The big boss of Canadian National (CN) has refused to apologize on behalf of his company for the situation that led to the Francophones ’absence on its board of directors.
What I offer is a promise to appoint a francophone director from Quebec as soon as possibleTracy Robinson replied instead to NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice who asked her in a hearing on Wednesday before the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
The NC fell into a linguistic storm when it was publicly announced that the carrier, with its headquarters in Montreal and subject to the Official Languages Act, was not retaining any French -speaking candidate for its board of directors after resignation of the former premier of Quebec, Jean Charest.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was blown away according to the situation and the company announced on the same day that it would rectify the situation thanks to the conclusion of the directors ’orders in the coming months .
In response to the committee’s first vice-chair, Conservative Joël Godin, Tracy Robinson seemed surprised on Wednesday to indicate that the process has revealed a large number of qualified French -speaking candidates located in Quebec.
The appointment of the successful candidate is a few months, not yearssaid the president and CEO in his testimony partly in French, a language he has learned since he came to head the organization three months ago.
Dodge
Ms Robinson avoided answering many questions from elected officials, although she insisted that her company leading by example.
Does he think a Francophone is enough on board? Does he believe there should be a minimum in the case of businesses subject to the Official Languages Act? Are French courses compulsory for Board members? Should bilingualism be needed in hiring senior executives? Does he believe that French proficiency should be part of senior executives ’performance evaluation? Each time, he avoids.
The big boss has indicated on several occasions that two-thirds of senior executives NC throughout North America and 90% of company executives working in Quebec speak French.
Tracy Robinson was the second boss to face this committee in several months. Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau was put on the spot following a shout out in a speech he mostly delivered in English in Montreal in the fall.
Something cultural
The more it changes, the more it is the same, summary of curator Joël Godin following the testimony. Sixty years ago, they passed the committee. They went back to the committee again.
The amazement of the boss at the presence of qualified candidates shows, according to him, the problem company culture and that the present acts are intended to put only ” plaster ” to get a good press.
I am convinced that on the board of directors there is no French word to say, Mr. Godin declared. So, if in the head it happens like this, how do we get it back to the machine?
The chairman of the committee, Liberal René Arseneault, had a somewhat more positive opinion on the testimony mentioned language of someone coming to the big machine and who makes promises.
I don’t think they will be sent back there, he said. I feel like I learned the lesson.
Mr. Arseneault is however failed for not hear mea culpaand very simple summer.
The opinion was shared by Alexandre Boulerice. It would have sent a strong message to francophones and Quebeckers. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it, so everything else rotted in his testimony, in my opinion.
Hon is still struggling. members to understand how such a board of directors no longer has francophones once one of its members disappears.
The committee’s Bloc vice-president, Mario Beaulieu, did not speak when he left the room.
I feel like I was fooledhe launched, the answers were not acceptablefrom Mrs. Robinson almost not admit.
Source: Radio-Canada
