Official Languages Committee on June 8th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Yes, absolutely.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

What was behind the transfer of the management of official languages from Treasury Board to the Department of Canadian Heritage?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Actually, it is a very clear commitment on the part of the Prime Minister to give the minister responsible for official languages all the tools she needs in order to carry out her duties in the field.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

We'll continue with Ms. Barbot.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Minister, I would like to get back to what happened upon the arrival of Mr. Abou Diouf. There is a motion which I tabled before the committee several weeks ago and which should have been debated last Tuesday. But colleagues from the Conservative Party asked that we wait for your appearance before making any decision, which led me to believe that you had specific revelations to make in this regard.

In the course of your presentation, you mentioned that your dual responsibility for official languages and the francophonie reflects the importance of linguistic duality within the machinery of government as well as outside of it. In this respect, I believe your role as minister responsible for the francophonie is important.

You replied to a question I asked in the House that you were pleased that I had been there to welcome Mr. Diouf. What you didn't say and which I did not deem necessary to add, was the fact that I was also convinced by the people who were there and that I had to personally extend my apologies for the blunder. I would have liked to have seen someone take responsibility for this by stating that there was a mistake and by extending some apologies.

The fact that you constantly repeat that Mr. Diouf was pleased is a testament, I believe, to his generosity of spirit, but in fact, his country, Senegal, took offence. So, I would like to know whether you have anything new to add to the issue.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you, Madam.

What was said with respect to the welcome extended by the Franco-Manitoban community of Canada to Mr. Diouf still stands. And in that regard, I'd like to refer you to a copy of a letter that Mr. Diouf sent to me where he mentions that on the occasion of his visit to Canada he was touched by the kind words I had to say about him. The Secretary General of the Francophonie mentioned on several occasions that he felt he had been well received by the community in Manitoba, welcomed by our government and that he wanted to turn the page.

That being said, Madam, I'd like to add that according to the protocol used by the previous government as well as ours, there was no breach when Mr. Diouf arrived in Canada. There was an unfortunate incident, everyone agrees, for which we expressed our regret.

I'd like to say that from 1998 to 2005, Mr. Diouf came to Canada seven times. On no occasion was there a Liberal government member there to greet him at the airport. Our government expressed regret for the incident that arose with Mr. Diouf. The Minister for Official Languages did the same thing. Mr. Harper, the Prime Minister, had a conversation with Mr. Diouf, and the matter is closed, as stated by Mr. Diouf himself.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

So, you're saying that the fact that Senegal complained and that the country requested formal apologies from Mr. MacKay had nothing to do with the incident. I understand that you're saying Mr. Diouf said nothing. However, I can assure you, because I was there, that his country formally requested an apology.

I'd also like you to tell us what difference you see between a breach and an unfortunate incident. Was Mr. Diouf searched on the other seven occasions when he came to Canada?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

According to our information, Mr. Diouf was not searched, Madam, when he travelled here in May.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

I would have liked you to have said that in the House, because we never got any clear statement on the part of the government as to what happened. We had to rely on what journalists were saying. It seems to me that the House would have been the ideal place for the government to say what actually happened, to account for the results of the investigation it held. We could have avoided all of the hype, and by the same token, you could have told us what response you gave to the Senegalese Ambassador, if there was a response given.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you for your comments.

I'd like to say that the Prime Minister, when he rose in the House, stated that he had asked for a review of the facts. We now have this review. The fact is that Mr. Diouf was not searched while he was in transit, I should add, in Toronto.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Sure, but he was arriving in the country.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam, if you will allow me, I would say that you mentioned you were relying on media reports. I think you would have been better advised to rely on what the government was telling you. And the government, at the time,...

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

You didn't say anything.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam, you asked me a question. So if you will allow me, I'd like to answer it.

I would like to say that the Prime Minister rose in the House to sate that there would be a review of the facts. That being said, I can tell you today that based on the information we've obtained, first of all, Mr. Diouf was not searched. Second, protocol with respect to welcoming the Secretary General of the Francophonie was the same as on the seven or more occasions when the Liberal government was in office. Third, Mr. Diouf said that he was satisfied, as stated in the letter he sent me, with his visit here and the conference which was held in Manitoba.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Does that mean that you will refer to every instance when the Liberal government erred in the past to do the same thing yourselves and base your conduct on what was done in the past?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Protocol rules are clear. They are established, and were followed by the previous Liberal government, and were suggested to us as they were.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Thank you very much, Madam Minister and Ms. Barbot.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Welcome, Minister.

I didn't intend to dwell on this subject, but I believe the investigation determined that, although he was not searched, he was asked to remove his coat to go through security. Is that true?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Sir, much has been said about a search. But, based on the information we've obtained, the Secretary General of the Francophonie was not the subject of a body search.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, but that does not answer my question.

Was he asked to remove his coat in order to go through security?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I understand your question.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

This is not anybody else's question, it is the question put by Mr. Yvon Godin, member for Acadie—Bathurst.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

And I am replying to your question, Mr. Godin.

There was a review of the facts. At this point, based on the information I've obtained, he was not searched.