Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'm willing to greet all three of you, but personally I think it was pointless to hear from the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the National Defence official today in view of the fact that, in my motion, I asked that the Coast Guard people come and talk to us about the situation in French. I also understand, in connection with staying in the water, that a bit of an effort is being made to drag in a red herring. One thing is certain: without talking about the content of the conversation between Ms. Aucoin and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada people, I repeat that I'm extremely concerned to see that the Coast Guard people, even in an emergency, record the remarks of people who want responses without informing them that their remarks are being recorded. I think we should take a serious look at that.
I was there too, and I also experienced some difficult moments with the families when I went there, on behalf of our leader and of the official opposition, to share that ordeal in a dignified manner with the families and people of the Magdalen Islands. I arrived there the previous Friday, so I don't intend to talk to you just about L'Acadien II.
Incidentally, I think the investigation should be independent. When the Coast Guard investigates itself, even though it has retained someone from the outside, I don't call that an independent investigation, and I hope all possible light will be shed on this incident. The Liberal Party of Canada would like a truly independent investigation.
However, I am very concerned. We are presented with statistics, but I don't believe it's appropriate to do that when you're talking about rescues and individuals. If only one person died or only one stricken family was unable to obtain services in their own language, that would already be too many.
Mr. Da Pont, a number of fishermen and hunters tell me they are forced to establish contact with other colleagues, other fishermen, in order to get services in French. Can you assure me that everything related to calls is really bilingual? It seems that what you're telling me and what actually happens in the field are two separate things.