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.
Liberal
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
No. Fifteen per cent of staff are Francophones and work in French.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes. I go there regularly and I rarely speak English.
November 5th, 2009 / 10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I see. So, both languages are used for the ongoing organization of the Games.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
There are a lot of Francophones. Actually, it's very nice because we often get together at the end of the day. Some departments work exclusively in French.
Liberal
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
You told me not to get carried away.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Conservative signs. There are quite a few of them, aren't there?
When it comes to business merchants, that is a challenge. I know you will say that it's very difficult to control. But the government and VANOC do have some control over what is directly or indirectly connected to organization. As part of their day-to-day activities, people will go to different stores here and there. Hotels may be a little bit more alive to the bilingualism issue, but would you say that, as a general rule, merchants are also anxious to serve their customers in both languages? Is there something you have been able to do or are doing in that regard?
Executive Vice-President, Workforce and Sustainability, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Right in the heart of Vancouver there will be the largest Olympic superstore you can imagine. We have direct control over that and there will absolutely be bilingual services. It is difficult, as you say, to deal with it when you get into the commercial world.
The way-finding signage that will direct you around the city will be in French and English as well. I think that's as far as we've worked on it at this point. We have many languages that are in our city right now and that will be coming; that is the commercial market.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.
Now we'll turn to Ms. Glover.
I think you want to share your time with Ms. Boucher.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Yes. I want to make a very quick comment. I was also concerned to hear about the members of Parliament who are very concerned about not being welcomed to the games.
I know that we as the government have notified the opposition members of Parliament who will have the torch passing through their ridings. We have invited them to take part actively, so I'm glad to hear you're going to make note of it and look into it because we welcome all members of Parliament to take part in these games. This is a celebration of Canada. It's pertinent to all members of Parliament. I would love to hear about it if you have any further problems with this, because I don't think that's acceptable either.
I just want to make that reassurance and thank you, sir, because I am concerned as well and would like you to deal with that. You don't have to answer. I'm going to pass my time to Sylvie.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
There are a lot of Francophone artists in Quebec. Everyone thought Roch Voisine was from Montreal, but in actual fact, he is from New Brunswick. And then there is Daniel Lavoie, who is from Manitoba, although we don't know about the other artists. Will the artists participating be representative?
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
Yes, during the Games, 25% of the content of the Cultural Olympiad events will involve Francophones. Francophone artists from other provinces will also be at the Place de la Francophonie. We are working very closely with them. It will be a major site for Francophone festivities during the Games, where people will be able to get together and talk.
There will also be a festival in Maillardville where the Francophonie will be present. I am also aware of an event that will be taking place in Nanaimo. So, there will truly be a wide diversity of artists involved in the Francophone content of the programming.
Even in terms of the medal ceremonies, every night there will be a Francophone show or performance organized by provincial representatives whom we are working with to develop this activity. At the Maison du Québec, I know there will be performances every night. So, a lot of things will be available for Francophones, to allow them to come together, make contact and celebrate this extraordinary event.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Since you say this will be an opportunity for Francophones to come together, I hope media outlets will be sure to cover the highlights of the Francophone festivities, whether the performances are by Francophones from Quebec or from other provinces.
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
That is our hope as well.
Conservative
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I would like to answer the first part of your question about whether people from the provinces will be invited to celebrate at the Games, and whether we are making the effort to invite them. The answer is yes.
Several weeks ago, at a federal-provincial conference in Vancouver, we invited all the provincial representatives to present their ideas and let us know what they would like to do with us. We will be meeting with the ministers and provincial representatives again in the coming weeks to decide which activities we will be developing together. We have already done that for certain provinces, and will be continuing that exercise throughout the month of November.
We have had an excellent response from provincial representatives. They were all very enthusiastic about getting on board with us.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
I would like to follow up on Ms. Boucher's question with respect to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, which are really special moments—in fact, that may be the only part of the Olympic Games that some people see. It is very important that there be a focus on Canada's linguistic and cultural duality.
We all know that some information regarding the show is being kept secret. However, are you able to tell us anything that would reassure us as to the Francophone cultural content of these events?
Chair, Official Languages Advisory Committee, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
I am going to ask Ms. Bolduc to answer that question.
However, I do want to say that, two weeks ago, members of my committee asked to be given a presentation, by the person in charge of the committee organizing the opening and closing ceremonies, to ensure that we would all be completely satisfied with the Francophone content that is planned for these important ceremonies. Their presentation was impeccable, as well as extremely reassuring.
I will now turn it over to Ms. Bolduc to answer your question, if she is willing.
Director, Official Languages, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
That was one of the questions we asked right from the outset because, as you say, this is a major event that everyone will be attending.
There is a Francophone on the committee, whose identity is being kept secret, and who really reassured us and told us what Francophones could expect to see and hear during these shows. Her words were extremely reassuring; she was very happy and satisfied with the content that is planned for the 2010 ceremonies.
