I object to a rule concerning the distribution of documents. The rule that currently applies is being bypassed. It does not look good when a document provided only in English is sitting on a table behind us, and those who want a copy must stand up and go get one, because the document will not be distributed.
I, for one, believe that it is all the same. We have always been flexible, but we have always been adamant about the importance of having documents in both official languages. Some members of our party cannot read English. Sometimes, certain members don't even speak English either. Even though there is simultaneous interpretation, it would be unfair to have documents available only in English when there are people who are unable to read and comment on them.
I also object to the fact that documents will be distributed after meetings. The clerk should make a habit of telling witnesses who appear before us that we have an official languages policy and that their documents must be translated.
I am willing to be flexible. It has happened that elderly veterans have travelled here from far away, and did not produce bilingual documents. I know that they would have been heartbroken had we refused to accept their documents when they had gone to the trouble of preparing them.
Please inform us of the exceptional cases, but we do not want to see the rule broken and documents indirectly distributed either before or after a meeting. Documents must be provided in both official languages. Barring the exceptions, we will not accept documents drafted in only one of the two official languages. That is how we see this situation.