I have 10 minutes; thank you very much. You got me there. I simply wanted to know the origin of your name and to be nice in my introduction.
We met Mr. O'Connor, who was Minister of National Defence at the time, and we heard about the plan and so on. I would like to help find some solutions to this problem.
In 1867, it was the Dominion of Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces did not really take shape until World War I. We know the history. I find it unfortunate to see the position that French Canadians and Acadians, as they were called at the time, occupied in the Canadian Forces. Today they're referred to as Quebeckers and minority Francophones, even though Quebeckers form the majority in their province. However, it appears that their position in the Canadian Forces is something second class and of little interest: official languages in a nutshell.
When Mr. Côté came here, I wasn't here. I wasn't the Bloc Québécois representative at that time; I wasn't available. I read the transcript and minutes of the meeting, as well as the articles. They state that everything is in English and that managers aren't aware enough of this issue. They also say there is a lack of training manuals and that the quality of the instructors' French is very poor. They even tell people to choose another course, when documents aren't available in French for a given occupation.
Trivial things become complicated as a result of poor knowledge of the language. The quality of life of people whose first language is French or who do not speak English as a second language becomes complicated. You say there's a plan now. I'm willing to believe that, but the situation has existed for such a long time that it's becoming difficult.
My father was a Franco-Ontarian. When he left Hawkesbury, Ontario, to join the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II, he was sent to Cornwall. Since he had trouble understanding English, they said he was a slow learner. They sent him to Petawawa, which didn't improve matters. Lastly, he wound up in Quebec City, at Valcartier, where he became a sergeant, instructor and so on. The same thing happened to his two brothers, Georges and Maurice, who are my uncles.
It's very insulting for someone to read on the soldier's transcript that he's a slow learner. The slow ones are the Canadian Armed Forces. I don't understand why the situation is still the same in 2007 or why you're telling me today that there is a plan. In fact, the situation has regressed, and that's utterly unacceptable.
As parliamentarians, we need documents, and we need access to the translations of those documents. How is it that you can't even translate training manuals? That's incomprehensible. You tell me that the introduction of services is limited by available funding. As far as I know, these are the “Canadian” Armed Forces, and they represent two nations, Quebec and Canada, which together form a single body that goes into combat. They should have these instruments.
You say that, on the base, Mr. Bouchard is a resource for soldiers who are having trouble. I hope that's not the solution and that it's only to provide help.
How can you guarantee me that you can find a quick solution to problems that seem systemic and correct the obvious lack of will that has existed since the inception of the Canadian Armed Forces and that still persists in 2007?