Evidence of meeting #14 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was community.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jagdish Grewal  Editor and Publisher, Canadian Punjabi Post Inc.
Yuri Bilinsky  Managing Editor, New Pathway Media Group
Jagdeep Kailey  Associate Editor, Canadian Punjabi Post Inc.
Thomas Saras  President and CEO, Head Office, National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
Mohammad Tajdolati  Ombudsman, National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada

10:30 a.m.

President and CEO, Head Office, National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada

Thomas Saras

Thank you.

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I want to thank both of you for coming and presenting. We heard a lot of thoughtful presentations today.

I think that what I hear you saying, Mr. Saras, and what I've heard everyone saying, is that, indeed, multiculturalism speaks clearly in the act about the participation of all Canadians in the social, economic, political, and cultural life of the country, and if the act is not being observed to allow.... Multiculturalism is about saying that you can celebrate your language and your culture. You are making some important points. Thank you very much for coming.

I want to thank the members for their participation. We will move to committee business. It will not be in camera, so nobody needs to bolt. Mr. Nantel has two motions on the table—

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

I have a motion as well, Madam Chair.

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Did you present that with 48 hours' notice, Mr. Vandal?

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

No, I didn't.

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Well, then, your motion cannot be considered.

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Really?

10:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Unless it pertains to amendments to Mr. Nantel's motion, then no. There is a 48-hour rule, and you're supposed to submit it in both languages. Then we would consider it. Mr. Nantel gave his—

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Can we not suspend the rules?

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

That's part of all committee rules.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Okay. Can we not suspend the rules?

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

No, I don't think so, Mr. Vandal.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Two-thirds?

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

No, not really, unless we can get unanimous consent to let your motion come forward in both languages, and I don't think I'm hearing that.

If you send it off this afternoon, we might consider it next Tuesday.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Or Thursday?

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thursday will not give us 48 hours if you give it today....

Oh, it would? Yes...? We'll do it on Thursday.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

Okay. Sure, I'll do it.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you.

Let us move to business, because we don't have a lot of time.

The first motion from Mr. Nantel is as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage invite the President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Ms. Tricia Smith, as well as any other relevant Board Members, for a one-hour televised meeting to update members on the activities of the committee on the eve of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games, and that this meeting be held on Friday, June 17, 2016.

Mr. Nantel, speak to your motion, please.

10:35 a.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for reading the motion in French.

Mr. Lauzon told me that he was interested in the motion but that he wanted to complete it with an amendment that would include the Paralympic aspect too. I feel that is a good idea.

I would be the first to say that, when a delegation of athletes is leaving for a competition, it is not the time to bother the board of directors and disrupt the athletes' training plans.

However, I feel that it would be good for everyone to know that we have taken a look at how things are going now. I see the move as constructive, not disruptive.

I think that Mr. Lauzon is going to want to introduce his amendment, which seems very appropriate to me. I am sorry that I did not think of it myself.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Is everyone in agreement that Mr. Lauzon present something? He is not a member of the committee, as we know. Okay.

Monsieur Breton.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC

I am pleased that Mr. Lauzon spoke to you about that amendment. I completely agree with your motion, Mr. Nantel, especially because this is an extremely important event in Canada. Things have happened in recent weeks and I feel that this is a good opportunity for us to meet Ms. Smith.

As a member of the committee, I would like to propose an amendment asking for the committee also to invite the President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Gaëtan Tardif. I have that amendment in both official languages, of course.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you.

Are you in agreement with this amendment? It's a friendly amendment.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you.

Mr. Van Loan.

10:35 a.m.

Conservative

Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON

That now being amended through the friendly amendment, I don't have a problem with either of the motions. The relevant date—by my working of the calendar, if we're doing it before Friday, June 17—becomes June 7 as the latest date that we don't have something scheduled.

10:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes, the 7th is open. Then we were going to do the museums on the 9th, 14th, and 16th. That's fine.

10:35 a.m.

Conservative

Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON

I think we could do the CBC on the same day.