Evidence of meeting #62 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ontario.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
It was a dinner.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
Yes.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
Yes.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Was this the type of dinner that is sometimes known as “a fundraising dinner”, in this case for the Liberal Party?
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
I could not tell you if it was a fundraising dinner.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
I was a guest.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
It is not fair to ask you that question, since you don't have your agenda to hand, but could you kindly check to see what kind of dinner this was, this event attended by lawyers and Mr. Trudeau in Toronto, and send that information to the committee?
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
They were persons from the Indo-Canadian community.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
It was an Indo-Canadian evening.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Very well. We will wait for your reply to see whether it was a fundraising activity.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
Very well.
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
At the end of the year, I think.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
Yes.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Would you kindly confirm to the chair of our parliamentary committee when you ceased being a member of the Liberal Party?
12:10 p.m.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages, As an Individual
Yes.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
I now have two substantive questions.
You once said that you would like the city of Ottawa to be bilingual. Personally, I am very anxious to see some bilingual signage here in my native city. I was born here in Ottawa, and like you, I am always surprised to see that the capital of a bilingual country has no bilingual commercial signage. So I look forward to seeing you begin to exert pressure to obtain bilingual signage here in Ottawa.
I'll ask my two questions. We have already submitted two highly important things to you. First of all, there is the legal requirement for judges to be bilingual. For the time being, it is not mandatory because it is not mandated by law. Are you in favour of that?