Madam Speaker, I will keep my remarks very brief. My colleague from New Brunswick Southwest wants to intervene and I want to ensure that I leave him that time.
I was sad while listening to our colleague from Surrey Central, whom I have much esteem for, when he started to throw out percentages, that 4% speak French and 50% speak another language, that more people in Vancouver speak Chinese than French and that more people speak English than French here and there. I think that misses the very heart of the issue.
One of the key characteristics of this country is its duality, the French and English cultures, the French and English languages, the founding cultures. This is what distinguishes Canada as a special country. It has devoted compassion, laws and protection to minority cultures, even when the numbers are very small. I know this has not been observed as faithfully as it could have been and it is why I congratulate my colleague the member for Ottawa—Vanier. He has been so diligent, persistent, committed and convinced about minority languages, cultures and communities in Canada.
The bill comes in time to remind us that of all sectors and institutions, the health sector and the health institutions should care about minority languages and minority cultures.
I have a great deal of respect for my colleague from Repentigny, with whom I have had the opportunity to work with closely, and we both a great deal of respect for each other. However, having said that, I cannot agree with him.
When I read this bill, when I see the words that is uses, I see that it is based on Quebec's Bill 142. I recall the discussions that took place in the National Assembly when that legislation was being considered, I was there. There were my colleagues, Thérèse Lavoie-Roux and Christos Sirros. This bill was supported by all of the parties. Everyone wanted to settle this issue of minority language.
As everyone knows, and I am not saying this to play party politics, but these things become a sort of political game, depending on the minister, the times, and the government in power. That is why it is good that we now have legislation, the Canada Health Act, to settle the matter, not just for New Brunswick, but across the country, that is based at the outset on the premise of provincial jurisdiction.
The legislation states clearly that the province is responsible. That is the key to the act. I do not think that this offends one province or another, or imposes anything, because it is up to the provinces to put this in practice.
It is a praiseworthy objective to ensure that in hospitals, and health institutions above all else, people could obtain health care and could call on someone who understands one of the minority languages.
This bill is praiseworthy and I congratulate my colleague once again for bringing it forward. I hope that we, including my friend from Repentigny and his colleagues, will find a way to back this bill because its objective is very Canadian and it is an objective we should trust and back very strongly.