Could someone clarify something for me? Our colleagues on the government side claim that Mr. Reid in no way intended to deprive committee members or witnesses of the right to express themselves in their preferred language. That's all well and good. However, I'd like Mr. Reid to enlighten me, as he alone can answer this question. He's suggesting that a letter or form be sent to all potential witnesses to let them know that documents must be in both languages before they can be circulated. I was under the impression that this committee was run like every other committee and that when the clerk invited a person or organization to testify, he or she advised them as a matter of course that documents needed to be in both languages before they could be distributed to committee members.
Here's my question. If potential witnesses are so instructed in writing and if some arrive here claiming not to have received the information or to have received it too late to have their submissions translated, do you want them to be allowed to distribute their documents? Is that what you would like?
I'm beginning to doubt the motives of just about everyone on your side. As I see it, there's no other reason for your suggesting that these instructions be in writing. When a witness arrives here and claims that he received only 24 hours' notice, obviously he hasn't had time to have his submission translated into French. Even if the witness was able to forward his document electronically to the clerk, translation services and the clerk probably wouldn't have time to translate it and print it up for distribution to all committee members.
Do you wish to allow an exception to the rule? It seems this committee has made exceptions in the past.
