Evidence of meeting #4 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was service.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
I understand your position; however, this is a committee proposal. I was in Winnipeg, I saw what happened, and I felt the disapproval of the other members of the francophone community who were there. Furthermore, we have asked the Minister endless questions and we always get the same answer. I am not holding out much hope that she will give us a different answer when she appears before the committee.
I want the motion to be debated now.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Ms. Barbot, I believe that you were the only member of the committee who was in Winnipeg that day. I would like to have the opportunity to put my own questions to the Minister. I may well support your motion, but I do not think that seven more days will make a significant difference. The House is still in session and we have plenty of time. I do not think that we are asking too much and we would greatly appreciate your cooperation.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chairman, I have to agree with Mr. Harvey.
It is not a matter of withdrawing the motion; it is an important motion and I am prepared to support it. Nevertheless, I would like to have the opportunity to question the Minister and her staff, because I have heard all sorts of versions of what happened when His Excellency came to Canada. We may even decide to hear from other witnesses after having heard from the Minister.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Seven days can hardly be considered a lengthy postponement.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
That is why you have my support; you would not have it if you wanted to postpone debating the motion until September. However, I would like to have the opportunity to question the Minister.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
We would greatly appreciate that. It seems to me that we already have a good working environment, and I think that we can--
Liberal
Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Conference of La Francophonie took place back home, in Saint-Boniface. It was a real success for Manitoba's francophone community. I met with the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I can tell you that there was even talk of racism. The incident is very serious.
I agree with Mr. Godin. If the minister comes next week, we will be able to ask questions. However, it is up to Ms. Barbot to decide whether she wants to table her motion today. I can tell you that this incident was considered very serious.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I simply want to tell our Conservative colleagues that I hope they will make a commitment to postpone consideration of the motion.
I do not sit on this committee, but I want to tell you that the government's position will not change on this. The same motion was tabled at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and it was adopted. Therefore, this motion is redundant, but I think that it is up to the Committee to make its own choices, and I will not oppose that. I will leave it up to my colleagues from the three opposition parties to make the choice.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
We have the chance to have a one-week delay before hearing from the minister responsible for the matter referred to in the motion.
Bloc
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
As her appearance does not deal with this topic, I want it to be on the agenda that we will question her on this.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Someone has to move the motion. I can do it.
Ms. Barbot, do you want to second my motion?
