Official Languages committee  I will ask Mrs. Rallis to give her comments on the issue of the language of work. However, as I said earlier, there are language requirements when you are in charge of supervising people who occupy bilingual positions. Supervisors must be able to communicate with them in their language.

Official Languages committee  Yes, I believe so. I will ask Mrs. Rallis, who is responsible for human resources, to reply.

Official Languages committee  Yes, the champion carries out his duties almost entirely within the department, with a view to promoting respect for official languages.

Official Languages committee  We take our role with regard to part VII very seriously. They are not here today, but we have another branch in the department that looks after part VII for HRSDC in a very proactive fashion. We report to Canadian Heritage each year, as do the other designated departments. Ensuring that there is an awareness within the department of the importance of part VII and of the department's role under part VII are part and parcel of the champions' role in promoting official languages.

Official Languages committee  Are you referring to the annual report of Service Canada?

Official Languages committee  When Service Canada was created, one of its obligations was to provide an annual report at the end of the first three years of its existence, which we did. We were not required to produce an annual report for subsequent years. We are now considering reporting on our activities in a more public fashion.

Official Languages committee  We will certainly be referring to official languages in all public reports about Service Canada that we prepare.

Official Languages committee  They do the best they can, according to the availability of the satellite range. But...

Official Languages committee  Thank you. We have tried to maximize the use of available technology in order to be able to provide the same quality of services to all citizens. That includes people living in rural areas and even in the Far North, who can make regular visits to outreach sites. The term may give the impression that buses or vehicles of some kind are used, but that is not at all the case.

Official Languages committee  When it is not possible to connect to a wireless or high-speed network, we use satellites. We have the technology we need. We use it in the Far North and in some regions of northern Quebec and northern Ontario as well.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely. That is what we aim to do. As compared to the services we were able to provide five years ago in northern, remote and rural regions, the service we provide now is much more complete.

Official Languages committee  I wanted to reassure you by telling you that it would not be an obstacle.

Official Languages committee  I would simply say that we will be reviewing the results of this pilot project. I mentioned the $13,000, not to say that the amount of money is a problem, but rather to point out that, since it is not very costly, we do not expect it to be an obstacle in any way.

Official Languages committee  As I said earlier, we try to offer the best service possible to all clients who come to our offices. For example, our unilingual front-line officers must complete a training session entitled “Putting Citizens First”. This is front-line service training, a course that is very highly regarded and that is now offered by the provinces and in other countries.

Official Languages committee  No, no.