Official Languages Committee on May 14th, 2009

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

I suggest that we ask the DND and CF Ombudsman to appear. I don't know what is going to happen in June. It is possible that the House will not sit until the end. However, it is important to meet with the Ombudsman. We have work to do in that regard. The Canadian Forces had promised to make changes. We want to see what the status of those changes is and what the Ombudsman has discovered. He may have something to tell us. So, it is important that he appear immediately.

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

If he is available.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, he is available, and we can get in touch with him.

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Committee Researcher]

If the Ombudsman appears on the 26th, it will be difficult to prepare as comprehensive briefing notes as we would have liked. We will basically have to rely on what was prepared in advance. That is going to take place during the intensive period when we are drafting the report. So, you will have to be tolerant in terms of the amount of information we will be able to deliver for that meeting.

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

Mr. Paré, another analyst was with us for a certain amount of time. Perhaps he could help you.

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré]

For that meeting, we will do what we can, but the notes will be less extensive than if that meeting were taking place later on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I will accept one or two more comments. Time is flying by.

Mr. Petit.

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

At the last session, I told the analyst that I wanted to have access to everything that is done in French at Borden. However, the titles alone are very long. The problem at Borden is that everyone was seeing gaps. The analyst did a considerable amount of research. We now have all the titles, but we don't have the actual documents. We don't know how many of them are in French. We would practically need a truck to carry all of them. In any case, I want to know what has been done in French at Borden. I made this request at the last session, but I still have not been given what I asked for. I am anxious to see those documents before we meet with the Ombudsman, so that I can ask him relevant questions.

I would ask the analyst to provide us with details in that regard.

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré]

Everything is completed. Last year, an effort was made by the Committee, and particularly Mr. Nadeau, who raised the matter at Committee and made representations to National Defence. We have the list of documents. I have done a preliminary analysis of it. The Ombudsman himself has analyzed those documents, and his analysis is far more comprehensive than mine was. There was discussion of this in the media this week. I can bring you the preliminary findings that I have prepared, and the Ombudsman could then complete that with his own information.

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

When will we receive that?

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré]

You will have that before the meeting on the 26th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That's fine.

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

Like Mr. Nadeau, I asked that we be given that material at the last session, but we still have not received it.

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

I hope it is going to be sent to us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

So, that's it. We will see each other again after the break week.

Mr. Nadeau, we have to vacate the room by 11 a.m.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

I have a simple question.

In theory, we were expecting to meet with Mr. Daigle, the Ombudsman, on June 9. As I understand it, that meeting has now been moved forward to the 26th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You understood correctly.

The meeting is adjourned.