OTTAWA (Staff) — Agriculture minister Ralph Goodale said his goal is to employ more French-speaking workers and managers in Agriculture Canada to better reflect Canada’s linguistic split.
But he said merit will continue to be a factor when hiring or promoting employees.
“The increased representation of these under-represented groups must take into account the requirements of the Public Service Employment Act while complying with the intent of the Official Languages Act,” Goodale told the parliamentary committee on official languages.
“The merit principle must continue to be respected.”
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Goodale started and finished his comments in French, visibly illustrating a commitment to learn Canada’s second official language. He said he is taking lessons.
He also promised MPs that Agriculture Canada will be trying to increase the number of French-speaking employees in New Brunswick and English-speaking employees in Quebec.
The department’s goal is to have the same English/French split in its 11,000-member work force as exists in Canada, roughly three-to-one.
French-speaking employees now comprise 24 percent, he said, but they are under-represented in management.
“I am committed to increasing the number of francophone employees in the management category so that the level of representation is the same as in the organization as a whole.”
