Evidence of meeting #39 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 vancouver.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Could I just complete my answer to Ms. Boucher?
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Gauthier, the report of the Commissioner of Official Languages mentions that on the media intranet site, Info 2010, information becomes available in English first. Interviews with Francophone athletes are to be translated and put up on the site in English first. So, the English version will be translated into French for the French-language site. I have a trick question to ask: has that issue been resolved?
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I would like to ask Ms. Bolduc to answer that question. She is the one that was dealing with it.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Pardon me for interrupting, but I would like to read the Commissioner's recommendation: “The Commissioner recommends that VANOC ensure that any statements made by athletes in French are posted on Info 2010 as originally made and at the same time as the English version”.
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes, we tackled that issue. We are currently in the process of finalizing it. Interviews will be conducted in what is known as the athletes' “mixed zone”. Some media will primarily be interested in Francophone athletes, and they will be the ones recording their commentary.
However, as part of our team's work, we have taken steps to ensure that the comments that appear on the Info 2010 system will be the same as what the Francophone athlete said.
NDP
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
No, it will be done at the same time.
NDP
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes, exactly. Supposing an athlete--
NDP
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Exactly. We are.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you.
I would like to return now to our dear Torch Relay. You told Ms. Guay that you were going to be there and ensure that she can be up on stage. Will that policy apply all across Canada? Will members of Parliament in the regions be respected as a result of their position or will the government be deciding who is invited?
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I cannot give you any assurance in that regard, but I have noted your comment and I will ensure that it gets to the right people, so that all members of Parliament are present and can take advantage of what is their right.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I want to come back to one more thing. We don't want the Olympic Games to be a partisan event. Do you agree with me on that?
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I fully agree with you.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Let's talk, once again, about what happened to Ms. Jean Crowder, from Nanaimo—Cowichan. She was invited onto the stage and, seven seconds later, she was asked to leave the stage. That is the most humiliating thing that can happen to someone.
Dennis Bevington, who represents the riding of Western Arctic, was informed that the torch would be passing close to his area today. He was told he could be on site, but could not witness the ceremony from on stage, because someone from the government would be there. That is unacceptable.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I have noted that.
Conservative
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Earlier you were saying that the Torch Relay is taking place before the actual Olympic Games. But, when I was in Vancouver over the weekend, I went to the information kiosk and staff were only able to speak English. There was no bilingual staff member available.
The Vancouver Airport is beautiful; they've done an amazing job there.
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes, that's true.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
However, when you go to the information kiosk… We are 90 days from the opening of the Olympic Games, are we not?
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
There are 99 days remaining until the opening of the Olympic Games.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, and people are walking around looking at the different sites. This service should already be in place. We are not talking about someone standing next to the door of the airplane saying “Good afternoon and welcome to Canada”. There aren't 10,000 people working at the information kiosk; there is only one person. I can assure you that there is no bilingual staff person at the information counter. In my opinion, these are things that you should also be looking at.
