Official Languages Committee on Dec. 6th, 2007

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I'm not jealous; I'm talking about fairness.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

At the outset, I'll say that the Société du 400^e anniversaire de Québec makes its own choice of programming. There are strict rules for managing public funds. That said, it will be a pleasure for us to assist the Congrès mondial acadien.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, I remember, for example, that the government granted $5 million to celebrate Canada Day in Quebec City and that it only gave Ontario $900,000.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Do you want me to answer?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes, please, we're going to wrap up.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

There is a different situation in Quebec. There's not really any programming in Quebec for celebrating Canada Day, which, I'm informed, isn't the case in other provinces. In other provinces, there are other sources of funding for Canada Day.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Check—

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Godin. Thank you, Minister.

This completes the hearing of our witness this morning. I would like to thank the minister for being here. The committee is in the process of completing its report, which should be available shortly and which will be considered by the minister in order to complete the Action Plan for Official Languages, an initiative which moreover has been hailed by the Commissioner of Official Languages.

Thank you very much and until the next meeting.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I'd like to give a notice of motion to the effect that the members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages are invited to attend the consultation session in January, as planned by the government. I'm going to give you that in writing, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you.

Thank you very much and good day. The meeting is adjourned.