I'd like to square this with the Official Languages Act. The act imposes obligations on the government and on Parliament to serve Canadians in both languages, so that Canadians can be served in either of the two official languages as they prefer. The onus is on the government--not on Canadians--in the two-way communications.
The government has an obligation to communicate with Canadians in the language of choice of Canadians. But witnesses appearing here are the Canadians; they are the Canadians and they are the ones coming here to communicate with us. They should be able to do that in either of the two languages, as they choose. I don't see where we are in a position to impose on them the same obligation that the law imposes on us. Some of them may not have the resources to communicate with us in both official languages. Provided they communicate with us in the language of their choice....
I understand the spirit, and it's certainly more convenient for us that they communicate in both languages, but we're now imposing on Canadians the obligation that we should assume.