Official Languages committee  The number has increased considerably since the start of the new Parliament. We currently have 119 members in French training and 19 members in English training.

Official Languages committee  No, not really. There is roughly the same number of assistants taking language courses.

Official Languages committee  That's right, a position has a language profile attached to it.

Official Languages committee  Many MPs have come to take a bilingualism test at our centre. As an MP, you are welcome to take a bilingualism test.

Official Languages committee  In fiscal year 2016-17, there were 60 people in immersion.

Official Languages committee  In 2016 and 2017, two spouses took our training. We also provided training to at least 60 or so assistants.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely. When someone signs up for training, if it is a new learner, we invite them to do a placement test. That test serves to evaluate the person's knowledge of grammar and their oral proficiency. We then place the person in a group, based on their proficiency level and obj

Official Languages committee  The training is 12 weeks long. For the beginner and intermediate course, there are 48 hours of training. For more advanced courses, it is two hours per week for a total of 36 hours.

Official Languages committee  We are not necessarily the ones who organize training for employees in the ridings. That said, they often call us for advice. When they send us names of schools, we can advise them on which ones to choose. In addition, we can refer them, since there are schools that we work with

Official Languages committee  At point of contact, we pair you up with a teacher, and the teachers reach out to all of the MPs whether it's previous or new MPs. We have a high rate of MPs who continue their training because the teachers will reach out to them and say, “We're back, are you ready, did you want

Official Languages committee  It depends on the rate and frequency of training, and the number of hours per week. It depends on their objectives, and what they're focusing on. In general, depending on the objective, if it's an oral objective, then yes, if you're there.... Right now, we offer three to four hou

Official Languages committee  Absolutely.

Official Languages committee  We also have MPs who are currently using Skype with their teachers here in Ottawa. Some of them prefer to continue with their teachers, because they're more comfortable, and the teachers know where they're at, so they do continue with Skype.

Official Languages committee  At the moment, we're using Skype. We are looking into self-learning programs. We're in the process of seeing which ones work and which ones don't. We're in the process of researching right now for an online version. Right now, it's mainly Skype and face-to-face.

Official Languages committee  It's across the board.