Thank you very much.
I also wanted to emphasize the fact that the Bloc Québécois will be supporting Mr. McColeman's motion. He will no doubt be delighted to know that one of the descendants of those persons is an illustrious promoter of Quebec sovereignty in the person of Gilles Duceppe.
I want to go back to the French question. In our previous exchange, minister, you said that the language of proceeding could not be changed at every turn during a trial, that that would require translation, which would result in costs.
However, in the case before us, at the first opportunity, even before the first hearing was held, counsel asked on behalf of his client to proceed in French. The problem is that, at the start of the process, when the respondent was summoned to meet with the official, the material had already been produced in English. A form had been completed by an official in Montreal, who had checked the “English” box systematically. However, if you say that, once the material is produced in English, it can't be translated, there will be virtually no material in French, since, unfortunately, immigration matters are dealt with in English in Montreal.
You said earlier that that was ultimately the fault of the Public Safety people. First, could you undertake to ask your Public Safety colleague if the agency could proceed in French by default? Second, if the first opportunity not yet early enough, when must the francophone lawyers in Montreal make the request in order to be entitled to proceed in French?