The House of Commons Official Languages Committee met to study the proposed regulations related to part VII of the Official Languages Act. Appearing were Sylvia Martin-Laforge and Marion Sandilands from Talking. Advocating. Living in Quebec (TALQ), Linda Cardinal as an individual, and Geoffroy Krajewski and Denis Desgagné from the Réseau pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences (RESDAC).
Sylvia Martin-Laforge said TALQ welcomed the draft regulations for introducing needed structure and procedural discipline to part VII, but argued they operationalize process, not outcomes, and cannot compel measurable improvements in community vitality. She noted Quebec is unique because the federal government must both protect French and enhance the English-speaking community's vitality, yet the regulations provide no guidance on balancing these competing obligations. TALQ recommended that the act be reviewed more quickly, that consultation be meaningful and resourced, and that performance indicators be used to measure impact.
Marion Sandilands elaborated on a complaint TALQ filed with the Commissioner of Official Languages regarding the Canada-Quebec agreement implementing the action plan for official languages, citing an absence of documented impact analysis specific to English-speaking Quebeckers, limited consultation, and insufficient transparency. She explained that part VII is an obligation of means, not results, and that the modernized act does not define or require specific positive measures, limiting what the regulations can achieve.
Linda Cardinal called the draft regulations "lazy" and said they need to be reworked and revised to give them more relevance and scope. She recommended defining what a concrete measure is, providing direction on measuring intent to have a positive effect, and proposing a methodology based on language-based differential analysis. She argued the regulations avoid establishing a methodology to inject dynamism into part VII, contain imprecise language like "possible" and "potential," and fail to address promoting French in diplomatic relations.
Geoffroy Krajewski said the regulations must add a direct reference to learning in non-formal and informal contexts to reflect the act's recognition of lifelong learning for francophone minorities. He recommended that analyses conducted by federal institutions be systematically published, that Treasury Board include in its annual reports a list of all language clauses adopted, and that alternative dispute resolution methods be added to avoid always turning to the commissioner or Federal Court. Denis Desgagné noted that the non-formal and informal considerations are in the act but not in the draft regulations, calling it a step backward.
The committee heard questions from members, but no procedural debate, motions, or votes occurred during the meeting.
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