Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 24th, 2023

[Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

For interpreters and for language and cultural advisers, we did kind of expand that family definition to include children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents and siblings. In the SIM program, I think you're familiar with some of the...but I think you're right that we can have a conversation around Sudan to make sure that we're consistent in our definitions and flexible to respond to a particular need.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you. Time is up.

Now we will go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for six minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Do you, Minister, believe that French is in decline in Quebec?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'd like a few moments to answer the question, because—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

A yes or no will do.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

It's important for me to answer this properly because the statistic you are quoting has to do with mother tongue. This statistic does not include me as a francophone. By extension, I'm someone who is a threat to French in Quebec.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I didn't quote any kind of statistic, Minister. I just asked you a simple question.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

It really bothers me, because it affects me personally.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Did I quote a statistic? I did not quote a statistic.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I know what the statistic is based on. In any event, go ahead.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

You're insinuating things.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, there is no crosstalk, please.

Can you please give me a second?

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

You know that I have always been reasonable. I will give you the time. If the minister has the floor, let him finish. Then I will give you the floor. If I see that you need a few extra seconds, you know that I am able to accommodate that.

Thank you.

Minister, the floor is yours.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, I will admit that there are threats.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Sorry?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

French in Quebec is threatened in a number of ways. Allow me to explain. I have always thought societies that allow minorities to retain their language and culture are richer and probably more equitable. I'm sure you agree.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I am 100% in agreement with you.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

It was Camille Laurin, the father of the Charter of the French Language, who said it, not me.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

That's why I said I was 100% in agreement with you.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I know that you agree with me, but there are people in your party who disagree with you.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

So, according to you, there is no decline in French in Quebec. Okay.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

French in Quebec is threatened.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Let's get to the heart of the matter. On September 25, power shovels dismantled a building at the far end of Roxham Road. We know that the federal government spent $28 million on leases with a generous Liberal donor, Mr. Pierre Guay, without going through a bidding process.

In December 2021, we learned from news reports that a new lease had been signed for the next five years. We are now in 2023. A little mental arithmetic shows that there are still three years remaining on this lease. As these buildings are no longer being used, what's going on? Is rent still being paid to Mr. Guay?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

First of all, I don't know. Secondly, I don't know him, but I think he was a Conservative donor for eight years. I happen to know this because I had to answer a question from the Conservatives at the time.