Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I totally agree that this will give us an overview of the situation. However, and the same is probably true for several of you, I have already begun to meet with several groups and stakeholders in order to get a good grasp of the priorities. For that reason, I am tabling the following motion. You have the text before you; it is the first motion in the document. It reads as follows:
That the Standing Committee on Official Languages invite Treasury Board President Scott Brison to appear before a televised meeting of the committee, no later than March 23, to clarify the government's intentions regarding the Translation Bureau and the introduction of an automated translation tool on the workstations of all public servants.
As you know, Mr. Chair, there have been staff cuts of approximately 50 % over the last 10 years, and others are being announced for the coming years. Like Mauril Bélanger, I am concerned by the mandate and future of the Translation Bureau. I am worried too about our capacity to maintain a quality, effective and professional Translation Bureau. And may I add that it has an international reputation at this time. That is why I am tabling this motion. However, I am quite open to the amendments some members, such as Mr. Fergus, would like to make.