Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to welcome our commissioner, Mr. Graham Fraser, and his team.
I will start right off with my questions.
One thing concerns me, Mr. Commissioner. First of all, your report is fairly harsh toward the government. You said that things are not going all that well. I travel all across Canada, I meet people in minority communities and I see, as you do, that things are not going all that well. I will mention a few examples.
Let's talk about the issue of search and rescue. As you heard, we tabled a motion because the government has always refused that this committee do a study and bring experts. We are talking about people's lives at sea. You did a report on the subject, you made recommendations. For the last two years or so, the subject has been under discussion. You had to ensure there was a follow-up. The government tossed you a hot potato, it said that it would wait for the commissioner to say when things would be okay over there. If something happens, they will say it is the commissioner's fault because he said that things were okay. I would not want to be in your shoes.
I would like to know what your preliminary conclusions were. When will you make the full findings of this report available? You know what concerns me. It has been two years and the government has still not found people who are competent in both official languages to go work in Trenton or Halifax. I don't know if you are concerned, but I would be in your place. You must wonder if you will be held responsible if you ever give your approval, if three people quit their jobs at the same time and someone facing problems at sea hears the phrase: “I don't speak French.” All of the transfers from Moncton to Halifax and all of the government offices in Halifax are already having problems. It has been two years and they still have not found replacements for those people.
I would like to hear your opinion on the subject, Mr. Fraser.