Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deal with a very sensitive issue. I wish it had never come up. Mr. Speaker, I am very worried about certain aspects which have come to light about the office of the Languages Commissioner. For some time I have had concerns about the reported overexpenditure of salary dollars for casual staffing, talk of additional PYs in this time of restraint, the approval process for periods of leave without pay and other management matters within the Languages Commissioner's office. Those are administrative issues that can probably be worked out quite simply.

I am also concerned that regulations have not yet been made to identify the aboriginal organizations that were supposed to be prescribed as the key contact groups on language matters. This is a legislative issue that I may raise with the Minister of Justice. What troubles me very much are questions surrounding the sort of relationship which has now been confirmed to exist between the Languages Commissioner and a Member of this House.

Mr. Speaker, the role of the Languages Commissioner is very much like that of an ombudsman. It is critically important not only to establish an arm's length relationship but also the appearance of an arm's length relationship. From comments made yesterday in the Committee of the Whole, it is clear that an association exists which could threaten the credibility of the Languages Commissioner. This is regrettable and should not continue. The Languages Commissioner stated yesterday that she is accountable to each Member of this House. It is important that she is equally accountable to all Members.

Regardless of the fact that fine people are involved here, Mr. Speaker, this House should insist on only the highest standard when it comes to accountability.