Official Languages committee  It has to be done. I think we have to be more aggressive now in the remedies we seek.

Official Languages committee  I think it has to ensure that the majority in Canada realizes that recognition of the two official languages is a fundamental value in our federation. It must increase the awareness that people in the schools, universities, social clubs and everywhere else have of this fundamenta

Official Languages committee  Regardless of whether it's the Official Languages Act or another act, I wouldn't want a repeat of a situation in which the program or policy would be cancelled by a regulatory decision. I think the Court Challenges Program is essential for the communities. I've used it. I led the

Official Languages committee  We didn't win.

Official Languages committee  We pleaded the case before the Federal Court. We argued, under part VII of the act, that a violation had been committed. Part VII, which had been amended in 2005, had become justiciable in the courts. We pleaded the entire case, but the day before the judge was to render his deci

Official Languages committee  I wouldn't say it no longer means anything. We should continue analyzing part VII despite Judge Gascon's decision. The federal government's argument at the time was that part VII isn't affected by the cancellation of a program, just as a forest is unaffected by the felling of a

Official Languages committee  Exactly. It would be preferable to do that rather than wait for a court decision that defines or doesn't define what a positive measure is. Appealing Judge Gascon's decision is one thing, but that doesn't prevent the government from finding a solution to define what constitutes

Official Languages committee  I'm getting old.

Official Languages committee  We can do that.

Official Languages committee  I wouldn't want to give the impression that I'm opposed to the idea of amending the Official Languages Act. On the contrary, I'm in favour of it. Incidentally, I had the privilege of representing the Acadians of Nova Scotia in the electoral districts case. It was an honour for me

Official Languages committee  Absolutely, if that was the question, my answer is yes. I think the language provisions stated in federal programs are too lukewarm. They should be much clearer and tell the provinces that it's that and nothing else. What's currently happening...

Official Languages committee  Absolutely.

Official Languages committee  There is obviously a variety of federal transfer programs. For example, under the Official Languages in Education Program, the OLEP, the minority communities of every province should be more involved in the agreements made under that program. That would ensure that the agreements

Official Languages committee  Yes, it's difficult, because those areas, like education, are also provincial jurisdictions. The provinces don't want the federal government to interfere in their areas of jurisdiction, except that, if the federal government decides to fund certain programs using its spending pow

Official Languages committee  Paragraph 32(2)(a) of the Official Languages Act already provides that the government should have regard not only to demographics, but also to the specific characteristics of the communities. At the time, in 1990, I appeared before the parliamentary committee that was examining