Statement made on 29 April 2009 by Senator Maria Chaput
Hon. Maria Chaput:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and relates to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and respect for both official languages.
Most of the stakeholders and officials involved have the best possible intentions. That is certain. They are mindful of the Official Languages Act and want to respect it. The problem lies in the fact that no one seems to have the definitive authority needed to reach a decision, or actively move forward on a given issue, or be willing to come up with solutions to problems.
For instance, Industry Canada still has not delivered the money needed for one of the projects linked to the Games. The transfer is supposed to happen through the new infrastructure program, but it appears that there are new criteria. Apart from the minister responsible for Industry Canada, no one can actively make it happen.
Can the minister tell Prime Minister Harper that urgent action is needed to determine who will assume responsibility and then give that individual the authority to make definitive decisions? I can assure all honourable senators that, if this were the case, there would be far fewer problems.
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