Official languages: A law minister with “more bites” says Pettipas Taylor

At a press conference, Minister Pettipass Taylor stressed that he is giving his plan More bites To the current law.

As soon as I became a minister, I began my consultation with various stakeholders and my colleagues … We listened to make sure we had a better bill. We want to make sure he meets the challenges.

” The situation in the French country is worrisome. Its safety requires specific and immediate attention. ⁇

The first adjustment, and not least, is the possibility that the Official Languages ​​Commissioner may impose monetary penalties on certain companies that do not meet their linguistic obligations. Crown corporations, which operate in the transportation sector, provide services to passengers and liaise with them, including Air Canada, Marine Atlantic and VIA Rail.

The commissioner wanted extra tools to do his job. […] That’s what we did. […] We selected companies that affect the consumer and the traveling publicThe Minister explained.

However, before granting such permission, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages ​​must proceed gradually. Refers to a regulatory guidelines. Under the bill, fines can reach a maximum of $ 25,000, and the same offense cannot be fined more than once.

Administrative cash penalties are a tool we added, but Bill C-32 has already added othersMinister Pettipas Taylor said.

Another change is that the Treasury Board will now play a very important role as it establishes policies for applying certain parts of the law.

What is new is that this power is mandatory, just like monitoring the application of application principles [de la Loi] And make estimatesSenior officials of the Government of Canada explained during a conference.

The Canadian tradition still has a role to play, but the role of the Treasury Board Should generally function as a central agencyMrs. Pettybass Taylor promised.

Coping with the weight loss of the Francophone population

The government is making further progress regarding the Francophone migration It did not reach its goals outside of Quebec.

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in the bill of his predecessor Melanie Jolie Francophone must adopt immigration policyA statement is included, so this policy is included Goals, Objectives and IndicatorsIn order to cope with the declining weight of Canada’s Francophone minority population.

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The federal government has not met its targets for Francophone migration outside of Quebec (archives).

Photo: Canadian Press / Sean Gilpatrick

Finally, the bill provides a more precise definition Positive actions What should the federal government do to nurture the vitality of the official language minority communities and to promote French and English throughout the country? These activities should be Taken with the intention of having a concrete and positive effectAnd to be relied upon A rigorous analysis basisWe explain.

Former Minister of Health, Minister Pettipas Taylor, has been keen to add that legal obligations regarding official languages ​​apply at all times. Especially in emergency situations. No further details after Many defects were found in terms of official languages ​​during the epidemics.

Main lines are maintained

Many outlines Phil C-32, Presented by Ms. Jolie last June, can be found at Ms. Pettipass Taylor. The goal will always beTrue equality between French and English in CanadaSays the government.

The law recognizes that the French are a minority in Canada and North America, and aims to protect and promote it. According to the Minister, the Central Government a Plays an important role In this regard.

When he took office, Minister Pettipass Taylor promised Fight against the “French fall”.

” With the amendments, the law will face challenges today and tomorrow. ⁇

The bilingual ability of judges in the Supreme Court of Canada, the recognition of French as the official language of Quebec and the bilingual status of New Brunswick, the integration into the law of the Court Challenges Act and the action plan or amendment to the official languages ​​every ten years are still part of the modernization proposed by the Government.

Separate law for the use of the French language in the private sector

On the other hand, measures to ensure the right to serve the people and the right to work in the French language are now subject to the bill in private businesses within the jurisdiction of the federal jurisdiction and in regions with strong bronchones.

A new law provides the benefits of a clear, centralized framework for this new intervention sectorJustified senior officials of the Government of Canada.

(Archives)

Photo: Radio-Canada

Under the law, businesses within federal jurisdiction, for example in the banking, telecommunications and aeronautics sectors, can communicate in French with their employees and clients.

The move will first be implemented in Quebec and then two years later in strong French-speaking regions. Define what is an area with a strong bronchophonic presenceJustifies the Minister.

An attentive Quebec

Bloc Québécois has already warned that conditions will not support the plan put forward by Minister Pettitbass Taylor.

We are very disappointed for QuebecSays Mario Beaulieu, spokesman for the party’s official languages. Those who do not listen are only cubes! We will try to modify [le projet de loi]But for now it is unacceptable!He argues.

A member of La Pointe-de-l’Île believes the bill would undermine the efforts of the François Legault government to protect the French language and to implement the French language charter in businesses within federal jurisdiction.

French is the only official language in Quebec and the only endangered language in CanadaMr. Beaulieu insists.

” The reform presented today will in no way change the actions of Bill 96, my colleague the Minister for the French Language, especially in relation to businesses within the jurisdiction of the Quebec-based federal jurisdiction. ⁇

In an email to Radio-Canada on Tuesday afternoon, after learning more about the bill, the office of Sonia Label, chair of the Quebec Treasury Board and Minister for Canadian Relations and Canadian francophony, indicated that her government was taking over. Note on proposed measures, especially for the protection of bronchophones in minority situations in other parts of Canada.

Chairman of the Treasury Board and Minister in charge of Canadian Relations and Canadian Francophone, Sonia Label (Archives)

Photo: Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Russell

And add: In Quebec, we would like to remind you that it is the responsibility of the Quebec government to preserve and promote the French language. We are ready to work with the Central Government on this file. […] The State of Quebec is ready to fully accept its historic responsibilities and will continue to do so..

Opposition parties want more

Other opposition parties in Ottawa want the government to go further.

This is a step in the right direction, but it is clear that there are no things to respond to the French fallSaid Nicky AshtonOfficial Languages ​​Critic of the New Democratic Party (NDP).

” For the first time in a generation we have had the opportunity to modernize the Official Language Act. We must do all we can to improve it. ⁇

The New DemocratsNDP In principle, the Liberals support the government’s bill, but would like to see changes in it, specifically that the Treasury Board should be responsible for enforcing the law, and that the language rules should be included in agreements between the federal government. Provinces and territories when transferring money.

We recently saw this for childcare centers, where there is no guarantee for French-speaking communitiesMember of Parliament for Churchill-Kivathinok Aski.

Conservative MP Joel Codin, his party’s spokesman for official languages ​​(archives)

Photo: Radio-Canada / Guillaume Croteau-Langevin

On behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada (PCC), MP Joel Cody agreed. The changes were made by Minister Pettitbass Taylor after Ms Jolie’s bill, he agrees, but the government is still far from the mark.

I am pleased that the government has tabled the bill. We have been waiting for this for many years. But I was disappointed with the resultsHe said he hopes it will not really oppose the French fall.

He condemns the government’s reluctance to give more powers to the Commissioner of Official Languages ​​beyond a very limited framework or to ensure that the federal agency is the sole head to administer the implementation law application.

I recommend consulting with my colleagues and working with the government to provide tools for preserving the French language.