Meeting of Departmental Official Languages Champions
Notes for an Address by
Mel Cappe
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Vaudreuil, Québec
November 20, 2001
Check Against Delivery
Introduction
- Thank you for the invitation to attend the fifth meeting of Departmental
Official Languages Champions.
- The Public Service is a key institution in our country and, as you
probably know, we are taking measures to modernize it.
- This modernization includes revitalizing our commitment, after
three decades, to promote and protect our linguistic duality and
the mutual respect for the two official language groups which are vital
to Canada's history.
- We are renewing our commitment and efforts to promote and protect our
rich legacy by revitalizing the official languages program.
- As you know the value of this duality is echoed both in law and in
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees equal
status to both English and French.
- There are Canadians across the country who have come to recognize
linguistic duality as an essential value that sets our identity as a
country apart from our neighbours and allies. Some disagree with this
view, and the diversity of origins of Canadians presents significant,
new challenges for us.
- I do not agree with those who would pit linguistic duality and
diversity against each other as if they were opposing ideas. I see them
as both enriching the strong foundations of our society. We all benefit
from this richness in our culture — an example that comes to mind is
the contribution made to Canadian literature by Francophones of
Haitian origin or by Anglophones who originally came to this
country from India.
- My main message to you today is that although we have achieved notable
cultural change in the federal official languages program since the days of
the Laurendeau — Dunton Royal Commission on Bilingualism and
Biculturalism, there have been "ups" and "downs" through
the past three decades.
- We still have challenges ahead, some of them different from the past,
particularly in terms of the language of work in the public service; and
- In addition to being a legal and policy requirement, language of work
requirements are tied to workplace well-being, as well as productivity,
and to our ability to renew the Public Service by attracting the talent
we need in recruiting our future employees from both linguistic groups.
- The Government’s commitment to the official languages was reaffirmed in
the last Speech from the Throne: "Canada’s linguistic duality is
fundamental to our Canadian identity and is a key element of our vibrant
society. The protection and promotion of our two official languages is a
priority of the Government — from coast to coast."
- The Prime Minister has therefore assigned the Honourable Stéphane Dion
the task of co-ordinating issues related to the official languages and
formulating a new policy framework for strengthening the program.
- Our federal official languages program includes three main objectives for
the Public Service: participation of both linguistic groups in the Public
Service, language of work, and service to the public. In addition, our
initiatives are designed to support official language communities throughout
the country.
- This aspect of the cultural evolution of the Public Service is important,
because it allows us to serve Canadians better and to ensure that we are
meeting each of their needs in the language of their choice.
- Last April, the Government made a commitment to modernizing the Public
Service of Canada. This modernization will no doubt also entail certain
cultural changes — Jim Lahey, Associate Secretary to the Treasury Board,
will probably be speaking to you about this important government initiative
tomorrow morning.
- The Public Service has never stopped changing, and since the events of
September 11, Canadians have good reason to view the federal government as an
institution that is crucial to their security. Today, the question is: What
can the government do to better protect us, and not: Is the government too
pervasive?
- This new appreciation for the essential role of the government in the
lives of citizens is part of the more recent cultural evolution of our
society and the Public Service.
- In matters of security, as for other services, the members of the
two language groups are demanding full access to their government
in their official language of choice.
- Our institutional bilingualism affects many aspects of our dealings with
the public; it is also basic to our values as federal public servants:
- Another important aspect of this cultural evolution is that Canadian
bilingualism stands as a major asset in the age of globalization. On the
one hand, this linguistic duality distinguishes us from many other
countries, and on the other, it serves to help us to better face the
challenges of fierce competition in many areas.
- But my message today is that cultural change in the linguistic field is
not yet over: there still work to be done.
- As you know, we have seen certain cycles in the official languages
program over the last three decades. There was the great momentum of the
first ten years – the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner
of Official Languages, the development of policies and the creation of
bilingual positions.
- Progress was made in the eighties, particularly in the area of services
to the public.
- This past decade has been more complicated: there was Program Review, as
well as our current efforts to strengthen our programs and services where
needs are identified.
- We can all be proud of the progress made over the last thirty years:
for example, the increase in bilingual capacity — bilingual positions
in the public service rose from 21 to 35 per cent between 1974 and 2000.
- And yet we still have much to do: for example, we must increase
anglophone participation in our regional offices in Quebec; we must also
ensure that Executives who do not have the required level of bilingualism
make a serious effort to achieve it.
- I have both a personal and a professional commitment to improve our
performance, with the assistance of the Deputy Minister community.
- Since I was appointed Clerk and Head of the Public Service, I have taken
steps to promote key official languages objectives:
- The participation rate of francophones among Governor-in-Council
appointments has increased. This is important because as leaders they
can make a real difference, as you know.
- 26% of Deputy Ministers are francophone and 40% of Associate Deputy
Ministers are francophone.
- 29% of the Heads of Agencies are francophones and 32% of the leaders
of Crown Corporations are, as well.
- This year, I identified official languages as a corporate management
priority. Consequently, official languages are a part of the performance
reporting system governing Deputy Ministers and Associates. This reflects
the commitment set out in this year’s Speech from the Throne.
- Making official languages a corporate priority means ensuring that
management at all levels carries through with the commitment. I know that,
earlier today, you discussed accountability contracts and performance
measures. You probably know that I provided Deputy Ministers with examples
of performance indicators for each of the corporate priorities:
- In terms of official languages, increased language training for
employees and the need to meet the "CBC" level for Executives
are some of the indicators against which we assess performance.
- I recognize, as do my colleagues among deputy ministers, that leadership
by example is very important in this, and in many other areas, where we need
to improve our performance.
- This leadership by example is tough. In my own work environment, I try to
actively promote the use of both languages during meetings as well as in my
personal office. Although I have had some success, there is always room to
improve — to continue to persevere.
- In recent months I have often spoken as well about the need to make the
transition between the industrial age and the knowledge age — another
aspect of cultural change in the public service that reflects the changes in
the society around us.
- In a constantly changing world which presents us with this new cultural
context, our obligations remain. And in that context, our cultural assets,
particularly mutual respect among the public as well as our work colleagues,
allow us to appreciate the full value added of the federal official
languages policy:
- You may be aware that the government also made a commitment in the
Speech from the Throne to deliver government services on-line by 2004.
- This is an important step, because it marks a strategic shift in
direction for us toward future e-government. E-government gives special
consideration to the human element, especially in terms of new approaches to
work and new leadership skills.
- As we make maximum use of our technologies, our official languages
objectives will obviously have to be included. We know, however, that the
world of technology is largely dominated by the English language — and
this represents another challenge for us.
- In my opinion, we have the interest, the skills, the motivation and also
the benefit of lessons learned over thirty years of linguistic duality, to
be able to successfully develop an E-government that reflects this duality.
- Therefore, our linguistic duality will have to be an integral part of
these infrastructures and these new ways of serving and communicating with
Canadians.
- I think that in this forum today, I am speaking to the converted.
- The vast majority of departmental official languages champions are
bilingual francophones.
- Too often, francophones have assumed a disproportionate
responsibility for being bilingual — some say this is the fate of
linguistic minorities everywhere. I think we must correct this
imbalance, and this is not easy to accomplish.
- I believe that, in a country which provides constitutional rights to both
linguistic communities, we anglophones must share both the legacy and the
responsibility of linguistic duality.
- Although I recognize the work done by departmental official languages
champions to date, one initiative I think we need is to have more bilingual
anglophones lead the way in our renewed commitment to our official languages
objectives. One way of doing this is by becoming future champions of
official languages in their departments.
- In my view, this type of leadership by example, as I mentioned before, is
not easy to achieve and it takes time to achieve results, especially in
terms of strengthening our language of work objectives.
- This leadership within the Public Service is supported by the political
commitment of the Prime Minister and the government’s renewed commitment
to our linguistic duality. Together with your hard work, I think you will
agree that we have the basis for making further progress on this important
priority in the government’s mandate.
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