Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question. On the first, I think.... I don't have the text in front of me, but I took note when you read it, Mr. Beaulieu. It still seems to maintain an obligation with “shall take into consideration”. That is an obligation to demonstrate this was taken into consideration.

Official Languages committee  There are going to be effects.

Official Languages committee  No, because it talks about linguistic specificity in Quebec.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for giving me an opportunity to clarify my remarks. Mr. Housefather's question asked whether this amendment didn't create a new offer of services in French that could have the effect of reducing the offer of services in English. I answered that he was correct. Now, I will explain why.

Official Languages committee  No, it would not have the effect of increasing the offer of services in French. As my colleague explained, there is an automatic offer of services in French in Quebec. However, it has to be proved that this situation was taken into account. Consequently, it has to be proved that the minority situation of French in North America was given precedence, as compared to the minority situation of English in Quebec.

Official Languages committee  To the first part of your question, yes, you are correct. On the second part, I'm not sure how the courts would interpret it.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for the question. As we discussed earlier, the subject here is the Governor in Council making regulations. The effect of the amendment would be to require that the Governor in Council take into account the minority situation of French in Canada. As my colleague Mr. Quelle said, we therefore have to ask ourselves whether the consequence of this would be that fewer services were offered to anglophones in minority communities, since the unique situation of French in North America is taken into account.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Serré. This amendment relates to a part of the act where the factors for the Governor in Council to consider in making regulations are defined. The purpose of the amendment is to give the Governor in Council the flexibility needed for adding a factor that might be important, including as regards the minority situation of the French language in Canada, due to the predominant use of English, and the linguistic specificity of Quebec.

Official Languages committee  I will be happy to answer, Mr. Serré. As you said, we are reiterating here what was already said in the proposed preamble, in the proposed sections to clarify the purpose of the Act, and in the interpretation provisions proposed in Bill C-13. These are all provisions that have been adopted and already specify that the particular situation of Quebec or of French will be taken into account.

Official Languages committee  I'll let Mr. Newman explain the impact of the subamendment that was just adopted.

Official Languages committee  Thank you very much for the question, Mr. Serré. What this amendment is proposing is making all federal offices bilingual. So all of the federal offices in Quebec that are currently unilingual francophone would indeed have to provide services in both official languages. What is being removed from the Charter is the concept that services should be offered only where there is significant demand.

Official Languages committee  I'm going to ask Mr. Newman to take that one.

Official Languages committee  The proposed wording would be in line with the act's interpretation principles, under the title “Language rights”. I would like to remind you that the bill proposes the following three principles of interpretation: (a) language rights are to be given a large, liberal and purposive interpretation; (b) language rights are to be interpreted in light of their remedial character; and (c) the norm for the interpretation of language rights is substantive equality.

Official Languages committee  The previous amendment that passed would make the Treasury Board responsible for overseeing the implementation of the legislation. This amendment proposes that Canadian Heritage retain a role of coordinating the pan-government strategy for official languages. It is usually developed through consultations with stakeholders.

Official Languages committee  Yes, that is what it seems to me to be.