Scott, maybe the problem is that when you start speaking by referring to the Charter of Rights.... Ensuring that every witness can speak the language he wants, that all members can speak the language they want to speak--everybody agrees with that. Everybody agrees. I think we must work hard on our disagreements at this committee, not on facts upon which everybody agrees. This is the problem that started this discussion.
Regarding your second point, I have complete faith in the clerk, so much so that I would even give her my debit card and my PIN number.
Mr. Chairman, could you ask the clerk what instructions she gives to the witnesses when they are invited to give testimony before the committee? Does she advise them that if they plan to table a document, they need to ensure that it is in both languages or that if they cannot afford or do not have access to translation services, we can arrange to have the document translated for them? Does she tell them that if deadlines are short and there is no time to translate the document, it will not in fact be tabled? Finally, does she let them know that they can make their presentation in their preferred language, as per the freedom of expression provisions in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Does the clerk impart this information to potential witnesses? If not, I'll draw up suitable instructions for her.