Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am very sensitive to this whole situation. When Air Canada was a crown corporation, it did not comply with the Official Languages Act. The legislation passed by the Parliament of Canada in order to privatize this former crown corporation included a section that required Air Canada to remain subject to the Official Languages Act.
Every year for decades, the Commissioner of Official Languages has complained about Air Canada for not meeting its obligations year after year after year. I remember the study that the Standing Committee on Official Languages did on Air Canada nearly 10 years ago. When my MP submitted the report to the House, he even agreed with the work that I had done in preparing the report.
A few minutes ago, during a discussion on another topic, both sides pointed to the fact that there must be some form of understanding between government members and the members of the opposition before moving ahead with a bill. I feel that the question raised by a member from the third party has its merit, but we should have found a way to reach a consensus before bringing the question up.
Some work had been done, but I think more work should have been done when the third party was in power, 15 years ago. There is still work to be done. I feel there is goodwill on all sides. Perhaps there is not enough goodwill on Air Canada’s part.
I intend to tell the minister about the history of this issue, but I am not about to force his hand with a resolution passed by a parliamentary committee. I think it would be more practical to do it man to man, eyeball to eyeball, so to speak.
Thank you.