Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm taking this opportunity, first, to give notice of a motion. I'd like to table the following notice of motion with the committee for debate at its next meeting:
That the committee invites the Minister of Official Languages to appear to update the committee on her commitments in her mandate letter, notably the progress made with regards to the modernization of the Official Languages Act, to make sure that Air Canada provides fully bilingual services to its customers, and to strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
Now I would like to address something that's very important to me both personally and politically. Yesterday was International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The committee must speak out, and its members must set their political differences aside and clearly state that the cartoon that was published in La Presse on November 20 last, in which the member for Saint-Laurent is shown being slapped by a line of people, was unacceptable. Violence against women is a serious scourge that kills thousands of women and girls in Canada and around the world.
Consequently, Mr. Chair, I want to give notice of the following motion: That, while reiterating its support to freedom of speech and to freedom of press, the committee:
a) Recognizes that despite differences in political vision from parties and Members of Parliament, must debate in a respectful climate;
b) Condemns misogyny and violence against women in all its forms;
c) Condemns the cartoon published in La Presse on November 20th, in which the MP for Saint-Laurent is drawn being subject to violence.
Mr. Chair, I request the committee's unanimous consent to debate immediately and quickly adopt this very clear motion.