Evidence of meeting #4 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was toyota.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Just so everybody understands, we want to respect everybody's right to have information in both official languages. We don't want to have a situation where it says that we will withhold all information until all of the translation is done. There's a certain timeliness to this, but we want information in both official languages.
And I think you're right, Mr. Jean.
10:55 a.m.
Bloc
Roger Gaudet Bloc Montcalm, QC
I agree with what you're saying, Mr. Volpe. However, at one point, we were criticized in the House of Commons for accepting a document that was only in English. We don't want to agree to this again, because it will become a habit. We agreed to it once to help things move along, but we can't agree again, because we were criticized for it. Therefore, we have to object.
11 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
There's been a friendly amendment proposed that when the documents are prepared they will be prepared in both official languages and presented to the committee. Okay?
11 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
11 a.m.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
There's only one last thing. Last week I asked for documentation in Excel. It wasn't provided to us in Excel initially.
11 a.m.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Just as a final understanding on this, while we've accepted this motion, the material should come to us as it is available in both languages. We're not going to wait for all 25,000 pages to be translated. Once the first 5,000 are translated we'll get them.