Official Languages Committee on March 31st, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Good morning. Welcome to the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Our hearing this morning is divided into two parts. Within the scope of our study of the broadcasting and services in French of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, we welcome the representatives of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

We are glad to welcome the Assistant Deputy Minister of International and Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport, Ms. Marie-Geneviève Mounier, accompanied by Mr. David Robinson, Director General of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Federal Secretariat.

Now I will invite our witnesses to proceed with their opening statements.

We will begin with Ms. Mounier. You have the floor.

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier, Assistant Deputy Minister, International and Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport, Department of Canadian Heritage]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

First of all, I wish to thank you for inviting me to appear today. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of working in various sectors in Canada and abroad. My attachment to French, my mother tongue, has always been central to my professional path.

Allow me first to remind you of the federal government's role in respecting and promoting official languages in the context of the 2010 Games. First and foremost, the government is acting as a guide, or even a facilitator for VANOC, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Federal Secretariat, which is part of the Department of Canadian Heritage, is assuming the duties as leader, advisor, and coordinator on behalf of the Government of Canada.

I would like to take this opportunity to note that the recent creation of an official languages advisory committee is a real example of the government's support to this portfolio. VANOC formed this committee in order to carry out the recommendations made by the Commissioner of Official Languages last December. But VANOC also formed this committee to help make the 2010 Games a truly bilingual celebration. Some prominent figures sit on this committee, including the former Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin and the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, Judith LaRocque, who is on this committee as a representative of the federal government. I can tell you that her advice and leadership will be definite assets for this expert advisory group.

As you know, English and French are the two official languages of the International Olympic Committee. This makes our efforts to highlight these two languages during the Games all the more relevant.

From the time Vancouver submitted its bid to host the 2010 Winter Games, promoting our two languages has been part of the commitments made in support of this bid, in accordance with the Official Languages Act.

Then in 2002 the Government of Canada, along with VANOC and its main partners, signed a multi-party agreement. This agreement confirmed the commitment to emphasizing Canada's linguistic duality during the games. This is the very first time in the history of the Olympic Games that a country has included provisions in this type of agreement that deal with respect for official languages. And I think we can all be very proud of this step forward.

Efforts are also being made within the federal administration to ensure that French and English are fully respected, not only during the games but also beforehand, including during the torch relay. Its journey will connect thousands of communities, both anglophone and francophone. The Federal Games Secretariat is also working with the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Treasury Board Secretariat to remind all federal organizations and signatories of the multi-party agreement of their official languages obligations. We want to make sure, for example, that visitors and athletes will be welcomed in the official language of their choice when they arrive in Canada.

In addition to working with the federal government to implement measures to promote our linguistic duality, VANOC is working closely with the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue and the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique. These two organizations will represent the Canadian francophonie for the Games. Canadian Heritage has provided funding to these organizations to enable them to fully carry out their role as coordinators with regard to the participation of francophone communities.

This morning, I with to assure you that from now until the close of the Games, the Government of Canada will continue to support VANOC in its efforts to promote our two official languages. Among other things, VANOC will look after the recruitment of bilingual employees and volunteers. It will ensure that its public and on-site communications are bilingual. It will also see to it that the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Games highlight the presence and influence of French in this country.

As Minister Moore told you last week, the government is aiming for nothing less than making the Games exemplary in the area of official languages. We are fully aware of this goal and are truly committed to respecting it so that the 2010 Winter Games will truly belong to all Canadians.

Thank you very much for your attention. I will be glad to answer your questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you for your comforting words, Ms. Mounier.

Now let us continue with Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson, are you accompanying Ms. Mounier? Do you not want to make an opening statement?

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

No. We thought that we would leave more time for questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

All right. Let us begin our first round of questions right away.

Mr. Jean-Claude D'Amours has the floor.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Mounier, for leaving us more time to put questions.

In your opening statement, you said that the Canadian government would act as a guide. Now we hope that a guide is someone whom people will follow. However, there is a bit of a distance between hoping for a service and ensuring that service. Does the government's role not consist above all in ensuring or guaranteeing that services will be provided in both languages?

You mentioned people who will be coming from foreign countries. There is an issue with airports. Canadians already find it difficult to get services in French in Canadian airports. As the current situation already poses problems, how will you go about acting not only as a guide, but also ensuring adequate service in airports? We are very close to the 2010 Olympics; this is 2009.

Moreover, we want to make sure that the service is truly provided, but if you are merely a guide, how will you go about, on the ground, ensuring that service is provided to the thousands, even millions of visitors from overseas, from other neighbouring countries or even from other regions of Canada? How will a unilingual francophone be received in Vancouver? Why are you not present in order to make sure that the service will be offered to the public? After all, the federal government is helping to fund this venture.

In addition, you said that these games are for all Canadians. Here, I am thinking about broadcasting. Since you are a guide, even if the games are for all Canadians, there is no official guarantee yet that the Olympic Games will be for all Canadians. Some people in my riding in northern New Brunswick do not have cable. For these people, viewing the events in our land will be a challenge if you only act as a guide. You say that you are there for all Canadians, but the neediest Canadians, those with the least resources, will be penalized by your acting merely as a guide.

I would like to hear your answer to my comments.

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

Thank you very much for your questions.

First, let me refer you to appendix A of the multi-party agreement which sums up and defines all the obligations that the signatories have with regard to official languages, and more specifically the organizing committee for the games. It sets out all the contributions from the federal government for the games. In the agreements regarding contributions, the elements in appendix A are repeated. They set out the obligations with regard to official languages, to make sure that they are met.

We agreed to fund the building of key infrastructures with the Government of British Columbia. The federal government will offer essential federal services for free to the organizing committee. The multiparty agreement is a kind of contract whereby the other parties must make sure that they meet all the obligations in appendix A in exchange for the contribution from the federal government.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Ms. Mounier, you mentioned appendix A. It is nice to hear that we have an appendix A in the document and that it has been signed, but how will you make sure that the conditions will be met and that after the games, people will not complain of the lack of services in French? We are relying on the fact that appendix A was signed, however, have any measures been taken to make sure that the obligations will be met?

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

We are taking care of that in a number of ways. A unit of the federal secretariat is especially dedicated to official languages. Its work is to ensure that the organizing committee respects those agreements. The organizing committee also has an official languages unit. Both groups are in constant contact to monitor the progress made.

We are keenly interested in the issue of services. We want to offer a bilingual interface: when the athletes and visitors arrive in Vancouver, we want them to be welcomed in the language of their choice, one of Canada's two official languages.

We are working in close cooperation with the organizing committee and overseeing its activities. We also made sure that the volunteers' positions were also offered to francophones across Canada. The organizing committee assured us that the applications of 11,000 volunteers with varying levels of fluency in French had been retained. VANOC will begin conducting interviews to ensure that all front-line volunteers can express themselves in both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. D'Amours.

We will now move on to Mr. Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, Ms. Mounier and Mr. Robinson.

Are you partnering with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique?

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

It is the organizing committee that has a partnership with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

VANOC organized a countdown ceremony one year before the official opening of the games, as part of a well-thought-out process. The Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique notified VANOC on a number of occasions that it should ensure a francophone representation at that happy and joyous ceremony promoting Vancouver's Olympic Games. However, people realized at the last minute that no francophone component had been planned for the show.

Madam, how serious is VANOC in terms of the programming? Given the genuine commitment to hold the games in both English and French, VANOC did not even have the foresight to ensure that artists perform in French at such a major event as the launch of the countdown.

What is the role of the Government of Canada within that organization? You have just told us that a consultative committee has been struck, and yet no one thought of appointing any elected representatives. A former French prime minister and federal government helper were asked to sit on the committee, rather than people who are diligent and proud of the French fact.

There were no francophone artists singing in French at such a major event as the countdown ceremony, despite the recommendation from British Columbian francophones and members of the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française and Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada. They are your partners on paper, but in fact, you ignore their comments.

I know you will try to justify your actions, but I would like to know how serious the project is and to what extent the federal government is committed to making these games bilingual.

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

Thank you for your question. I would like to point out that the countdown ceremony that was held on February 12 was 1 of 122 events organized as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2009. In the concert you refer to, there was a bilingual master of ceremonies.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Just a minute! Were there any artists singing in French? Madam, there were none. You cannot justify the situation by saying that the master of ceremonies was bilingual. I could perform that role, but I would not replace a francophone artist. Tell me how seriously this is all being taken. How has this been thought out? Do not tell me what happened there, we all know. This was the subject of news stories in the media, of questions in the House of Commons, and the minister is trying to sort all this out.

I want to know what the role of the federal government is on the advisory committee and VANOC when, here in Canada, people cannot even invite francophone artists, whereas, in China, French was given a place at the Olympic Games. I want to know what the federal government's role is on the organizing committee in terms of supporting the French fact.

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

Thank you. I am not trying to justify the situation. I simply wanted to explain a bit of the context. The master of ceremonies—this will allow me to complete my answer—was bilingual. There was also a village dance directed by musician Claude Champagne. Luke Doucet was also there, and there was a choreography by Jean Grand-Maître.

Obviously, the department recognizes the disappointment felt by francophone communities. It has been shown that there clearly are very different perspectives as to what constitutes representative francophone programming.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Listen, madam, my time is—

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Nadeau—

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

That does not answer my question, you can be sure of that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You will have the opportunity to continue during the next round, Mr. Nadeau.

I am told that sometimes two microphones are on at the same time. I would ask that one person speak at a time, with a brief pause between interventions, and that way things will be very clear.

We will continue with Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to welcome Ms. Mounier and Mr. Robinson.

I would not want to steal my colleague's idea, but my colleague Mr. Nadeau also talked about the issue.

I am trying to understand. In your statement, you said, and I quote: "It will also see that the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Games highlight the presence and influence of French in this country."

Why does the government not ensure that our country's two official languages are respected?

I am really concerned that we will miss the boat and forget to highlight the presence of English in this country and that everything be will conducted in French. For you to say that, do you feel there is a problem on the francophone side? You could just as well have said that the games will highlight the presence of French and English in this country.

In your remarks, you admit that there is a problem with the French official language, when you say: "[...] will highlight the presence [...]" Are francophones only present, or has the country accepted the fact that there are two founding peoples, anglophones and francophones, and that there are two official languages? I would like to hear your comments on that.

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

Thank you. I am sorry if my brief opening remarks alarmed you, because really, the objective of the opening ceremonies is to reflect Canada's linguistic duality and diversity. If I may give you some assurances—although the content of the opening and closing ceremonies is, of course, confidential—the people in charge of official languages on the organizing committee, who are well aware of the committee's responsibilities with respect to linguistic duality, met with their counterparts for the opening and closing ceremonies at an awareness and information session. The objective was to ensure they understand what specific measures must be taken to highlight linguistic duality. The Department of Canadian Heritage is investing $20 million in the opening ceremony, and of course, reflecting the linguistic duality is a priority and a key objective for the department.

An advisory committee has been created to examine and approve the content of the ceremonies, and a senior departmental official sits on that committee precisely to ensure that they don't lose sight of linguistic duality. Another way for us to ensure that official languages are fully respected is through the contribution agreement which contains the same provisions as the multi-party agreement signed with all partners, as regards official languages.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like the assistant deputy minister to give us some clarification. The deputy minister, Judith LaRocque, recently told this committee that 96% of the country would receive television coverage of the games, under the contract with CTV. Where did she get those figures from? Is the government using figures from CTV?

[Marie-Geneviève Mounier]

As regards the broadcasting of the games, I would like to reiterate that there is a private contract between the International Olympic Committee and the CTVglobemedia consortium.

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

Mr. Chairman, I understand that. However, we live in Canada, where we have two official languages. I don't give a hoot about private contracts. I am talking about the fact that the Olympic Games will be held in Canada, in an officially bilingual country, and I am told there is a private contract. They come to Canada and disregard official languages. That is what they are doing.