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.
9:50 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
That is why I was saying that, of the $7.7 million in funding, a portion of the budget has been allocated for special projects such as permanent signage on certain buildings.
9:50 a.m.
Bloc
Monique Guay Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Perfect. I hope it will be a great success.
As my colleague said, when the Olympic Flame arrived in Vancouver, he was not even able to watch the ceremony in French. This must not happen again. After all, it was the beginning of the Torch Relay. It is an important event, and yet we couldn't see it in both official languages. In my opinion, once again, we are not starting off on the right foot.
9:50 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
It's not the same [Inaudible--Editor]
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you very much, Ms. Guay.
We will move directly now to Mr. Chong.
November 5th, 2009 / 9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We gave VANOC $7.7 million to improve translation and interpretation services. So, that is the issue I would like to discuss.
I want to build on what Madam Guay was saying about services, not just at the Olympic grounds and the venues, but also at the airports.
In particular, I wonder if you could address two areas of concern. The first is whether or not VANOC officials, volunteers, and employees at Vancouver International Airport will be bilingual, or at the very least whether francophone employees and volunteers will be readily accessible when visitors arrive if they wish to ask for directions or talk about venues in French.
Second, maybe you could speak a little about whether you've had discussions with Vancouver International Airport on whether or not their staff will be alerted to the need to have both English and French services for arriving visitors. When people arrive in Vancouver, that's their first impression of Canada. It's important that VANOC employees and volunteers, but also YVR officials, are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard.
I'm wondering if you could talk about whether some of the $7.7 million is going to assist you in this regard and what other efforts you're making.
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
On your first question, the answer is yes: some people from VANOC will be present at the airport. They will be bilingual and able to speak with people in French. Don't worry--this is something very important to us to achieve.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Will there also be a positive offer when somebody...? When I go through Ottawa International Airport and go through security, there's a positive offer of French. People ask in both English and French.
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I don't know if you've had a chance to go to Vancouver recently, but you have the same offer now at the security level. It is very impressive.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Will that positive offer be made on the part of VANOC employees as well?
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes, absolutely.
With respect to the second part of your question regarding the Vancouver Airport, I can tell you that the discussions are going well. I am satisfied that airport employees will be in a position to provide bilingual service that is perfectly satisfactory. That goes back to what I was just saying.
In terms of security personnel, there is already an active offer of service in French for people who wish to take advantage of it.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Those are really all the questions I had. I'll pass this along to Sylvie.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Good morning.
Thank you for being here today. It's always nice to meet with you.
Mr. Gauthier, please give me this assurance: that there won't be any signs saying “Fumer les toilettes”. For a year, I would like to be spared from hearing Mr. D'Amours talk about that. I'm joking, but he does tell that story often.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
It's been fixed, so I won't talk about it anymore.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I don't know what by-laws are in place in Vancouver. We do know that, in other cities, smoking is no longer allowed anywhere. So, please make sure that this will not appear on any sign. I don't want to hear anything more about it.
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I painted all the signs myself.
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
No, I'm joking.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
In Canada, there is a lot of discussion about the situation of Francophones outside Quebec, and I would like to know whether you think the Vancouver Olympic Games will be a good opportunity to involve Francophone communities across the country. Will the communities take advantage of this event to take the kind of action that would serve to unify the community, by inviting other Francophone communities across the globe to get involved?
We talked about artists earlier. Will we also ensure that artists from Quebec, and especially from outside Quebec, are all represented?
9:55 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
It's interesting.
A few weeks ago, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Conference on Canadian Francophonie was held in Vancouver, and of course, all the provinces were present. VANOC had an opportunity to hold a meeting. All three of us attended that meeting and invited the provinces to get on board with respect to official languages and work cooperatively with us between now and the opening of the Games.
10 a.m.
Conservative
10 a.m.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I will try to speak louder.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Please remember your answer, Mr. Gauthier. We have already gone beyond the allocated time. However, I do ask that members speak one at a time, in order to facilitate translation and so that we can all hear what the witnesses are saying.
We will complete this second round with Mr. Godin.
