Official Languages Committee on April 10th, 2014

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I just wanted to make that fine point, but also to make a second point just as out of an abundance of caution that draft reports—we don't have a draft report right now—should not be distributed to the department or to anyone outside of members of this committee or those who report to them directly.

I just wanted to make that point out of an abundance of caution just in case—

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I take some exception to that, because in the past I've requested research through the PBO and was told within two days of their giving it to me that it would be released publicly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

So information that's prepared for me is not available just for me or even other members of Parliament, but is released generally. So if there's a difference with these, I'd like to know what it is, but I don't believe they're....

I think just as a point of principle, I recognize the difference between this and the need to maintain the confidentiality of a report, but at the same time, I don't want to be told that everything is off limits and to be told in hindsight that a breach has occurred when no such thing has happened.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No, no, I'm not suggesting a breach has occurred. I'm not suggesting that any rules have been broken; all I am saying is the following two points.

First, the research prepared for this committee is intended for members of this committee and the witnesses appearing before us should not be relying on research that the Library of Parliament is producing. The government witnesses should not be relying on the research that the Library of Parliament is preparing, because they have their own resources, allocated by parliamentarians under the budgeting process.

Second, to make a broader point, if documents are being distributed from this committee to bureaucrats to whom we should not be distributing draft reports…. I have been on committees where that has happened, where draft reports have gone to the department, so I just wanted to be careful that it doesn't happen.

So just out of an abundance of caution, I have made the point.

Monsieur Godin, you have a comment?

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

Mr. Chair, right now we are taking time to discuss this motion, whereas it is my motion that is on the agenda.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

You have the floor, Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Do you wish to introduce your motion?

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

With all due respect, I think the subject you have raised should be discussed at greater length. I have an opinion on it as well, but my motion is on the agenda right now. Here it is:

That the Standing Committee on Official Languages invite the Minister of Canadian Heritage to appear before May 29, 2014 to discuss the plans and priorities for 2014-2015 of the department for a two-hour televised session.

I am pleased that our meeting is not in camera because we can see that it makes no sense for the government constantly to refuse to allow ministers to testify before the Standing Committee on Official Languages. I have been in Parliament for 17 years, and I have never seen this. A government normally wants its ministers to appear before the committees.

In this motion, we are asking the minister to come and discuss her department's plans and priorities and her responsibilities. I can see what the government wants to do. It wants to sit in camera solely so that it can say that the minister will not be appearing in committee.

The last time, the minister herself said she was pleased to have been invited. If she was that pleased, let her come back to the committee. She even said she was extremely pleased that we had invited her to come and talk about her department.

I cannot wait to see whether the government representatives will vote in favour of the motion. This is the minister responsible for the issue before our committee. Will the Conservative members object to our inviting her? I cannot wait to see whether they will vote in favour of the motion. Our motion shows once again that we want our committee to work.

I am going to request a recorded vote. I am anxious to hear the government.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We are out of time. We will therefore continue this discussion at the next meeting.

We will discuss this motion at the next committee meeting, after the break, for 15 minutes.

Without further ado, thank you for your cooperation.

This meeting is adjourned.