Evidence of meeting #46 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 olympic.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Do we have the committee's unanimous consent so that Mrs. Glover can ask her question?
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
One member of our committee has not yet spoken.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Mr. Commissioner, I simply wanted to welcome you and your team, and wish you and your families a Merry Christmas.
I would like to make a slight correction. Earlier Mr. Nadeau raised an issue about the torch relay and the festivities. As was stated in previous discussions, VANOC is the entity organizing these events. Government members had concerns as soon as they found out that VANOC had requested that members of Parliament not show up. We reacted immediately.
The games can be politicized. Mr. Nadeau, for example, let it be known that it was the government itself that did this. However, this is not true, and this is exactly the situation we are trying to avoid when we say that we must not politicize the games. I simply wanted to make this clarification. I want us to stick to the facts and not introduce any falsehoods. We want to be proud of our games, but when members of Parliament are bent on politicizing them, that does not help us to do this.
I know that you are still receiving documents and reports, and I would really like to know what they're saying. Will you submit a report once these documents have been analyzed?
Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
We plan to submit a report on our observations once the games are over. We have drawn up a list of institution activities and plans for active offer. We have included the plans for the Vancouver Airport, Canada Post, Air Canada, Parks Canada and Services Canada. We will be discussing the training that has been organized by certain institutions, for example, Air Canada has apparently provided an intensive one-month course that will be given to their Vancouver employees who have basic French.
December 8th, 2009 / 10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I apologize for interrupting you, Commissioner, but I don't have a lot of time.
Could you simply send us the documents so that we can see what has been done?
Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Yes, certainly. Right now, we're at the preliminary stage. We're going to have to submit the documents in both languages, therefore...
Conservative
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
For the final round the speaking time is three minutes.
Mr. Fraser, on behalf of the committee, I would like to pay you a compliment. You mentioned the impact that the committee has had on the positive measures taken with respect to official languages and the Olympic Games. However I do believe that, in addition, your recommendations have been followed. The committee relied heavily on you. Moreover, that is why we have invited you to appear so often this year. We would like to thank you for the work that you and your team do. We hope that everything will go well.
Before concluding, I would like to ask you a question.
We recently met with a representative of the FCFA who provided us with a report recommending that you be given greater power, including, among other things, a power of order as well as the power to require that corrective measures be taken and to impose sanctions.
If you had these powers, do you feel that we would have fewer concerns about Vancouver's Olympic Games?
Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
I have been very impressed by the work done by the FCFA. I watched the presentation that Ms. Kenny made before your committee. I noted that this proposal was a recommendation to explore the idea. We are taking a look at the implications. However, with all due respect, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to go into the details of such a recommendation.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
Good. Thank you very much, Mr. Fraser.
Thank you Ms. Tremblay, Ms. Giguère and Ms. Charlebois.
We will suspend the sitting for a few minutes so that we can say goodbye to our guests. We will then proceed with committee business.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
We can now proceed with committee business. Let's begin with Mr. D'Amours' motion. Do I have to read it?
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Lise Zarac
I will read the motion:
That the Standing Committee on Official Languages recommend that the government: - maintain the funding provided by the Canada Post Corporation for the Publication Assistance Program for publications serving official language communities living in minority areas; - immediately replace the program ending on March 31st, 2010 with the new Canada Periodical Fund on April 1st, 2010; and - that these recommendations be reported to the House as soon as possible.
That the Standing Committee on Official Languages recommend that the government maintain the funding provided by the Canada Post Corporation for the Publication Assistance Program for publications serving official language communities living in minority areas; immediately replace the program ending on March 31st 2010 with the new Canada Periodical Fund on April 1st 2010; and that these recommendations be reported to the House as soon as possible.
Mr. D'amours, do you wish to make any comments?
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to provide you with a little background for my motion. It was drafted as a result of some letters we received from various organizations that were very concerned that the new program was not going to be implemented immediately after the expiry of the current program, the Publication Assistance Program. The comments I received last week indicated that everybody agreed on that issue.
However, I believe it is important to continue the promotion. We know that, in small communities, the newspaper that is distributed is in fact the community newspaper. So we have to ensure that this program does not lapse at all because that could put the brakes to many periodicals and newspapers in our regions. This is a concern.
In 2006, when I presented an almost identical motion, my purpose was to ensure that the program not be eliminated. I'm referring to the Publication Assistance Program. The government assessed the matter and today, as a result of the concern expressed by the organizations, I am again tabling this amended motion to ensure that, as of April 1, 2010...
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez, I knew that it was an excellent motion. I am hoping that this motion will eliminate the stress that these communities and organizations are living under, and will enable people to continue receiving their periodicals and newspapers in a timely fashion.
Liberal
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair. I simply wanted to state that it is truly impressive to see the Liberals supporting our government's efforts and to repeat what we are doing in order to ensure that the Periodical Fund is maintained.
As was announced on February 17, 2009, this program will be launched shortly, namely, on April 1. With respect to this motion, I appreciate Mr. D'Amours' support of our government and efforts. I am therefore in favour of this motion, but I would suggest an amendment.
I would like to make a slight amendment since the motion is really repeating what has already been decided. There is no reason to submit these recommendations to the House. In so doing, we may delay the work of the House and interfere with issues that are very important.
I would be prepared to accept this motion which reiterates what has already been decided and warmly endorses our government, but I would like the last part of the motion to be removed. I move an amendment to accept the motion as drafted, eliminating the words: “[...] that these recommendations be reported to the House as soon as possible”, because they are not needed and would result in delays.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Madam Chair, I completely disagree with Mrs. Glover. It takes approximately 30 seconds to read a report in the House of Commons and that does not hamper the government. This is a recommendation to the government. The government can respond. All that it says is that the recommendations should be reported to the House. Reading the paragraph—thanks to translation we do not have to read the motion in both languages—that would take perhaps fewer than 30 seconds. So I am not in favour of Mrs. Glover's amendment.
