Standing Committee on Official Languages LANG Ï NUMBER 115 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT EVIDENCE Thursday, October 18, 2018 Chair The Honourable Denis Paradis 1 Standing Committee on Official Languages Thursday, October 18, 2018 complaints, of which more than half were about services to the public. Clearly, there is still a great deal of work to be done with Ï (0850) regard to respect for official languages. [Translation] The Chair (Hon. Denis Paradis (Brome—Missisquoi, Lib.)): In my opinion, federal institutions do not have the tools to Hello, ladies and gentlemen. properly assess themselves, particularly in relation to communica- tions with and services to the public. This undermines the rights of Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3), we will consider the 2017- Canadians, including members of official language minority 2018 Annual Report of the Commissioner of Official Languages, communities. The current tools used to measure the performance referred to the committee on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. of federal institutions in terms of official languages do not give an Mr. Théberge, welcome to the Standing Committee on Official accurate picture of the situation, nor do they help federal institutions Languages. Perhaps you can introduce the people accompanying you measure their actual progress in terms of their compliance with the this morning and then give a presentation of about ten minutes, as Official Languages Act. usual. We will then move on to questions, answers and comments from committee members. [Translation] Please go ahead, Mr. Théberge. That is why I recommended that the Department of Canadian Mr. Raymond Théberge (Commissioner of Official Lan- Heritage and Treasury Board review the current assessment tools and guages, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages): amend them accordingly. Having a clear picture of the status of the Thank you. official languages in federal institutions is essential. Hello, Mr. Chair and honourable committee members. When we consulted federal institutions in the fall of 2016 It is with a strong sense of duty that I appear before you this regarding our tools and activities, we heard that they would like morning. I would like to introduce my colleagues with me, more support on official languages measures. The Office of the Mr. Pierre Leduc, Ms. Ghislaine Saikaley and Mr. Éric Trépanier, Commissioner is currently developing a new tool, the maturity who are all assistant commissioners, and Ms. Pascale Giguère, who model, to be implemented in 2019. is general counsel. In addition to tools, leadership is crucial. Leadership must be As you know, I tabled my 2017-2018 annual report on June 12, shown by the government and in the public service, at all levels. 2018. Today I would like to provide an overview of the report, and of my mandate and priorities, and talk about certain issues that I [English] hope are important to us all. This report recounts the many interventions by the Office of the In my 2017-18 annual report, I also focus on leadership in the Commissioner of Official Languages in fiscal year 2017-2018, federal public service and look at the Clerk of the Privy Council's which encouraged federal institutions to give the official languages report on language of work. Given that the Clerk of the Privy the important place they deserve. For example, the Office of the Council, as head of the federal public service, has made language of Commissioner took action related to Canada's 150th anniversary to work a priority in the public service in his report, I've recommended make federal institutions aware of the importance of offering that the clerk establish an appropriate mechanism to ensure that, Canadians and our many visitors experiences that reflect the starting in September 2018, federal employees receive annual status country's linguistic duality. updates on the work done by the committee responsible for implementing the recommendations contained in the report. [English] The office of the commissioner also continued its discussions As you know, linguistic duality is one of Canada's core values. It's with federal institutions to identify compliance issues and to ensure one of the cornerstones of our society's identity and diversity. that leadership leads to tangible and timely measures. However, However, there are challenges, which is why my office needs to some institutions are still struggling to comply with their language remain vigilant and ensure that official languages continue to be a obligations. In 2017-18, my office received a total of 894 admissible priority at the national level. 2 LANG-115 October 18, 2018 [Translation] I encourage this committee to take the lead in modernizing the act. Official languages need to stay on the agenda, so that linguistic You have before you a document that summarizes my priorities as duality in Canada can continue to grow. Commissioner of Official Languages. I have also provided it to my team. Thank you for your attention. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the official language of your choice, and I'll I am pleased to have the opportunity this morning to talk to you be happy to answer them. about the three priorities that I will focus on in the coming years. [Translation] First, I will urge federal institutions to break down the barriers to The Chair: Thank you very much for your presentation, achieving the objectives of the act by gaining a deeper understanding Mr. Théberge. of the success factors. We have some time ahead of us. We will begin the question and As I said, leadership must be shown by the government and in the comment period with Mr. Alupa Clarke. public service, at all levels. I want to see results and measurable Mr. Alupa Clarke (Beauport—Limoilou, CPC): Thank you, progress for Canadians, including members of official language Mr. Chair. minority communities. A strong show of leadership would help the institutions ensure that official languages obligations are fully Hello and thank you, Mr. Théberge. Hello also to the people understood at all levels, that there is proper planning, and that results accompanying you. are effectively monitored. We are pleased to welcome you to the committee as the new [English] commissioner. This is the first time. Welcome. My second priority will be to work with the federal government I think you have a dual role. It involves both the theoretical and its institutions to ensure they take the necessary measures to aspects of the act, as well as your duties at your office and your achieve the expected outcomes of the action plan for official relationship with Parliament and the official language minority languages 2018-2023: “Investing in our Future”. communities, OLMCs, and so forth. The other part of your role is more political. You have to take Federal institutions must stay attuned to the needs and concerns of action, be a watchdog and sustain the hopes of linguistic minority official language minority communities, particularly in the areas of communities in Canada. There is even a kind of duality in your immigration, justice and early childhood, to ensure that their actions work: one part is more practical, while the other is more theoretical. and decisions come after careful consideration of the language rights of Canadians and the vitality of those communities. That's why I'll be I see what you do and I think it is effective. keeping a close watch on the implementation of the 2018-2023 action plan. As I've said before, roles and responsibilities still need to At the committee, we heard about a meeting this summer with be clarified, and accountability measures need to be defined. young French-Canadians. At the meeting, you apparently told them to calm down a bit, not to expect too much, and not to demand ever Ï (0855) more favourable measures from the government for the protection of [Translation] linguistic groups. Finally, I urge the government to undertake a meaningful I would like to give you the opportunity to explain that. It really modernization of the Official Languages Act so that it reflects both surprised us a lot and we were a bit astonished by what those young the heritage and the future of the official languages in Canada. people said. Over to you. The Office of the Commissioner began considering the moder- nization of the act in the summer of 2017. It has stepped up its efforts Mr. Raymond Théberge: As you said, the commissioner has in recent months to continue the dialogue with various key multiple roles, which include protection, promotion, influencers and stakeholders. education. I do not specifically recall that event. I remember meeting some young people, talking to them about the importance of filing In November 2017, the Office of the Commissioner also hosted a complaints, and saying that it furthers linguistic rights. Perhaps we national conference to gather a broad range of viewpoints on a talked about modernization in that context. We talked about shared vision for the future of linguistic duality in our constantly timelines. evolving society. Ideally, the act should be modernized as soon as possible, but [English] under the circumstances, I think it would be difficult to get a new act by 2019. Perhaps that is why I said they should tone down their When the act turns 50 in 2019, I will continue my analysis on its expectations. I do not at all remember telling those young people that modernization and then issue my official position. For now, they should not have any expectations for the Official Languages however, I am of the opinion that the federal government, which Act. has already committed to this project, must consider three principles when modernizing the act: that the legislation must be relevant, Ï (0900) dynamic and strong.