Official Languages Committee on Dec. 13th, 2011

[Yves Turbide]

I don't know.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

How about the one in Quebec?

[Jean Fahmy]

No.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It doesn't get any or you don't know?

[Yves Turbide]

I cannot tell you.

[Jean Fahmy]

No, I do not think that it receives any because the Bill 51 program does not stipulate any amounts. It's just in the regulations that arise from an act. Under the regulations, as we have said before on a number of occasions, Quebec has accredited booksellers and they have to do this, that and the other.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Excuse me, Mr. Fahmy. I have only one chance to speak, so I have to get things done quickly.

Are you in discussions with the government of Ontario?

[Jean Fahmy]

We are in the process of preparing a submission that we are going to present to a committee similar to yours at Queen's Park.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

When?

[Jean Fahmy]

We don't know yet because we are not ready.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

You are not ready.

[Jean Fahmy]

We are not ready in terms of that submission.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I do not know what the reaction of my colleagues on the government side would be, but, if they felt that the primary responsibility in this case lies with the government of Ontario, I would agree with them.

[Jean Fahmy]

Yes.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

You agree with that?

[Jean Fahmy]

Absolutely.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So let's wait and see what kind of reaction you get to your presentation, when you are ready.

In the meantime, let me change the subject. While Mr. Harris was asking you questions just now, I looked at my iPad to see if I could buy anything francophone online. The answer is yes; I can buy music. I visited the Association de la presse francophone's site because I want to buy a CD by Andrea Lindsay. I could have picked it up this morning. I could even play it for you, but perhaps…

[Voices]

Ha, ha!

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

There's not enough time for that.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Right. But I can't do the same thing for books.

[Yves Turbide]

Have you been to the RECF site, the Regroupement des...?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Can I buy books online?

[Yves Turbide]

I think so.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

That is what I wanted to know.

[Jean Fahmy]

I was talking about the Regroupement des éditeurs canadiens-français site.