Official Languages Committee on April 28th, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Godin. The clerk was just telling me that if she had a round-trip ticket to the Games, she would be interested in volunteering.

Before I give the floor to another colleague, I would like to tell you that I was struck by the part of your presentation when you said that you saw the 2010 Winter Olympic Games as a celebration of both Canada's linguistic duality and its cultural diversity. That's not what we sensed during the first event.

Mr. Matte, in your presentation, you said that even if you were something of a watchdog for us, ensuring that VANOC was doing a good job, you did not yet have access to information about the opening and closing ceremonies. So, you asked the following question:

Is there no way to maintain the confidentiality of the opening and closing ceremonies while demonstrating that they will be respectful of both official languages and our country's Olympic movement?

I would add to “be respectful of both official languages”, “and cultural diversity”. I wanted to ask this question, Mr. Gauthier, since we are lucky enough to have you here.

[Jacques Gauthier]

We ourselves do not have access to the content. It's odd to see just how much the International Olympic Committee is regulating this event.

For this reason, a committee of specially-designated people has been established. It includes the representative from Canadian Heritage, whose mandate is to ensure that the requirements in terms of La francophonie are met. We do not have access to the content, and myself, I do not want to have access to it.

Do you remember that, in Beijing, part of the opening ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute because some helicopters had flown over the stadium during a rehearsal, and the people on board had seen part of the show.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That's really secret.

[Jacques Gauthier]

Indeed, that's just how secret it is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

We will now go on to Ms. Zarac.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning ma'am, good morning, gentlemen. Thank you for being here today to answer our questions.

As you can see, we are concerned, and we are wondering if linguistic duality will indeed be respected during the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver. It really doesn't matter where these concerns come from, as Mr. Galipeau was saying, this feeling may be due to the bitter taste that was left in our mouths after the festivities that were held at the beginning of the year.

As far as I am concerned, today I have a new concern, in addition to the ones I had already when you said, following your presentation, that the only power you had was to raise your partners' awareness.

Representatives of more than 30 French-speaking countries will be arriving in Vancouver. Even before they get to the Olympic site, signage will be a very important factor. So agreements will be to be established with the municipalities and the province about this.

If your only power is to raise awareness, how can you make sure that there will be bilingual signs everywhere in Vancouver? Do you have a strategy to raise awareness? What measures will you take to achieve that goal?

[Francine Bolduc]

We will be meeting with all our partners in the coming weeks, and we will present them with information so as to make them more aware of this issue and we will be offering them some tools.

For example, we have some freelance translators with whom we have negotiated good rates. When the people in charge of signage need translation, we will be able to put them in touch with these translators.

In addition, we have created a guide with all the signs that will be displayed at the various sites. We will provide this guide to these people. We have also made sure that we can offer them revision services. Once they use the freelances, they will be able to give us the completed work so that we can make sure that all the signage is consistent.

We are going further. We want to raise awareness but we also want to provide resources and tools. This way, they will not have any excuses. We made a commitment to do this.

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

But the resources that you are talking about are human resources. Are there not any financial resources?

[Francine Bolduc]

No, absolutely not.

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

In another life, I was a city counsellor. Let me tell you, signs are extremely expensive. We are currently in a recession. How can we make sure that Vancouver will cover the cost of bilingual signage?

[Francine Bolduc]

That's a very good question, but as far as we are concerned, we are making sure that all the Olympic signs will be in both languages. Our budget provides for that. In this case, there is no problem because we are already in the process of doing it—

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

At the venues, yes, but as I was saying, people will have to get to those sites as well. You mustn't forget that. That counts for something. Thirty French-speaking countries are sending athletes. They will have to get to the venues first and to do that, they will have to be able to read the signs. No financial resources will be allocated?

[Francine Bolduc]

No.

[Jacques Gauthier]

If you don't mind, I would like to provide some additional information. Traffic signs, for example, are already part of our commitment and are already included in our budget. Last week, Mr. Raffarin went to Whistler and he told me that it was incredible, because already, several months before the Games, all the roadsigns allow francophones to understand how to get to the venues. So that aspect has already been covered.

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

So there is funding for the municipality?

[Jacques Gauthier]

A part of the budget is already set aside for traffic signs and venue signage, among other things, because just as you were saying—

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

I understand that there is no problem with the venues.

[Jacques Gauthier]

There is no problem getting to the venues.

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

I just want to make sure that francophones who want to go to the various venues—citizens of more than 30 French-speaking countries will be coming to visit us—will be able to read the signs.

So a budget has been allocated to Vancouver for signage?

[Jacques Gauthier]

Yes.

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

That's not what Ms. Bolduc seemed to be telling me initially.

[Francine Bolduc]

We are responsible for the Olympic signs.

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

So people will be able to get to the venues. There will be signs in French.

[Francine Bolduc]

Absolutely.

[Jacques Gauthier]

Exactly.