Ottawa, ON – Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Party of Canada Quebec Lieutenant, Joël Godin, Conservative Shadow Minister for Official Languages, and James Bezan, Conservative Shadow Minister for National Defence, issued the following statement regarding the directive on official languages within the Canadian Armed Forces:
“Conservatives are calling on Minister McGuinty to repeal the Defence Administrative Order and Directive (DAOD) 5039-2 and restore a policy that genuinely protects French as a language of work within the Canadian Armed Forces.
“While we acknowledge the decision by the Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, to order a review of language-of-work designations within the Canadian Armed Forces, his intervention confirms the concerns we have raised regarding DAOD 5039-2 and its impact on the status of French as a language of work within the Canadian Armed Forces.
“A review alone is not enough. The fundamental problem with this directive is that it makes the language of work of a unit largely dependent on its geographic location. Yet military members are posted across the country based on the needs of the service.
“A Francophone member should not lose the ability to work, command, or advance professionally in French simply because they are posted to a predominantly English-speaking region. While the Minister rightly emphasizes that personal services, training and education will continue to be provided in both official languages, these protections do not address the fundamental question: what meaningful place will French have as a day-to-day language of work within the Canadian Armed Forces?
“French must not be treated solely as a language of service. It must remain a genuine language of work, command and leadership within our national military institution.
“Bilingualism is also an institutional and operational capability for the Canadian Armed Forces. In a national organization whose members serve throughout Canada and around the world, proficiency in and the use of both of our official languages is a strength.
“That’s why we are calling on the government to rescind DAOD 5039-2 and restore a framework that allows military units, organizations and establishments to be designated bilingual where their mission, national mandate, training responsibilities or operational requirements justify it.
“The Minister admits there is a problem. The Liberals must follow through and correct the directive they created.
“Francophone military members must be able to serve their country, advance in their careers and exercise leadership in French, regardless of where the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces require them to serve.”