Thank you, Mr. Bélanger.
Commissioner, thank you and the people from your office for being here again this morning. I say “again” because, if you are often required to appear before us, that's not a good sign for bilingualism in the machinery of government. We're nevertheless pleased to have you with us.
Earlier you mentioned something about the inter-departmental aspect, and you passed on to us some comments by certain departments, including one to the effect that official languages are the responsibility of Heritage Canada, as a result of which they wash their hands of it.
Commissioner, that puts a smile on my lips because Treasury Board is responsible for official languages. You discussed that earlier, and my colleague Mr. Bélanger also raised that argument. It is currently the departments' responsibility to ensure the implementation of the official languages. However, when it comes to implementing them and ensuring compliance, people say that's the responsibility of the Department of Canadian Heritage, and they wash their hands of it. Everyone wants to wash their hands of it. Everyone wants to abandon responsibilities related to the official languages. Everyone wants to wash their hands of them. They are now the responsibility of Canadian Heritage, and one wonders where it will subsequently be transferred.
If the people in the machinery of government... We're talking about the government, not about public servants. We're talking about management. Those who are supposed to assume leadership on the issue are tossing the ball back and forth, but the ball never comes back. They're tossing it to one another. At some point, we wonder whether someone will catch it and ensure that official languages are implemented within the machinery of government.
Do you have a comment to make on that subject?