Official Languages Committee on April 28th, 2009

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

I have a second question. Do I have time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have 30 seconds, Ms. Zarac.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

When the Commissioner of Official Languages came and met with us, he mentioned some concerns about under-funding of translation services.

Do you believe that is so? If you do, will you be asking for additional funding?

[Jacques Gauthier]

It's already under way. We have already sent our requests, as I was saying to the Translation Bureau at Public Works Canada.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

I see. So a request has been made, but you still have not received an answer?

[Jacques Gauthier]

It's an interactive process. We explain our needs in greater detail, and things are coming along nicely.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

You are confident. Perfect, thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Ms. Zarac, you were within two seconds.

We will continue with Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I'd like to thank our guests, Mr. Gauthier, Mr. Matte and Ms. Bolduc, for being with us.

We have very little time, but I'm going to try to ask you a question. How many volunteers are there? Who is in charge of volunteers at VANOC? Could Mr. Gauthier answer this question? How many do you have? How many do you want overall, and how many bilingual volunteers?

[Francine Bolduc]

We have 25,000 volunteer positions to fill.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Are they all bilingual?

[Francine Bolduc]

No, because there are many positions in different areas of activity. What I meant to say is that we have 11,000 bilingual applicants who have shown interest. As for recruitment, we are processing all these people's files to make sure that they are sufficiently bilingual, and that they have the ability to carry out the various tasks so that we can put them in the right positions.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

The problem that has also been raised, that we've noticed and that several people have mentioned, is that of housing the volunteers. People will be coming from across the country. Obviously, getting to Vancouver is not easy. You can get there, but afterwards you have to find accommodation because the Games last a while.

What have you planned for these people? Is there some kind of housing or rooms available or something similar to encourage them to work there during the Olympic Games?

[Francine Bolduc]

Many of the applicants hail from British Columbia. So, they have accommodations. At this point we are doing a recruitment drive. We went to Ottawa. We are in Montreal this week and we'll be visiting the Atlantic provinces next week, I believe.

Everyone who applied for a position at the Olympic Games, and whom we invite to our recruitment sessions, have all already stated they would be put up by people they know in British Columbia or in Vancouver. So it is not a problem.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Based on what we know, Olympic venues are federal and not provincial sites. Is the signage you're referring to, to direct people, only on federal sites or also provincial land?

In my province, Bill 101 gives prevalence to French. I would image that, British Columbia, English comes first. Have you discussed the idea of bilingual signage on provincial sites with the Government of British Columbia?

[Francine Bolduc]

Olympic signage falls under our jurisdiction and all such signs will be bilingual. Signs telling people, for instance, that they are 30 km from a given location, are the Government of British Columbia's responsibility. These are two completely different things.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

There will be two venues, specifically for ski competitions. Some unilingual francophones will arrive at the airport, which is under federal jurisdiction. They will leave the airport and they will be carless. It may be their first time in Vancouver. I don't know if you've ever left Vancouver Airport, but it is not obvious. You arrive in the city and you have to get to a given venue.

Have you discussed having bilingual signage with provincial officials? Have you received a positive response or did they say they were looking at the issue?

[Francine Bolduc]

At the airport, which is the point of entry for the Games they are, a number of signs in both languages. We can assure you that all Olympic signs, at the airport or at points of entry directing spectators to the Olympic sites, will be in both languages. That is what I can confirm.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Do I have any time left, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You have 30 seconds, Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

My question would be too long. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

Ms. Guay, would you like to continue and finish our round of questions?

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

It would be a pleasure, Mr. Chair.

When the Commissioner of Official Languages came to meet with us, he also shared his concerns with respect to the opening and closing ceremonies. I understand that, pursuant to the Olympic Charter, these shows must remain top secret. You therefore have absolutely no access to them, and I find that unfortunate, because these shows can be successes or flops.

There is a requirement for the opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games to be held in both official languages. Is that correct?

[Guy Matte]

Yes.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Are you sure that will be the case? Our concerns are justified.