Sure it does.
Evidence of meeting #30 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #30 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
7:25 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
It leaves the option open of looking at those documents as they come along while we're doing the report. What Mr. Brock's amendment does is delay starting the report, and it just means we'll lose more time, because I anticipate that when we get here on May 28, we're going to have the same discussion we've had tonight.
I will be voting against the amendment.
7:25 p.m.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
I respect Mr. Maloney's comments; however, a significant portion of the report is already started. We had been working on it prior to you joining the committee.
Quite honestly, I appreciate the conversation around the table. I think there's a balance we have to strike. I respect my francophone colleagues and their need to have access to the information that they feel is important, but I also agree that we need to move forward as expeditiously as possible, in line with Senator Harder's and Mr. Green's comments about getting at the report and doing it in an expeditious manner.
However, I've put myself in the position of my colleagues Mr. Fortin and Senator Carignan, and quite honestly, I'm troubled that we don't have more documents that were translated at the commission. It's for them to make that decision. If I were in their shoes, I would probably have the same position. I'd be concerned that I might miss something.
As Senator Smith said, we're here for the Canadian public, and that means we're supposed to study the exercise of the authorities invoking the act. That's different from what the commission explored, and we should be doing that as expeditiously as possible but also as thoroughly as possible.
I think the compromise that Mr. Brock brings forward is an opportunity to get more documents translated for our francophone colleagues. It allows an opportunity for us all to explore those documents. They may be of value or they may not be of value; we don't know for sure yet.
My goal is still to have this report done by the end of June. That does not appear to be possible, but early fall is reasonable for sure, and in fairness to both official languages, I think we need to have some sort of compromise.
Those are my thoughts at this time.
7:30 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
Are there any other comments?
There's a question I would like to ask of all members on this. Is there anything about the documents that could be done in the intervening weeks? Mr. Fortin's comments were about the documents. Is there anything we could accomplish with respect to the documents in the two weeks for which we have time allotted but nothing on our agenda?
It's a question I have, and I'd like to suspend for five minutes. Then we'll come back for the vote.
7:30 p.m.
Bloc
7:55 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
Colleagues, we're back. I apologize for the delay.
It's Mr. Brock, I understand, and then I need to go to Mr. Fortin.
Mr. Brock.
7:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I'm seeking unanimous consent to alter the commencement date in my amendment from May 28 to May 21. That's the Tuesday following our break week.
7:55 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
All right.
Mr. Fortin, do you want to speak to that amendment or are you good?
7:55 p.m.
Bloc
The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin) Bloc Rhéal Fortin
To be sure, that's another compromise. Make no mistake.
I realize we're not going to get the end result we want. Obviously, we will never have the documents that we are supposed to have in French and that our colleagues have in English.
However, we have to move forward and get the job done. That said, I am still disappointed by the lack of consideration given to bilingualism. Bilingualism is wonderful insofar as it doesn't cost anything and it isn't a problem. However, if we have to start working to maintain bilingualism or spend money on it, then it's a problem. I find that disappointing. I'm sure I surprised no-one by saying it.
That said, being of a practical nature, I understand that, in any case, the motion will be passed as it stands with May 21 as the date. We'll see what we can do on May 21. I am committed to working in good faith to try to move our study forward. That's my commitment. However, I have doubts about my ability to do so in a fulsome and comprehensive manner, because there will clearly still be evidence missing. We'll cross the bridge when we get there.
Madam Chair, I had my hand up because you asked what we could do in the meantime.
In the meantime, I think we should submit a brief interim report to both chambers, since our work has been suspended since May or June 2023. We should indicate in this report that work was suspended last spring on a certain date, on the grounds that we were waiting for the documents to be translated and that, even if we still have not received the translations, we will resume using the documents we do have.
I don't think we need to produce a 20‑page report, just a short four or five‑liner. We should give the Senate and the House of Commons some sort of confirmation and heads up as to what is happening.
7:55 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
I think we have agreement around the table to make it the May 21. I'm just watching the screen.
7:55 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Based on Mr. Brock's proposal, what is going to happen on the May 21? Are we dealing with the report?
7:55 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Okay. How does that change anything other than the date and being in camera?
7:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
It's a compromise to starting next week, knowing full well that satisfying our francophone colleagues with another tranche is probably not going to happen in less than seven days. We have the break week following that. That's the compromise: from the 28th to the 21st.
7:55 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
I think Senator Carignan also indicated that if there are issues or pieces of—
7:55 p.m.
sénateur, Québec (Mille Isles), C
I think the first item on the agenda should be the following: Those who want certain documents in the 900‑page index to be translated need to identify them. That goes for our anglophone colleagues as well, because some of the documents are in French only.
Then we would have to update the draft report that we started while ensuring we receive all the documents requested in both official languages.
April 30th, 2024 / 8 p.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
I think there is also the opportunity for it to be an ongoing process, because we can identify at any point...and we can start putting the list together.
I'm looking around. I think Mr. Fortin agrees. Do we need to take a vote or are we agreed on May 21?
8 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Just to clarify, we're adopting Mr. Green's motion and we're starting on the May 21.