Madam Speaker, my colleague is only late by some 30 years. We discussed it here and we passed the Official Languages Act. I would like him to go to Italy and explain to Italians that it is dangerous to speak Italian in Italy. Let him try that with the Russians. You know, languages other than English are spoken in these countries, not better nor worse, only different.
There are countries where English is not spoken and aircraft still fly there. However, ICAO decided on a common language. When pilots who do not speak Italian arrive in Italy, they do not get a crash course in Italian while waiting to land. They use English as well as the Italian controller. This is part of the operating standards.
Of course, we agree that English may serve as the common language in air transportation when the pilot does not speak the language of the country. But of course, it is another when pilot and controller both speak the same language. This is the norm in all countries except in the land of the Reform Party.