Thank you.
Good morning, everyone.
Are you familiar with what I call the “Justin Bell case”? Does that ring a bell?
I lived in Saskatchewan for seven years and taught there for four. You know Justin Bell. He was one of my students. Justin Bell ended up in handcuffs—I repeat, handcuffs—for asking a member of the RCMP to provide service in French when he was pulled over for speeding in Gravelbourg, an area that is home to more than 5% of Saskatchewan's French-speaking population.
You know the Official Languages Act; I would assume you refer to it on a daily basis, as do we, for that matter. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, services must be provided in areas where the numbers warrant it. That is in Canada's constitution. I am not talking about the AANB that is the Alcoholics Anonymous New Brunswick chapter, but the AANB that is the British North America Act, which was repatriated in 1982 by our friend Mr. Trudeau. You all know that story.
Regardless, the name Justin Bell should mean something to you, because it was the RCMP that handcuffed that teacher. Today, he is a teacher in Gravelbourg. The incident occurred between 2006 and 2008. It is not ancient history. I am not talking about when Louis Riel was hanged; I am talking about Justin Bell.
Mr. Godin, a member of the NDP who is usually at committee meetings, raised the issue of why the RCMP was using Google for translation, when this is a bilingual country. Perhaps the RCMP still did not know. Its motto, however, is Maintiens le droit. It is indeed in French. Mr. Galipeau could tell you all about it because he also has things to say on the matter.
How is it that, in 2009-2010, we saw the RCMP violate the Official Languages Act yet again, essentially slapping all francophones in the face? I see that there are francophone members of the RCMP here today. There are bilingual members, as well. Basically, the RCMP has proudly proclaimed that now, in British Columbia—which, to my mind, is still part of Canada, since I do not think it has been annexed to the state of Washington or Alaska—it is going to use Google's services for its translation needs.
Whose idea was that, and how did it manage to gain ground? Can you please explain that? During a later round of questions, I want you to tell me how you plan to fix it.