable.

I completely agree with you that an active offer is essential.

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

Do you think the government will accept your recommendation to expand the regions to be designated as having a strong francophone presence?

[Nathalie Lachance]

I believe that, to be compatible with the Official Languages Act, which states that we should return to the 1971 demographic weight of French speakers, the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act needs to be extended to the populations and communities we are proposing.

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

I think increasing the proportion of francophones through francophone immigration is quite easy to do temporarily. However, it will be much more challenging to ensure that people integrate into francophone communities. This is where the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act may be beneficial.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 35 seconds left, Mr. Beaulieu.