Official Languages Committee on May 14th, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Monsieur Trudel, we can neither see nor hear you any more. You have disappeared. It reminds me of a Star Trek film. He has been teleported.

[Voices]

Ah, ah!

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Colleagues, in order to make effective use of the time at our disposal… [Technical difficulties--Editor].

We had planned to meet in camera to discuss our current work. If we wish to continue that work, we will simply have to go into camera to avoid--

Mr. Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

If you wish to discuss that now, Mr. Chairman, I want you to know I did not bring my schedule. Is that what you wanted to talk about?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes. A review of Committee business should give us a chance to see what we will be doing at the next few meetings.

Well, well!

[Yves Trudel]

I do apologize. I was asked to change rooms.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We thought you had been teleported and that you would re-materialize in the room here with us, Mr. Trudel.

[Yves Trudel]

I undoubtedly appreciated the new Star Trek film that came out last weekend, like other members of my generation, but I am afraid I am unable to do that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I believe we were talking about the new program Vers Vancouver 2010, which is to be broadcast on CTV.

[Yves Trudel]

In fact, that program is broadcast by TQS and is already on the air. What is interesting is that the program that aired on January 19 was about the Francophone community in Maillardville, an historic community in our province which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Unfortunately, most of us and most listeners or viewers who would like to receive TQS in Western Canada are unable to do so.

Finally, I want to share with you another of our concerns with respect to television coverage. Will the Games be broadcast in public places, hotels and other sites known as live sites? What can we do so that visitors are not deprived of this service? We know that people will be attending the actual competitions, but others will be out and about in Whistler and Vancouver, or could be at sites where they could access a television screen.

There is no doubt that progress has been made in terms of television coverage. The situation is less critical now than it was previously for Francophones in our different areas, and we do want to commend the consortium for all its efforts. However, we also expect the consortium to fill in the current gaps and we are still hoping that Radio-Canada will have lots of coverage of all the cultural and political events that will be taking place around the 2010 Games.

We would also like to congratulate the consortium for broadcasting the Paralympic Games in a way that has never been done before. We believe that is important.

As regards the print media, the Federation is pleased to hear that VANOC has negotiated an agreement with the Gesca group newspapers. However, we also think it would be a good idea for there to be an agreement with the Association de la presse francophone, in order to include all the minority Francophone newspapers. That is an oversight, as we see it.

It is our sense that coverage of the preparation of the Olympic Games is not as extensive in the Francophone newspapers. The best example would be the coverage and promotion of the Olympic Torch Relay. According to recent data, Quebec is the province where the least number of people have signed up to carry the torch. Here in British Columbia, our Federation as well as the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue have been working together, produced a poster, issued a press release and successfully promoted this event in all the other provinces where Francophones live.

We also want to be sure there will be Francophone representation during the celebrations at every torch relay stop. Francophones need to be identified who can join the working groups that will be struck in each of the cities. We were happy to see that the eligibility criteria recently announced by Canadian Heritage in order to receive funding do refer to linguistic duality. However, it remains to be seen how that will actually work.

We want to state unequivocally that, in the course of the last year, VANOC has made a tremendous amount of progress. However, as has already been pointed out by the VANOC Official Languages Advisory Committee—recently constituted and of which we are members—there is still work to be done, and we intend to do it.

Finally, in partnership with VANOC and the Foundation, we will continue to take a keen interest in everything relating to linguistic duality and services in French at the Games, including services for athletes, their families, visitors, volunteers and anyone and everyone connected to the Games.

Signage and communications by third parties, such as municipalities, the province, sponsors and celebration sites are of critical importance at this stage, because we are not yet convinced they have the same commitment to linguistic duality. It would be unfortunate if the use of French were to be limited to competition sites alone.

In closing, I would just like to add that we still have cultural concerns. You may recall the show that was presented for the countdown, on February 12, and some of the activities organized on that occasion. There were some disappointments.

We continue to work with VANOC and the Foundation, as well as with the relevant government authorities, to ensure that such cases do not occur again in this final year of preparation.

Expectations are high, but that is perfectly normal, in our view, and we are delighted that it is the case.

Once again, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to share our concerns, as well as testify to the fact that progress has been made.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you very much, Mr. Trudel. We will now open it up for questions.

I just want you to know that we heard from representatives of CBC/Radio-Canada before you, and they confirmed that there will be coverage of cultural events at the Olympic Games and that CBC/Radio-Canada will have a strong presence on the perimeter of the Olympic site. Committee members also share your concerns with respect to Francophone content.

Ms. Zarac, the Vice-Chair of the Committee, will begin the questioning.

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

Good morning, Mr. Trudel. Thank you very much for your presentation.

You have expressed concerns, and I think you are right to be concerned. The Federation has referred to several levels of concern. When you come right down to it, in terms of coverage, it is fine to say that the Games will be 95% accessible to Francophones, but the remaining 5% still represent some 10,000 households. In my opinion, those concerns are very relevant.

At the same time, you seem to be very optimistic, because you say that arrangements will be made whereby it will be possible to provide coverage of the Games. In your opinion, who has the responsibility to ensure that all Canadians are able to watch the Olympic Games, whatever language they speak?

[Yves Trudel]

I want to begin by pointing out that television broadcasting contracts are awarded by the International Olympic Committee. That is certainly the first level of responsibility. In addition to that, there is a shared responsibility, in that Canada is hosting the Games through the participation of Vancouver and Whistler.

An organizing committee has been struck. We believe that this Committee and the Government of Canada have a responsibility to intercede with all the parties to ensure that coverage of the Games is the best that it can be. Our minor role, as a community partner, is to dialogue with all the stakeholders.

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

That is important, in my opinion. Your questions are very relevant.

You said you are part of the committee. An initial meeting was held on April 23. Do you not think that was a little late for an initial meeting? What concerns were expressed at that time? What have you resolved? And, when is the date of the next meeting?

[Yves Trudel]

There will be another meeting very soon but, unfortunately, the date has not yet been set. I should also tell you that Mr. Serge Corbeil, Vice-President of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique sits on that committee on our behalf. Within the committee, we have acknowledged the progress achieved thus far, but we have also noted the challenge still ahead in terms of communication, as well as the visible and audible presence of French at the Games.

These questions were all raised by the Federation. We recognize that VANOC is working very hard behind the scenes to recruit staff and volunteers, and to prepare signage. However, when there are public events, it is another story. A good example is the ceremonies organized for the Countdown, in Richmond and Whistler, the show that was put on for the Countdown, the launch of Torch Relay and the inauguration of the Richmond Olympic Oval. At many of these events, which were all public events broadcast by the major media outlets, unfortunately, French did not have an adequate profile.

We want to say, once again, to the members of VANOC and the VANOC Advisory Committee that, to ensure that linguistic duality is a success at the Games, it has to be present not only behind the scenes, but at all the public events as well. And, the most important public event—namely, the Olympic Games themselves—is fast approaching. We have every reason to be seeking reassurances in that regard. I believe the creation of this committee was a positive initiative on the part of VANOC. We obviously would have preferred to see it established earlier. Right from the outset, we knew we wanted to participate in this kind of process. The Fédération des francophones has been associated with VANOC's internal committee right from the beginning. It even took part in the work of the task force that was struck with the goal of bringing the Games to Vancouver.

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

When VANOC representatives appeared before the Committee, they said that their role is only to advise and support, and that they have no additional responsibility to move things forward. Does this not concern you somewhat?

[Yves Trudel]

Considering that VANOC has been able to recruit people of the calibre of Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Ms. Judith LaRocque, who represents the Government of Canada, I think we have to listen to the advice given by these individuals. Members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie also sit on that committee.

It seems to me that if VANOC has taken the trouble to strike such a committee, it has every intention of heeding its advice. Of course, when you have to move through every step of the operational chain, a reaction is sometimes slow to come; but, in this case, certain opinions will probably make their way more quickly and more directly to the ears of VANOC's senior management.

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

So, we can expect the advisory committee's work to bear fruit. At the same time, it is not known when the next meeting will take place.

[Yves Trudel]

I would be very pleased to inform you of the exact date once I have had an opportunity to go to the office and verify the information.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Ms. Zarac.

Mr. Nadeau, please.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Mr. Trudel.

The Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique forwarded a brief to the Standing Committee on Official Languages which is entitled: “THE 2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES, APRIL 27, 2009”. On page 4 of the brief, which is dated April 27, 2009, you make the following statement:

In airports and even on Olympic sites, the presence of French is often still secondary and at times appears to be deemed an irritant that would sooner be forgotten.

Can you provide additional details in that regard?

[Yves Trudel]

Like me, you have probably read or heard about the comments made by the Mayor of Richmond and members of the city council with respect to the Richmond Olympic Oval. This has been a concern of ours right from the start. We are talking about an Olympic site that was built partly with federal funding. In addition, the International Olympic Committee has given permission to use the Olympic rings as well as the word “Olympic”; however, the main signage at the site is in English alone.

People say it is an irritant. However, I think we could certainly use that same term to describe a situation where the mayor of a municipality says that linguistic duality is not important to him when, in fact, we are talking about an event of national scope connected to the organizing committee of an international entity—namely, the International Olympic Committee—whose two official languages are French and English.

We are currently taking steps to do some education and awareness-raising among officials at the City of Richmond, which appear to be urgent. There is a Francophone association in Richmond. It is surprising to us that the mayor would be unaware of that. So, there is still some work to be done in that regard.

This also illustrates the fact that VANOC and the Government of Canada have a responsibility to inform VANOC partners, on a urgent basis, of their responsibilities with respect to linguistic duality. They should be concerned not only with what will be happening during the competitions per se, but also the entire legacy of the Olympic Games.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you very much. That is very clear, Mr. Trudel.

In the same document, it states:

It is inconceivable, in our view, that athletes, official delegations, sport federations and Francophone visitors, from Canada and elsewhere, would have trouble obtaining information in their own language before and during the Games, either in the form of signage, written material, information communicated through the various media, or in oral communications with volunteers.

Could you expand on that please?

[Yves Trudel]

Yes.

As I mentioned previously, VANOC is doing a considerable amount of work behind the scenes. We see that as an encouraging sign in terms of what will be happening directly on the Olympic sites. However, as you can well imagine, everybody coming to see the Olympics from somewhere else will not necessarily be spending all their time at the competition sites. They will need to get to the competition sites, and therefore will be coming through airports, walking or driving in the streets of Vancouver and Whistler, as well as on the roads linking the different sites.

They will also require tourist and travel information during their stay in our province. If visitors, athletes and delegations accompanying the athletes are going to be coming to Canada, Canada and British Columbia will certainly want to enjoy the economic spinoffs associated with the Games.

We know that there will be at least as many Francophone countries, if not more, as there are Commonwealth countries sending athletes to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. There is significant potential there, in our opinion. We are already educating VANOC and have begun to do the same with outside partners. However, it is my sense that these people are not feeling enough pressure. VANOC and the Government of Canada are not sending them clear, direct messages regarding their common responsibility to reflect our linguistic duality.

For example, the Tourism BC site still needs to be adjusted—in other words, the French version of the site has yet to be developed. The initial work done on it is not encouraging. The provincial government recently told us that this would be quickly corrected. We will let you know as soon as that is done.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Trudel.