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.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Some hon. members
From the Commissioner.
4:25 p.m.
As an Individual
I wait for an email from the Commissioner of Official Languages concerning the report.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, once I have received the report. What I need is the report confirming that my rights have been violated. Otherwise we would merely be exchanging legal arguments.
Air Canada initially said it had an obligation of means. It argued that it was doing everything possible to serve me in French but that, if it did not do so on one specific occasion, that did not mean my rights had been violated. The court rejected that argument and found that Air Canada always had an obligation to serve me in French. However, that was the argument that Air Canada originally used.
I wait for the Commissioner's report stating that my rights have been violated, and then I call Air Canada and ask what happens next.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I could ask you more questions, but my colleague Dan Vandal—
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
No, Mr. Thibodeau. This is fine the way it is.
Now we will hear from Mr. Généreux and then Mr. Vandal.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Thank you for being here today, Mr. Thibodeau.
I am going to play the devil's advocate. I am not a lawyer, but these are all lawyers opposite me. The chair is a lawyer too.
4:25 p.m.
An hon. member
Mr. Vandal is not a lawyer.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
He is not a lawyer? Okay. That is not my fault, but what can I do? So I am going to play the devil's advocate.
Mr. Thibodeau, we spoke a little earlier, and you observed that we think differently. Do you know how many complaints were filed against Air Canada before 1969 and how many have been filed since then? Has a comparison been made? I do not necessarily have the answer.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
No? All right.
Air Canada must surely, or probably, have received complaints when the company was a crown corporation. It was required to provide service in both official languages.
4:30 p.m.
As an Individual
I was born in 1967. I am not sure about what happened in 1969.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I see.
Do you consider yourself bilingual, francophone or an anglophone who speaks French? Are you francophone?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
You are bilingual. Is that correct?
4:30 p.m.
As an Individual
I am bilingual. I am fully bilingual, but I am also completely francophone.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Perfect, all right. I am a francophone too, and I speak a little English.
You told us you cannot bear to see the word “exit” and that you file complaints because the word “exit” is posted on an airplane door or somewhere in an airport. You consider that a systematic violation of your rights?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Because there is no sign that reads “sortie”.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
However, above the door here, there is a drawing of a character and no text.
So you are bilingual and understand the exact meaning conveyed by the sign, and you consider it a violation of your rights if Air Canada has not taken the trouble to ensure that signs posted everywhere, in its aircraft, in airports, or in its environments—a parking lot or anywhere else—are in both official languages instead of English only. In your view, if it has not done so, that constitutes a systematic rights violation. Is that correct?
4:30 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes.
That is what the Commissioner of Official Languages has acknowledged.