For the liking of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will be called to the witness stand on Friday, there was too little testimony in French at the emergency commission.
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“I think it’s a pity that there wasn’t enough French during the commission. Of course I will try to use it as much as possible so that everyone can understand me in both official languages, but we also know that there is a translation,” he said on Thursday.
Despite the appearance of nearly 70 witnesses since the commission began in October, many of whom were senior Francophones in federal civil service, English dominated the discussions.
Only one witness used only French during his testimony, namely Steve Charland, leader of anti-sanitary measures group Farfadaas.
Government Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, of Acadian descent, answered a few questions in French when it came to Quebec.
In addition, Judge Paul S. Rouleau is himself Franco-Ontarian and speaks French.
“There weren’t many questions in French,” said Mr. Trudeau. Sometimes it is also difficult to answer in French. But I know that some have made an effort, then I will try too.
As in Parliament, an interpreting service is responsible for translating all conversations so that lawyers, witnesses and the public can all listen and speak in their preferred language.
A handful of cabinet ministers in the government on Wednesday paid lip service to their disappointment at the lack of French in the commission.
Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, “thinks it would be really fun to hear more, so we’ll continue to propose using both official languages everywhere.”
Ms. Fortier is Head of Public Service. She did not want to say whether the place of French on the commission corresponds to the reality of federal officials.
Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said that “work still needs to be done on the issue of franking the public service”, while Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez assessed that “there could be more French”.