Very good, Mr. Choquette.
Ms. Robinson-Dalpé, I don't at all agree with what Mr. Samson said earlier. The commissioner has filed several reports regarding Air Canada in relation to official languages. To my knowledge, none of those reports have ever been positive, or at least very few have been. Those reports have inevitably had consequences for the carrier's reputation over time. As evidence, we're sitting here today discussing a special report that the Commissioner of Official Languages tabled before leaving to tell us that Air Canada was a very poor student in terms of official languages and that a means of punishing it must absolutely be found.
I believe we've all reached the same conclusion. We've been looking at this issue for a year and a half. We've met with the president of Air Canada, who gave a very poor performance before they the committee. He was even condescending. I believe that was a fairly unanimous opinion. However, we've seen that, since then, people at Air Canada have considerably changed the way they deal with the matter. They have applied all types of measures. The report on the issue that we are now studying will also propose new measures.
Inevitably, that has an impact on Air Canada as a company and on how the public perceives it. The fact that its image and reputation are affected is, to some extent, a penalty. I believe that this report was detrimental, to some extent. Detrimental may not be the right term, but condemning Air Canada in that way was harmful to it. The fact remains that the company took the bull by the horns and adopted corrective measures, to some extent.
I'm sorry if my preamble is long, but we heard from a witness this week who has sued Air Canada several times over the last 15 years. He has even gone to the Supreme Court. According to him, the fact that Air Canada uses the term “exit” rather than sortie on a sign in an aircraft, in a building, or on its property infringes on his right to be served in his official language.
If the commissioner were given the power to impose monetary penalties and if everything the commissioner suggests in his report were done, do you think it could get out of hand?
The commissioner proposes that people need not necessarily prove the prejudice that they had suffered, such as having to read the word “exit” on a sign. They could simply file a complaint with the commissioner, and, as such, Air Canada would have to pay an amount to those people.
Are there more constructive ways to ensure that Air Canada complies with the act? It already does in part, I think
My preamble has been long. I don't know whether you want to add anything.