Mr. Speaker, why is the minister not cutting funding to VANOC, which is not meeting the official language conditions of the funding agreements?
VANOC is totally removed from the francophone reality needed to represent the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. It has still not called for translators for French signage in the host city and neighbouring cities. According to the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Toronto and Vancouver airports are not yet ready, eight months before the international event takes place, to welcome francophone visitors from Quebec, Canada and around the world.
With French being one of the official languages of the International Olympic Committee, the present situation speaks volumes about federalist Canada—a country claiming to have two official languages, English and French, but which treats French with contempt.