Evidence of meeting #21 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lemieux.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
If I understand correctly, the ombudsman did some travelling and visited CFB Borden. What he learned was that francophones, especially at CFB Borden, were not receiving services in the language of their choice and that there was a problem. This was in 2007.
Do you remember which month this was in 2007?
Interim Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Department of National Defence
The first time Mr. Côté went to CBF Borden was in November 2006.
Interim Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Department of National Defence
In January 2007, he pointed out the problems to the Chief of Defence Staff.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Then Mr. Côté came before the committee. Following our request, he said he would go to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Gagetown.
Do you agree with me on that?
Interim Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Department of National Defence
Yes.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Apart from its bases in Borden, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Gagetown, National Defence also has a school in Kingston. Did the office of the Ombudsman realize that National Defence also called upon private institutions to give certain courses?
Interim Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Department of National Defence
I believe there are also subcontractors involved. Since they give courses within the department, they should give them in both official languages, as is the case in the public service.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
You say these courses should be given in both official languages. Let me show you something. Based on what I will show you, could you ask National Defence how many other courses are given this way?
On March 12, 2008, there was an online announcement in French for a naval technician course. My assistant will give you a copy. The French version reads as follows:
If you are applying to the Naval Technician Training Plan (NTTP), you must complete and submit: -Admission Form to the Marine Institute AFMI (in English only)
Here is a copy. It is posted on the Internet. The Marine Institute is based in Newfoundland. We contacted National Defence or the Marine Institute, and this course is given in English only. Anyone from National Defence or from the outside who wants to take the naval technician course can only do so in English, based on the information provided.
I began by saying that the Ombudsman began his investigation in 2006. It is 2008, and once again, it is clear that National Defence provides courses in one language only. Has the department learned its lesson or is it thumbing its nose at the government? There is something going on. There is no respect for the law, whether it protects francophone or anglophone Canadians. National Defence sends people abroad to spread democracy and uphold the laws of other countries, and yet one of our own laws, the Official Languages Act ...
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I would like to have the document. Can we get on with this?
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
It has been sitting in the corner there for 10 minutes.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chairman, I don't mind distributing it if you stop the clock.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Mr. Petit, the procedure is the same for all documents distributed at the official languages committee: they must be in both official languages.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Initially, we received the document in French only. Mr. Godin's assistant now has copies in English. So one copy will be distributed to each political party.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
It is a page in French from an Internet site. If he translated it, it is losing its meaning.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Yes, but the site is also available in English. There are differences between the two, clearly, that Mr. Godin wants to raise.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
We are distributing the document. We can take a couple of minutes to distribute it.
Mr. Godin, are you ready? I will start the clock again. You have two and a half minutes left.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Okay. Mr. Chairman, I have eight copies in English. I think that will be enough to meet the committee's needs.
