Canadian Heritage Committee on May 21st, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 120 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is taking place on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe nation.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the committee is resuming its consideration of Bill C-316, an act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act (Court Challenges Program).

Before we begin, I want you to know that we have a hard stop at 6:30. I've asked the clerk to see if we can get resources to go on after that, because we were late starting. Normally, 10 minutes after a vote we are supposed to be ready to roll.

Before we begin, I ask all members to consult the cards on the table for guidelines on using your headsets and to make sure you know to put your earpiece down on the little round disc on your table if you're not using it. Remember to keep your earpiece away from all microphones at all times. You can no longer use the grey earpieces; you have to use the black ones. When you are not using your earpiece, place it face down on the sticker placed on the table for this purpose.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, and I want to make a few comments for the benefit of members and witnesses.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For members in the room, raise your hand if you wish to speak. For members here virtually, use your virtual hand. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can, based on when we see your hand come up. We appreciate your understanding. Remember that all comments should be made through the chair.

For Bill C-316, an act to amend the Canadian Heritage Act, I would like to welcome our witnesses from the Department of Canadian Heritage, who are available to answer questions during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill: Blair McMurren, director general, strategic policy and international affairs, and Flavie Major, director, international affairs and human rights, strategic policy and international affairs.

Today we are dealing with the clause-by-clause of the bill. I shall begin. I hope you have your clauses in front of you.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, which is the short title, and of the preamble are postponed to the end of clause-by-clause. I will begin by calling clause 2.

(On clause 2)

Did you have your hand up, Mr. Noormohamed?

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Yes. Obviously, we support clause 2.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We're looking at, first and foremost, supporting the whole of clause 2.

G-1 is the amendment we're looking at first.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

There is a change that we're proposing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, go ahead.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

The change is that clause 2 be amended by replacing lines 10 to 16 on page 2 with the following:

(a.1) establish and implement the program referred to in section 7.1 of this Act and paragraph 43(1)(c) of the Official Languages Act that is administered by an organization independent of the Government of Canada; and

The effect would be to clarify that the program contemplated in clause 2 of Bill C-316 is the same program as the one contemplated in 7.1 of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act and in paragraph 43(1)(c) of the modernized Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Are you amending G-1?

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

All right. Is there any discussion?

Mr. Lawrence.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was wondering if the officials could give us a quick briefing on the effect of Mr. Noormohamed's proposal.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Go ahead.

[Blair McMurren, Director General, Strategic Policy and International Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm very happy to explain the intended effect of this amendment, which is to clarify that essentially three references to this program in Canadian law are referring to the same program. Two new provisions were created: a provision in the modernized Official Languages Act, through Bill C-13, and section 7.1 of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act. We're simply seeking to have maximum clarity that we're talking about the same program by using the same language in Bill C-316 to describe that program.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

You're just changing the language to reflect the modernization of the Official Languages Act.

[Blair McMurren]

That's right. It's to align it exactly, word for word.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there any more discussion?

Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Chair—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Oh, I'm sorry. Mrs. Thomas was before Mr. Serré.

Mrs. Thomas.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you.

I'm sorry. I just want to make sure I understand.

Mr. Noormohamed made a slight change to G-1. Is that correct?

Can you just clarify that for me? Then I have a question for the officials.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Sure. I'll read what the amended version would look like, if that helps. Basically, it would say:

(a.1) establish and implement the program referred to in section 7.1 of this Act and paragraph 43(1)(c) of the Official Languages Act that is administered by an organization independent of the Government of Canada; and

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Sorry, what am I missing? Isn't that what you have here? You're not amending G-1.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Well, no. It's for the consistency of alignment.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

G-1 is the amendment.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

It is the amendment, yes.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I'm so sorry. I thought you were saying that you were changing it a bit.