Montréal, October 6, 2009
Notes for an address at the Public Service of Canada Job Fair
Graham Fraser – Commissioner of Official Languages
Check against delivery
Hello everyone. I want to thank you all for coming today.
First, a word about my role: I am Canada’s official languages ombudsman, independent of the government. Canadians can contact me when they believe their language rights have been violated by a federal institution. Federal public servants also use my services when they believe there are breaches concerning their right to work in their own language, where that right applies.
Generally speaking, I work with those who care about linguistic duality, including second-language teaching groups, English-speaking communities in Quebec and Francophone communities elsewhere in the country, as well as many individuals within the federal public service who have chosen to make their second language an important part of their life.
As you may already know, the federal public service is going through a major transformation. The country's largest employer needs thousands of new employees each year to replace the generation that is retiring.
More specifically, the public service will be hiring between 12,000 and 15,000 new employees each year; including roughly 5,000 for designated bilingual positions. In total, this represents a higher number than that of all General Motors’ employees in Canada in 2008. It is an opportunity not only for many people to start a new career, but also for the public service to better reflect Canada’s image today.
An increasingly bilingual public service is one of the most significant transformations in recent decades, and the change is continuing.
Since 1969, the Official Languages Act has required federal institutions to communicate with citizens in the official language of their choice (English or French). However, this requirement is not universal.
For in-person service, only some points of service must provide bilingual service, depending on the proportion of Francophones or, in Quebec, Anglophones. In the Ottawa–Gatineau region, all of New Brunswick, and some parts of Quebec and Ontario, supervisors must be bilingual because employees have the right to work in either official language.
The result is that 40% of positions in the federal public service must be held by people who speak both official languages. In the Ottawa–Gatineau region, the number increases to 65%. Elsewhere in Quebec, 61% of positions are bilingual.
This doesn’t mean that the federal government only hires bilingual candidates, even in Ottawa or Quebec. Every year, the public service hires a number of unilingual Canadians. However, those who want to become supervisors will first have to master their second language.
In fact, language skills are also leadership skills, since they allow you to better serve the public. And the sooner you can learn the other official language, the better.
Quebec’s population presents a very good recruitment opportunity in that respect: its population has the highest bilingualism rate in Canada. In Quebec, more than a third of Francophones and two-thirds of Anglophones are bilingual. The proportions are even higher for the younger generation. Here in Montréal, you have ample opportunity to attain a very high level of proficiency in both official languages due to the resources available. This will give you an edge within the public service.
Since you are looking for a career in the federal public service, I encourage you to view bilingualism as a key component. It will help you better serve the public, take on leadership roles at any level and gain a better understanding of the country.
Thank you. I would like to use the remaining time to answer your questions.
