Mr. Levy, you'll understand that we only have five minutes for my questions and your answers.
I am very disappointed. I went to Vancouver. I was well served by the CATSA people when I requested service in French. They sent me someone and I got the necessary service. Since your web site, which is built in a professional manner and is a global reference point, is not yet up to date, you wouldn't pass the test. I've said what I had to say on that and I'm very disappointed about it.
Ms. Moore, you have to know that, with respect to the people you will be welcoming at the airport, 34 francophone countries will be taking part in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but there are also approximately 10 million Canadians and Quebeckers whose first or second language is French. These people are also entitled to service in their language. The Official Languages Act has been around for 40 years. The fact that you tell me today that you are in the process of putting something in place for the games disappoints me enormously. Under the Official Languages Act, you are a major airport that receives more than one million visitors a year. You should always be able to provide service in French. You mustn't hide behind the cover of the Olympic Games and say that you're starting to take action. This has to be in perspective. I don't know whether I'm speaking for no purpose, but one thing is certain: for a francophone living in Quebec or Canada right now, I'm being told that it is fortunate that the 2010 Winter Olympic Games are being held in Vancouver so that the Vancouver Airport can start taking action.
Mr. Benoit, I want to talk about the issue of third parties, whom you call tenants and concessionnaires. They have obligations under the act. If I get caught speeding, I get a ticket and I deserve it. Under the Official Languages Act, the federal government is responsible for airports. You manage the airport and you are required to comply with the Official Languages Act. The same is true for the people who lease services at that airport, whether it be Tim Hortons, the book store or the duty free stores. So this is an obligation. Where there's an obligation, you must not complain and say that you are in a bad way because you have to manage the act.
I regularly go to Ottawa Airport. I don't go there as often as others who live farther away because I live in Gatineau. Some go there more often than I do because they live farther away. I had a quite unfortunate adventure with CATSA in October. I agree that's not you, but you'll notice that, at Ottawa Airport, some public announcements are still made in English only. If we can't develop a bilingual character for an institution directly related to the federal government to comply with the Official Languages Act, you can be sure that third parties, whether it be CATSA, Tim Hortons or other franchisees or partners or the absolute delinquent Air Canada and others, won't consider you a model. You must understand that situation.
There's one other thing. In the same vein as what I mentioned to Ms. Moore, you should not just respect the French language for foreign countries, you must also do it for people from here, who pay their taxes and who make it so this airport exists.