Letter to the Chief of the Defence Staff on the Issue of Translation of Manuals

February 14, 2006

General R. J. Hillier, C.M.M., M.S.C., C.D
Chief of the Defence Staff
National Defence Headquarters
Major-General George R. Pearkes Building
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2
 

Dear General Hillier:

I am writing to seek clarification on the article that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen and elsewhere on February 11, 2006 regarding the new Mobile Gun System.

In particular, I am concerned by the assertion contained in the article that documents and manuals for the new equipment will not be translated into French in order to save time and resources. Should this be the case, I believe that it could have a detrimental impact on the career progression and well-being of the men and women of the Canadian Forces – particularly our francophone members.

Although our preliminary conversations with personnel in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces have indicated that some of the information in the article may have been dated and, therefore, inaccurate, I consider this a fundamentally important issue and would appreciate a more formal explanation.

I would appreciate a response from you on this issue – which I intend to post on my Internet site – by February 28, 2006.

Yours sincerely,

 

[original signed by]
Yves Côté, Q.C.
Ombudsman

c.c.:
Minister of National Defence
Deputy Minister of National Defence

Date modified: