Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank our two witnesses for sharing their perspective with us.
It is shameful that a country like ours, that has legislation on official languages, publishes such things. I find it absurd, unacceptable and insulting.
I granted an interview to the magazine Paris Match last spring. These people gave us an example of the quality of work done by automated translation software. They published a photograph of Ted Menzies, whom the current government had appointed parliamentary secretary and, inset in the article, a photo of Stephen Harper under which it said something like “anglophone minister for the French language, Roberti Menzi”. That gives you an idea of just how ridiculous automated translation can be.
It is no news to you that I have already filed a complaint on this issue. Letters from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages prove that this situation is not a new one; it dates back to 2002, perhaps even earlier. In 1999, she wrote the following:
I have been concerned about this issue for several years; in 1999, the Commissioner published two studies on the presence of French on the Internet and on official language issues on government sites. In 2002, two other studies focused on the same issue and made 28 recommendations [...]
Alluding to the fact that I had submitted a complaint, she said in the first paragraph:
In fact you have given several examples in your letter. The cases you have identified have merit pursuant to the Official Languages Act.
If you are informing us today that unverified information will no longer be posted on the site, I conclude that that would be a very good thing. A poor quality translation that has not been checked does not deserve to be posted.
Imagine what the new members of the committee will think when they see this site. We are talking here about Service Canada's site, therefore the government. An article in the September 16 edition of the daily Le Droit, gives the following account:
Bidding on a federal government contract is not always an easy thing, particularly for a francophone contractor.
The MERX site, exclusive provider of the federal government's electronic tendering service, is fertile ground for dubious translations, some even literally incomprehensible.
Since August 31 last, the Department of Public Works, for example, invites its suppliers to bid on “le mur de canal de Rideau repare” [the wall of canal of Rideau repair]
The document is careful to point out that the work involves “l'entree de garage de elizabeth de reine, la cinquieme avenue pour courber au parc de lansdowne et aux cochons soutient la route (chemin Hogs Back !) le pont de balançoire au pont fixe” [the entry of garage of Elizabeth of Queen, the 5th Avenue to curve with the park with the Park of Lansdowne and the pig supports the road (way Hogs Back!) the bridge of swing to the fixed bridge]
Imagine a tender like that appearing on Canada's website. The article also states:
The documents are also available, still quoting the call for tenders, “pour regarder aux bureaux de travaux et au gouvernement public entretiennent Canada dans Willowdale » [to look at the offices of work and the public government maintain Canada in Willowdale] The businesses interested in bidding on this project, whose value varies between $500,000 and one million dollars, must however keep in mind that “ la norme nomme de le et les conditions pour cette acquisition sont incorporées par la partie de reference et forme des documents tendre et de contrat ” [the standard names of and the conditions for this acquisition are incorporated by the part of reference and the tender shape of the documents and of contract]
I also have a document that dates from May 23, 2006. It calls for:
Slaughter, découpeur de viande, porcupine plain. L'employeur cherche slaughter ayant de l'expérience pour la viande empaquetant l'usine (la plant). Les candidats devraient aussi avoir la réduction de viande et la saucisse faisant la capacité. [Slaughter, carver of meat, porcupine plain. The employer seeks slaughter having experience for the meat packing up the factory (the seedling). The candidates should also have the meat reduction and sausage making the capacity.]
It is unbelievable!