Evidence of meeting #149 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 line.
A video is available from Parliament.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
We want to say that we support the amendment introduced by Ms. May.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Madam Chair, we believe we have an amendment in clause 24 that would capture this. Therefore, we won't be supporting this amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Seeing no further debate, all in favour of PV-4?
(Amendment negatived)
We are on NDP-13.
Mr. Nantel, you have the floor.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
At the bottom of page 9, paragraph (e) of clause 23, at lines 29 to 31, states “in Indigenous language education and revitalization.”
We want to replace the wording with “support Indigenous language education and revitalization.”
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I found this a very puzzling amendment. Absolutely we support education, but sometimes innovation is not synonymous with education. I'd like to understand what he found concerning about innovation and new technologies. I thought those were very strong pieces in the bill.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
It just seems more in line with the testimonies and concerns that we've heard regarding teaching. It's up for debate.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Seeing no further debate, all in favour of NDP-13?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We move to LIB-9 and to Mr. Hogg.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
It proposes that clause 23 be amended by replacing line 29 on page 9 with, yet again, the following:
provincial and territorial governments.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
All in favour of LIB-9?
(Amendment agreed to)
Shall clause 23 as amended carry?
(Clause 23 as amended agreed to on division)
(On clause 24)
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Thank you very much.
This is similar to amendments I brought forward some time ago in terms of replacing the word “fluency” with the notions of building proficiency, restoring and maintaining. These occur in clause 24 at line 3. Rather than saying “maintain fluency”, my amendment would say the following:
those languages or identifying measures to build proficiency and restore and
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
I think that's a reasonable and supportable amendment.
Thank you.
(Amendment negatived)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
That amendment does not carry.
This bring us to NDP-14.
Mr. Nantel, you have the floor.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Unless I'm mistaken, we just studied a Green Party amendment that addressed the same issues. Haven't we already discussed “fluency and proficiency” and “compétence”? Didn't the previous vote already settle this matter? It's pointless to resume this debate, because the amendment addresses exactly the same thing.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
This is line four on page 10.That was line three on page 10.
I don't know why.
Edmonton Centre, Lib.
It's the same concept, but in another clause of the bill. We'll vote against it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Okay.
It's the same idea, but it amends another line.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
On PV-6, Ms. May.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Thank you.
I'd urge my friends across the way in the Liberal Party to look at this one and consider whether you couldn't let it pass.
We have the evidence from Jennifer Wickham from Witsuwit'en territories that what we see happening, in her words, when we talk about research and community studies, is, “The concern is that our communities have been researched and researched, and we don't have access to that information.”
It currently says “community assessments” in subclause 24(2):
The research or studies referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may take into account, among other things, community assessments.
My amendment proposes that the office of the commissioner, when conducting research:
may take into account a community assessment, with the consent of the Indigenous community in respect of which the assessment was undertaken, as well as other things.
I then insert a new subclause (2.1) that says:
The Office must keep the Indigenous community informed of the progress of any research or studies that it undertakes under subsection (1), must recognize the community's contributions in its final report and must provide it with a copy.
This is completely non-controversial. One would hope that in 2019, as a recognition of the disrespect of the decades and decades of studies about indigenous peoples but not with indigenous peoples, not for indigenous peoples, that this would correct that gap quite substantially.
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
I'd like to ask the officials if they have any comments in terms of this creating challenges in the bill.