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Evidence of meeting #16 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #16 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank our guests.
I would like to continue along the same lines as Mr. Rodriguez for a few minutes.
I too am disappointed that the first meeting was held only in April. According to Mr. Matte, the organization wanted to be part of the committee from the beginning. Later on, a parallel committee had to be struck. It was not easy. The credit goes to you, Mr. Gauthier, and I want to thank you. It is not easy for francophones to make themselves heard.
9:35 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I will not try to convince you. However, I would repeat that we have been working on this for over two years. Our discussions and our relations with the Commissioner of Official Languages, Mr. Fraser, have been ongoing for over two years as well.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Gauthier, you do not need to try to convince me. The Olympic Games are being held in Canada, which is a bilingual country. For two years, you have been working very hard to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act. I am sure that you have not had to work very hard to ensure access for anglophones. It is easy for anglophones to have their rights respected.
9:35 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
It is not my major issue.
9:35 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
You are right. It is not my major issue.
9:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you.
Do you see the problem? We have to worry about whether there will be francophone artists. Do you know what concerns me? Will the opening ceremonies take place during the day? Will we be able to watch them during the day? Are there agreements with Radio-Canada? I know there are agreements with CTV, TQS and RDS, but they do not broadcast everywhere. TQS is not available in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
When the Canada Winter Games were on, Radio-Canada did its broadcast at 12:30 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. in Bathurst, Campbellton and the Acadian Peninsula. The opening ceremonies were rebroadcast. People in those areas did not see them.
Are you considering reaching agreements with other television networks that broadcast across Canada? Radio-Canada is available everywhere. It seems that the public broadcaster is being left out of all this. We will be speaking to their representatives at an upcoming meeting. What is being done for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games?
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Mr. Godin, it is important to keep in mind that there is a broadcast agreement between the International Olympic Committee and the cable company that wins the bid.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I agree, but this is Canada and we have an Official Languages Act.
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I cannot disagree with you. Here is what I am getting to.
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
So there is an agreement between the International Olympic Committee and CTV. For our part, we applied pressure to ensure that there would be francophone content that was distinct from the anglophone content. We were successful.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
No.
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
About what? About official languages?
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I personally have not done so.
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
The Fédération des francophones de Colombie-Britannique has the right people to make things happen.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Someone received $26 million from the federal government. It was not the Fédération des francophones de Colombie-Britannique. I will get right to the point. Tourism BC has six Internet sites to promote the Olympic Games. The only site missing is the French site. Is that not a shame, an insult?
9:40 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I would say that we have—
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I do not want to put words in your mouth. I would like your opinion.