Question Period Notes
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Update on the RCMP’s role regarding the Mass Casualty Commission.
This note focuses on Phoenix salary overpayments. A salary overpayment is an amount of money paid to an employee to which they are not entitled. Overpayments exist for current and former employees.
Notes:
- Questions related to the Directive on Terms and Conditions of Employment should be directed to the President of the Treasury Board
- Questions regarding the tax implications of Phoenix payroll issues should be directed to the Canada Revenue Agency
Status of the Express Entry system which is used for managing applications in a number of economic immigration categories.
On May 24, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Minister for Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency launched the 2022 Consultations on the Renewal of the Action Plan for Official Languages. She will be touring across Canada to meet face-to-face with key stakeholders, members of official language minority communities, and government representatives. Members of the general public will also have the opportunity to be heard directly through online consultations.
On November 3rd, 2021, Michael Rousseau, the new President and CEO of Air Canada since February 2021, decided to deliver his first major speech to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal in English only. On November 8, 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance wrote to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Canada to express the disappointment of the Government of Canada, to recall the carrier's commitment, and propose corrective measures.
On May 24, 2022, the Government of Quebec adopted its reform of the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101. Draft Bill 96 is entitled An Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec, French.
On March 1st, 2022, the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency tabled Bill C-13 An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts in the House of Commons. This Bill provides for, among other things, the creation of a new law to register new rights to work and obtain services in French in federally regulated private businesses in Québec and in certain regions with a strong Francophone presence.
On December 1st, 2021, Senator Claude Carignan introduced Bill S-229 that would amend the Language Skills Act to add the position of Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick to the list of positions where knowledge of French and English is mandatory. This is in addition to Bill S-220, introduced by the Senator a week earlier, concerning the language skills of the position of Governor General of Canada.
According to her mandate letter of December 2021, the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is called upon to "Protect the institutions of Quebec’s English-speaking community and support the creation of new education and community spaces for the community”.
In May 2022, the press reported on the under-representation of Francophones in the senior federal public service. Some stakeholders, such as the unions representing civil servants, have found that Bill C-13 does not sufficiently address the issue of language of work in the federal public service. There are recurring compliance issues that result in numerous complaints to the Commissioner of Official Languages. In addition, there are calls for an increase in the bilingualism bonus from, $800 to $1,500.