Today, our National President, Chris Aylward, wrote to Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos asking him to make all employer proposals filed with the Public Interest Commission (PIC) available in both official languages.

We ask members to do the same by writing to President Duclos and adding the Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge, in copy.

December 18, 2019

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

President of the Treasury Board

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

90 Elgin Street, 8th Floor

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R5

Subject: Translation of Brief to the Public Interest Commission

Dear Mr. Duclos:

I am writing this letter to draw your attention to the treatment of our francophone members, who are also your employees. Specifically, the provision of the employer’s brief for the PA Group, which was submitted in English only to the Public Interest Commission (PIC) earlier this month.

We have received a number of comments from our members who would like to be able to read your position statements and arguments. Like their anglophone brothers and sisters, our francophone members would like to be able to read them in their own language.

As you know, with the PIC hearings, the negotiations are entering a crucial phase that will put us in a legal position to ask our members for a strike mandate. It is thus even more important that our members be able to consult, in both official languages, the documents concerning our respective positions. Accordingly, out of respect for our francophone members, we ask that you require immediate translation of your brief and ensure that it is made available in both official languages. Further, could you please ensure that all future PIC briefs of the employer are provided in French and English.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Chris Aylward,

National President

Public Service Alliance of Canada

c.c. Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages