Official Languages committee  It's an excellent initiative. We should promote the use of both official languages.

Official Languages committee  I'd like to answer that in English. I have a problem with deciding that for entry into the public service we're going to limit the candidates to those who are bilingual. By doing so you will exclude large chunks of this country, and that's not fair. We should be aiming for the best and the brightest to enter the public service over the next couple of years.

Official Languages committee  I think there is also a balance between the carrot and the stick. Right now, if the government were to say...and Madame Adam, the Commissioner of Official Languages, did say it. She felt there were enough bilingual people in the public service now that we didn't need to put as much money into language training.

Official Languages committee  No.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Godin, you talked about figures, but it's also important to talk about people, about persons. In the public service, we see that there are two cultures, two generations affected. The money is allocated to managers. As Ms. Demers said, these are people in their fifties. As regards the reality of bilingualism requirements, the burden is now on the young people that we want so much to recruit in the public service.

Official Languages committee  Yes. You may have observed that, here in the region in particular, private language schools, which, in our view, are not of the same quality, are spreading like wildfire. We can't guarantee the same quality as that previously offered by the School of Public Service.

Official Languages committee  There was a time when a public servant could dream of enrolling in the School of Public Service to learn our language. Now, as Ms. Demers mentioned, they may be offered a few hours a week in the evening, in a local school. That's not the same thing.

Official Languages committee  No.

Official Languages committee  If we clearly understand the mandate that the Prime Minister gave Mr. Lord concerning linguistic minorities, we find it hard to understand why we weren't consulted. The federal government has a very important role to play with regard to services offered to all Canadians, including those belonging to linguistic minorities.

Official Languages committee  We didn't receive an invitation. We went looking for him, through his secretariat. We wanted an opportunity to talk to him. But we're still waiting for a call from him.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Chairman, members, allow me first to thank the committee for inviting us to appear before you today. Our union firmly supports the principles and objectives of the Official Languages Act. Respect for and the promotion of the official languages regime in Canada are essential in ensuring that all Canadians have access to federal government services in the language of their choice.