It really is a testament to your ability to work across party lines and, really, it is gracious of you also to share the credit for that because it is deserved all around. All too often we're politicians, but from time to time we're parliamentarians. This is one of these days, and you have made us all proud.

Thank you.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Again, I highlight my comments at the beginning, thanking you for making this a priority.

Since we have them here, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. St-Arnaud, thank you. I know it has probably put some work on your desk with this coming forward, so I do appreciate all the time you spent on this too.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

Well done, Matt.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Once again, to our friends from ESDC, you're welcome to stay, but you're free to leave.

We are now going to move to the consideration of the motions brought forward by Madam Chabot.

Over to you, Ms. Chabot.

4:55 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope that you’ve noticed I’m doing my absolute best with my mic.

These three motions, which were translated and introduced appropriately, are routine motions. If I had to describe them, I would say that they are considerate—motions of consideration. Their purpose is to improve our governance as parliamentarians, but also to support the work of our interpreters in the course of our deliberations in both official languages. I would like, moreover, to take this opportunity to thank them.

The first motion pertains to documents.

Should I present all three, Mr. Chair?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

It would probably be better to present them one at a time.

4:55 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Okay.

The first motion concerns documents from elsewhere. Its purpose is to ensure that all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members of the committee.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

As usual, I would remind committee members to raise their hand if they wish to intervene.

Before continuing, I have a procedural question for our clerk.

Madam Clerk, can you offer any comment with respect to the motions and how they interact with what we've already done?

4:55 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer

In terms of the motion for the translation of documents, it's really just a matter of the will of the committee in terms of managing to ensure that the quality of the communication is there for all members in both official languages.

This motion speaks specifically about documents from the clerk, for example, and whether those documents need to be translated as well. Really, it's the will of the committee as to what you choose to do, but it's a matter of ensuring the communication is as efficient and smooth as possible in both languages. That is the key quality of this motion.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you.

I recognize Ms. Dancho, please.

February 25th, 2021 / 5 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the member for bringing forward this amendment. I recognize the importance of respecting both official languages in Canada, and I deeply appreciate the goal she is trying to achieve with these motions.

One concern I have with this motion—and one thing that I'd like to see changed—is that members' offices are also excluded. I would put forward an amendment, a motion to amend this motion so that it reads, “That all documents submitted for Committee business that do not come from a federal department or a member's office or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.”

I know that a very similar amendment was put forward at the Canada-U.S. trade committee and was appreciated by the committee and implemented, so I ask the committee to consider this amendment.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Dancho.

The amendment is in order.

The debate now is on the amendment. Are there any submissions with respect to the amendment proposed by Ms. Dancho?

Mr. Housefather, please.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Chair, I would simply like to explain the amendment to Ms. Chabot in French.

It’s an amendment that we adopted Tuesday evening by the Special Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United State, and moved by Ms. Alleslev.

The motion is intended to address documents from third parties that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau. I fully agree with it. At this other committee, an amendment was adopted for this very motion to provide an exception and to exclude from the scope of the motion documents from the office of a member of Parliament or a reliable parliamentary source, because generally, these have already been translated by the Translation Bureau. Hence, only other documents from third parties now require revision by the Translation Bureau before being submitted to Parliament.

I therefore support Ms. Dancho’s proposed amendment, because I believe it reflects the intent of the initial proposal, and also because this amendment has already been adopted by the other committee.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Mr. Housefather.

Over to you now, Ms. Chabot.

5 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Thank you for having understood my intentions so well. We also learned that some members’ offices had translation services.

I am therefore in favour of your amendment, Ms. Dancho.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

That being the case, I think we can now consider this a friendly amendment and move straight to the amended motion.

Are there any further interventions with respect to the motion?

Seeing none, I think we're ready for the question. You have the motion before you. The amendment is to include “members' offices” to broaden the potential source of the documents that need to be translated. As I said, I believe we're ready for the question.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you, colleagues.

The first motion is carried.

Please bring your second motion, Ms. Chabot.

5 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The second motion concerns technical tests. Even though things are getting better than they were at the outset for our committee, technical problems are still a major problem.

During committee meetings and when witnesses are appearing, we need to conduct technical tests to make sure the equipment is working. On a number of occasions when tests weren't carried out, we couldn't hear the witnesses.

That's the reason for this motion. Each witness who is to appear before the committee is to be informed that technical tests will be required by the House. Internet connectivity and the equipment being used must also be tested to ensure the best possible sound quality. That includes not wearing the headset properly. At the start of each meeting, the committee is to be advised of any instances in which witnesses have not performed the required technical tests. This will ensure that the committee is informed about any problems that might arise.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

We can now debate the motion.

Remember to use the “raise hand” function if you wish to intervene.

Are we ready for the question? Okay.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])