Official Languages committee  I cannot speak to the strategy of focusing immigration in one region over another. In Canada, we must respect the constitutional right to mobility so that newcomers can go wherever they wish. The key is being able to welcome francophone newcomers properly wherever they decide to

Official Languages committee  I don't know how to answer that.

Official Languages committee  Thank you very much for your question, Ms. Ashton. I commend this committee and the Senate committee. You do excellent work. Keep your efforts to improve Bill C‑13, which is an important bill. My message is as follows: we have to make sure this bill is really what we need for t

Official Languages committee  Yes, I will be pleased to speak to that, Mr. Serré. I am from Sturgeon Falls, as it happens, so it is always a pleasure to speak with my MP. I no longer live there, but my roots are still there and I am always happy to see you. There is actually an important addition in the last

Official Languages committee  A period review is definitely a good thing, and it is a must. New Brunswick's official languages act includes a similar provision, and I think it is a sound practice. That said, Canada's Official Languages Act has lagged behind since 1988, and we have some catching up to do now.

Official Languages committee  I agree. Ms. Kolodziej and I are really on the same page. Treasury Board must definitely be designated as the sole agency responsible for the implementation of the act. Mandatory linguistic provisions must definitely be included in the Official Languages Act, and immigration po

Official Languages committee  That’s a very good question. I think it’s a good start. The proposed changes to part VII are necessary and beneficial. I will follow up on the idea that Ms. Kolodziej just raised about the importance of language provisions. Indeed, there is nothing yet in this regard. This

Official Languages committee  I don’t know where to start with that statement, but I do share your opinion about the fact that French is in decline. Statistics Canada revealed it in its new study this summer. It is declining everywhere, including Quebec. That is why Canada is proposing, with this bill, to tak

Official Languages committee  In my opinion, yes.

Official Languages committee  : I don’t want to infringe on Ms. Kolodziej’s ideas about immigration policy. However, I also think we need to establish a detailed immigration policy at the federal level to increase the demographic weight of francophones in Quebec and throughout the country.

Official Languages committee  The bill contains a new section that would apply to the private sector in Québec as well as regions with a strong francophone presence. That’s notable. It’s an innovation brought forward by the act…

Official Languages committee  I do not see it that way, Mr. Beaulieu. If I understand correctly, the bill seeks to establish a balance, to determine where the federal government may legislate, such as businesses under federal jurisdiction, while leaving to the provinces, including the province of Québec, th

Official Languages committee  I can only refer you, once again, to the well-reasoned and reasonable proposals by the FCFA.

Official Languages committee  Yes, of course. Substantive equality is the concept that applies to language rights. When it comes to equality between Canada’s official languages, section 16(1) of the charter states that: English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and

Official Languages committee  That is an excellent question. I see elements in the proposed amendments to part VII that would ensure constant and sustainable investment by the federal government for the future of francophone post-secondary education in minority communities. This could apply to the Universit