Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, honorable members of the committee, good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience with you on defending my language rights with Air Canada for several years. I hope that sharing my experience will help you as you study

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question. I am familiar with the background to the Air Canada file and know it was previously a crown corporation. When the federal government decided to privatize it, Air Canada was already required to provide its services in both official languages. The gover

Official Languages committee  On that point, I think there is a difference between institutional bilingualism and individual bilingualism. In the case of institutional bilingualism, the institution itself must provide services in both official languages. However, I think it would be difficult and perhaps soci

Official Languages committee  Service is provided in both official languages in many instances, such as boarding announcements and those kinds of things. It can be done. Are there a lot of breaches? Yes. Should we give up because it is too difficult? The answer is no. I am sure that, if Air Canada were a cro

Official Languages committee  I do not think so.

Official Languages committee  At first, I did not even know where the Federal Court was.

Official Languages committee  I have observed breaches on both domestic and international flights. There seemed to be more breaches when our flight went through Toronto. I do not have any supporting evidence, but it seems to me it is more difficult in Toronto. It is more difficult in Wabush because it is loca

Official Languages committee  Based on my experience over the past 17 years, I would say there are problems in both places. Here is a specific example. Last week I filed a complaint that I had also filed previously. On-board emergency exits are indicated by signs that read only “exit”. That makes no sense to

Official Languages committee  She knows I am right. We are right.

Official Languages committee  The fact remains that it is difficult to complain. It is so difficult that I challenge you to look at the case law and see who else but my wife and I has filed suit against Air Canada. Why does nobody do it? Because it is too difficult.

Official Languages committee  Based on what I have seen, they are virtually the same. However, as I said, I do not have any scientific data to prove that.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  Yes, people have called me at home, since I have been through it all, to tell me that Air Canada has violated their rights and to ask me whether I can help them. In fact, I have helped people by telling them what process they should follow and what they should do. So people have

Official Languages committee  I think we may never see any complaints, but there are a lot more violations than complaints. That is for sure.

Official Languages committee  No.