Yes.
Evidence of meeting #72 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 languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #72 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 languages.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Was the complaints processing system the same as the one in place at Air Canada?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Air Canada has an internal complaints processing system. You have never used it. Is there a specific reason for that?
4:35 p.m.
As an Individual
No, because what governs my language rights is the Official Languages Act.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
As an Individual
The Official Languages Act provides that anyone who believes his or her rights have been violated may file a complaint.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
All right.
So the process was the same with regard to the other organizations subject to the Official Languages Act?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Did you often file complaints in the other cases as well?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
And were they handled in the same way by the... Sorry, I forget his name.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Yes, pardon me, the Commissioner of Official Languages.
Was the process the same?
4:35 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. As usual, I am waiting for a report confirming that my complaint is founded.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you, Mr. Généreux.
Now we will move on to the next speaker.
We will hear from Mr. Vandal.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Vandal, will you give me your allotted time?
4:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
September 28th, 2017 / 4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Thibodeau, your journey on this issue is remarkable.
I have a few very brief questions. I think you have answered most of them.
Do you think Air Canada has the same responsibility to serve you in French if you take a flight from Saskatoon to Calgary?
4:35 p.m.
As an Individual
I cannot answer that, and I will tell you why.
Air Canada is not required to provide service in both official languages across Canada. It is required to do so in certain regions, such as Quebec and Ontario, and at certain airports, those that receive more than a million passengers a year, I believe. Furthermore, surveys are conducted regularly to determine the percentage of the francophone population that travels by air.
I do not know whether the route you referred to is considered a route on which bilingual service must be provided.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
I understand.
You have appeared in the courts: the Superior Court of Ontario, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Are you a lawyer? Do you represent yourself or do you rely on legal services?
4:35 p.m.
As an Individual
I have represented myself in most cases. I learned the law in my living room by spending entire nights and weekends reading documents. I have had to spend thousands of hours studying the subject.
When we appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, we were represented by lawyers. Apart from that, I have represented myself in the Federal Court of Appeal and the Superior Court of Ontario.
Why did I appear before the Superior Court of Ontario? When Air Canada sought protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, it tried to treat me as a creditor and thus to exclude my complaint. I was forced to go to Toronto to fight, and the judge ruled that the financial portion of the complaint would be handled in the same manner as in the case of creditors but that a letter of apology had to be provided. In the end, I was awarded $700.
As regards the violation of my language rights—which was very significant—I fought before the Superior Court of Ontario because Air Canada wanted to argue that, as a creditor, I was entitled to nothing. That is why I petitioned the Superior Court of Ontario, about which, incidentally, I knew nothing.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
I understand. Now there is a system for resolving complaints amicably. How many times have you settled complaints in that manner? Twice? Five times?