Official Languages Committee on Nov. 29th, 2011

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jean-Marie Nadeau]

The next step is in Arabic it would be...? I would like to know.

The promotion of bilingualism shouldn't be based solely on commercial needs in Canada. If this issue depends solely on commercial requirements, we'll become a unilingual English country faster than we think, like the United States. We have to watch out for that.

However, it's not because they are engaged in commerce that business people are gods. When Staples advertises on television in Quebec, it's under the banner of Bureau en gros. Back home, since they don't know it's affiliated with Staples, that company loses money. When Pharmaprix advertises on Radio-Canada's national French-language television network, in particular, that company loses money in Acadia, because it's Shoppers Drug Mart back home.

If there is one thing this committee can do, it is to make people a little more aware. Anglophone business people are losing money from 2.5 million people. It would be surprising if they could lose 2.5 million consumers, including Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and for that to have no impact on their sales. If they want to reach people, they have to speak to them in their language. The rest of Canada is too often considered as though it were a homogenous anglophone population. I believe that a committee such as this has a responsibility with regard to public education.

Currently back home, there is the signage issue, for example. Some people say signage isn't important. However, if your language isn't displayed in the street, if your language is just good enough for your bedroom and bathroom, how can you develop any pride or reinforced identity. There too, I believe we should have a Canadian strategy that could simply say that bilingualism is good. Bilingualism brings in money and there are also ways to make money in French.

I am drifting away from my presentation, but we've also tried to create a mission in Quebec and to go and meet Quebec businesses like Cora, which is also called Cora back home. When Cora set up in Moncton as a unilingual English concern, it was completely abnormal. People have to be educated, and I believe a committee such as this one has a collective responsibility to create interaction between francophones and anglophones in Canada.

Let's at least capitalize on these two languages, and there won't be any problems. I speak nearly four languages, though perhaps not as well as Mr. Lueng, who speaks five. Whatever the case may be, I believe we have to avoid setting a bad example.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Harris, you have the floor.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau, for giving us an idea of the passion the people there have for language.

I'm going to go back to what happened with my colleagues earlier. It has to be said that it was the third or fourth time the chair had repeated during this meeting that members are entitled to ask the questions they want without being interrupted.

It also has to be said that it has never been customary for the committee to sit so often in camera for motions. It has to be said that this is a Conservative custom that is starting now, in this 41^st Parliament. I frankly think the government party doesn't want to have to defend the decisions made here for Canadians. When we sit in camera, we can't even talk about what has been brought to the table and what has been rejected.

I'm going to start by putting some questions to the RDÉE people.

During the 40^th Parliament, a study on linguistic duality in the north was started and has not yet been completed. We think it should be completed. We would simply have to go and visit Nunavut. Do you think that completing it and submitting a report to Parliament would help you with economic development in the north? Would that help you to know exactly the status of linguistic duality?

[Guy Le Blanc]

Yes, definitely. I must tell you that, at a meeting of the board of directors, an annual general meeting held yesterday, we ratified the appointment of a representative from Nunavut to the board. This is the first time we have had a Nunavut representative at RDÉE, and I believe it's a good start. It will definitely provide the board of directors with information and knowledge on that region, on the needs of the people living in a minority setting, on the francophones of the Nunavut region. As some people have said, they are far away, and no member of the board from Nova Scotia or British Columbia knows their needs.

Restructuring the board of directors means including representatives from all the provinces and territories. We are starting our reorganization, and your study, once completed, will definitely supplement the work that RDÉE will be doing in your regions and in other regions, in particular the north.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you.

That may be the case if we finish it. We've already spent $100,000 of taxpayers' money, which will be wasted if we don't finish the report.

Do you have anything to say, briefly?

[Collin Bourgeois]

Mr. Harris, are you telling us you would like RDÉE Canada to help you finish your study?

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

We have five members here who would like the study to be finished. Now we have to convince the government party.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Once again, I have a point of order. It is very important to abide by the rules of all the committees. All business discussed in camera is confidential.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Chair, I don't believe I said anything—

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

You must not discuss voting intentions, the debate or the decisions of committee members. That must be left—

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I have a point of order. What did I say that was discussed in camera?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Some members indicated that they supported particular motions presented to the committee that were debated in camera.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I didn't speak of anything that was presented to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

There was a motion concerning the study of linguistic duality in the north that was discussed in camera. Members have indicated—

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

That wasn't revealing what was discussed in camera, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

It was, because notice of motion was given. Members of the committee have indicated who supported the motion, and that is something that should not be revealed to the public. I'm simply trying to be consistent here about the rules.

The rules are clear. Only positive actions taken by the committee—in other words, motions adopted in camera—are to be discussed publicly. Any other matter is not to be discussed publicly.

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

What Mr. Harris has done—

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

He said that all opposition members who are members of the committee supported the motion.

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

What motion?

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

It's public. At the last meeting, we said we thought the report on the north had to be finished.

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

It's a public matter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I know, but it was—

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

It's public.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I'm just cautioning you to be careful, because—