Official Languages committee  Some ambassadors are appointed by the Governor in Council and others come under the Public Service Employment Act. Those appointments have to comply with the same policy regarding official languages as apply in the rest of the public service.

Official Languages committee  There is a general rule now for bilingual positions: we staff the positions on an imperative basis. In some circumstances, however, with the approval of senior management, we can staff positions on a non-imperative basis. For the management group, there are special rules. For example, bilingual assistant deputy minister positions have to be staffed on an imperative basis, regardless of the department.

Official Languages committee  We have a number of tools available to us for managing the system so that we can monitor things. Of course being able to withdraw the delegation is a tool, but we also have the power to write to the Clerk of the Privy Council, we can write to the responsible deputy minister in the department, we can publish the findings in our annual report, and so on.

Official Languages committee  Yes, we do. Since 2003-04, that fiscal year, we've introduced a monitoring system. We require departments to report on the situations of people they have appointed to bilingual positions on a non-imperative basis, so that we can track to make sure the extensions that are required are done in accordance with the exclusion order and that these people do eventually meet the language requirements.

Official Languages committee  I can't tell you exactly how many met the language requirements, but people either had their exemption period extended or perhaps they received an exclusion on the basis of a medical reason. That number can go down for a number of reasons. Either they eventually meet the language requirements, or they move to another job, or they are excluded for another reason.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Nadeau, since the new Order came into effect, on December 31, 2005, public servants have two years to become bilingual. After that period, if an employee has not attained the necessary level of bilingualism, the department may authorize an extension, for very precise reasons.

Official Languages committee  It depends on the level of the position. An employee could be transferred to a position at a lower level, which lower pay.

Official Languages committee  Figure 6 says...

Official Languages committee  ...that about 90% of bilingual positions were staffed on an imperative basis in 2006-2007.

Official Languages committee  It was 80...

Official Languages committee  The Canada Public Service Agency is responsible for official languages policy in the public service. For designated bilingual positions, we have a choice. If we decide that a position will be staffed on a bilingual imperative basis, that means that the candidate must meet the language requirements for the position at the time of appointment.