I believe that to be the case, yes.
Evidence of meeting #2 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
Evidence of meeting #2 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Do you want to read that again? Others don't have the benefit...at least, I'm assuming the other members don't.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
It is “...that no document from a witness be distributed without the Clerk's approval; that, at the discretion of the Chair, the question could be discussed by the members of the committee and, afterwards, the document could be distributed if it receives unanimous consent.”
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
I guess that captures what Nancy was saying.
Go ahead, Marc, and then Jean.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
We will never accept discussing documents here that have not been tabled in both official languages, for the good and simple reason that if we start that, they will never be translated. I know, because I have been through this situation in two others committees on which I sat.
I understand the chair's position. I can accept that someone who comes here from Iqaluit, for instance, read notes he or she has prepared in English or in Inuktitut before the committee. However, official documents that are tabled with this committee must be in both official languages. I am sorry, because I know that this does not suit everyone, but the practice has to be enforced. We will not agree to opening the door. We have to get used to it, because this is how it works in all of the other committees. I don't know why we should open that door here.
Documents that are tabled must be in both official languages. That said, I understand that this need not always be the case for witnesses' briefing notes.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Marc, just be aware of the motion that's on the floor and what we're discussing now, which will go to a vote. It also cuts the other way, in the sense that if we had a representative from Quebec, from some place where they didn't have access to English services, who came and wanted to share a document, you would be of the view that that should be declined then too. If they only had it in French and not in English, that document should also be declined; it should not be accepted.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Absolutely, Mr. Chair. We must distribute those notices. All those who are to appear before the committee must be informed that if they have documents to distribute they must be in English and French. Unless I am mistaken and things have changed recently, those are the two official languages of Canada. We must not open that door. I know, because I have experienced that situation.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Okay. Unless Mr. Bruinooge wants to withdraw that, be aware that if this motion were to pass, Marc, Yvon, and anybody whose first language is French, if that ever comes into the discussion in the committee, based on that motion, you would have to have unanimous consent. All you would have to do is say no and you could shut it down; that would be the end of it right there. Do you know what I'm saying?
Jean.
4 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
I would like to agree with Monsieur Lemay. I think a motion that opens the door to exceptions is not a message we want to send to witnesses. We need to be firm in our policy that all documents must be submitted through the clerk in both official languages.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I would concur. To do otherwise is the thin edge of the wedge, whether it requires unanimous consent or not. This is a bilingual committee and we move accordingly.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Are there any further comments?
Rod, would you like to comment?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
In light of the fact that this is a motion from the previous committee, I didn't appreciate that there would be this much dissent, so I will withdraw the motion and perhaps we could have another motion come forward.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
That being the case, we're back to this: “That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee only documents that are available in both official languages.”
That is the motion on the floor, and if there isn't any more discussion with respect to that, we can move directly to a vote. We have a fair sense of what the room wants.
Yvon.
4 p.m.
Conservative
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
On working meals: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Is there any comment on that in terms of menu choices or what you would like to have served?
Jean.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Well, we should certainly be sensitive to that.
You mean that, right?
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
Let's be sensitive with respect to that. I think we can take that under advisement as that arrangement is made by the clerk.
Do you want that in there?
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maurice Vellacott
It makes sense to be respectful of that.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
