Official Languages Committee on June 9th, 2023

[Olivier Jacques]

I'll consult my colleagues in the department, and we'll try to answer the questions that have been raised.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's fine, thank you very much.

I'd like to thank all the witnesses for their patience. They can stay here if they wish.

For its part, the committee will now move on to Mr. Godin's motion. I now give him the floor.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I, too, would like to thank the witnesses for their participation and presence.

I think everyone has received the text of the motion, which is simply intended to contribute to the report on increased francophone immigration to Canada. One of the key players is the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

I will read the motion in its entirety.

That, in relation to the study on increased francophone immigration to Canada, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship be invited to appear for a full hour.

I think he's the conductor. I also think that the officials do an excellent job on political directives. When you're a minister, you have to imbue the machine with philosophy. I think it's important for the committee to hear the minister's testimony.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Great.

Before opening the debate on the motion, I'd like to put things in context. We had talked about holding five meetings for this study, and today is the second.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, it's not “five meetings”, it's “a minimum of five meetings”.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's right. Thank you for the correction.

So we've held two meetings out of a minimum of five. I'd now like to remind committee members of what's planned between now and next week. Last week, we decided unanimously that there would be no meeting next Tuesday, because of the votes and everything else going on in the House. Next Friday, the Commissioner of Official Languages will testify before the committee for one hour. We'll also be hearing from the two witnesses whose attendance has been continually postponed due to technical breakdowns, votes and so on.

There you have it. We'll now move on to Mr. Godin's motion. Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

You'll understand that my motion doesn't specify that we have to table the report before the end of the session. I'm very comfortable with the fact that it can be tabled next fall. However, before we conclude this study, I would like to hear the minister's testimony.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Perfect. I just wanted everyone to be on the same page and know where we are and where we're going.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

I agree with the motion. I too think we'll have to continue in September. I wonder what the procedure is for adding meetings given that our original motion was for “a minimum of five meetings”.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I imagine that, once we've reached the end of the five meetings, the committee will have to consider the need to hear from other witnesses, of whom we've had quite a list after all. The clerk invites the witnesses to come based on the priorities that each of the political parties has provided and on the distribution of political parties in the House of Commons. There is still time to hear these witnesses, and I'm glad Mr. Godin pointed out that we don't have to conclude this study before the summer.

So that takes some pressure off the committee's shoulders in terms of the minimum three meetings that remain. So let's just get on with it. At the end of next week, we'll see where we stand. If we hold four meetings before the summer, we'll come back for the fifth in September and see what happens next. That's my suggestion.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I've just woken up: I was convinced that our meeting was ending at half past, whereas it normally ends at quarter to, if I'm not mistaken. I would have liked to have had the floor earlier to ask the witnesses questions, knowing that we only had a motion to discuss afterwards.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Since you've just woken up, I would remind you that Mr. Godin wanted to propose his motion, and asked us when the best time would be to do so. I suggested half past. In the end, it only took five minutes to debate it, which we couldn't have anticipated. That's why the witnesses left at half past.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I must say, Mr. Généreux, that my two and a half minutes of speaking time has also been cut. I was ready.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Chair, I simply wanted to lighten the load for my colleague from Nova Scotia, considering that he's having more difficulty speaking today.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We do hope our colleague's teeth are fine. Before adjourning—

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Audrée Dallaire]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair, but does the motion carry?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Excuse me, Madam Clerk. Thank you for bringing me back to order and waking me up too.

After checking, I see that none of the committee members are opposed to Mr. Godin's motion.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I would like to remind everyone that there will be no meeting next Tuesday, as we decided unanimously not to hold one. Next Friday, the Commissioner of Official Languages will be here for an hour. After that, the two witnesses whose appearance we've postponed three times, the poor people, will come and share their knowledge with us. I hope there will be more meetings the following week.

The meeting is adjourned.