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.