Official Languages Committee on June 22nd, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Ms. Barbot.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

We're talking about a minimum, so it's not restrictive. The idea is to allow them to know that they'll have access to 5.4 per cent. If the budget changes, the $500,000 amount, as opposed to a percentage, becomes random, whereas the 5.4 per cent sets a base amount that they should be entitled to, which is more consistent with their needs.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Mr. Simard.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the clerk or the analyst how this motion differs from the one we tabled last year, or two years ago, with the Department of Public Works and Government Services. Is it the same thing?

[Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Committee Researcher]

No, it's not the same. The difference is that this motion calls for a certain percentage of media placements in community media. The motion that came before the Committee last year talked about 5.4 per cent of the overall advertising budget being reserved for minority francophone communities.

It's important to make a distinction between the proportion of overall funding allocated to the community sector and the proportion allocated to francophone minority communities.

There is a distinction being made here that is not exactly along the same lines as last year's recommendation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

One moment, Mr. Harvey.

Does this relate to television advertising only?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

It applies to everything.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Ms. Boucher.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I support the principle of this motion because it has a significant impact on francophone communities, although it is not detailed enough. I agree with the 5.4 per cent, but what proportion will go to the francophone community? I think we should set aside this motion until September, to give us a chance to do some research over the summer with the help of our analysts and clerks, so that we can flesh this out a little more. I find it a little vague, and in my opinion, this is too important an issue for our communities.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Does the 5.4 per cent for non-profit community media also include francophone neighbourhood newspapers? In actual fact, the $500,000 requested by the radio stations is more than 5.4 per cent.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

That's for community media.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

But if you calculate their spending, you will see that of the $71 million budgeted, half was spent. So, 5.4 per cent amounts to $1.674 million.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

We will have to adjourn now, because the other committee has already arrived.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I think we should first draft an amendment, vote on it, and then go back to the main motion. We can always talk about this again, but the word “immediately” is problematic. I would like to move a sub-amendment, which would be to strike that word from the motion.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

We've almost resolved this.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Did you strike the word “immediately”? Perhaps we could re-read the amendment and then decide.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

We have to add “on an annual basis, starting immediately”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

We could decide to agree on the principle, to vote on that, and then look at the details in September. Would the Committee agree to that?

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chairman, I believe we have to follow the proper process. As Mr. Petit already mentioned, there is an amendment on the floor. We talked about voting on it, and doing the same for the main motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

We are going to vote on the amendment. Is it agreed?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

No, I don't think we've debated it enough. My concern is that we've heard from one witness.

Only one witness presented a perspective on that. I note that there is still some discussion on that point. Our intentions are not all that clear. There are still concerns. I believe we need to take more time to discuss these issues.

I don't want to rush and take a vote all of a sudden. I realize the time--it's after 11 o'clock--but I think we need more debate on this before we can vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

There were some questions. We're going to vote on Ms. Barbot's amendment.

Is there agreement on the amendment?

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

My amendment is to delete the word “immediately” and replace it with “on an annual basis, starting immediately”.

(The amendment is carried)

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

We will now vote on the motion, as amended.

(The motion, as amended, is carried)

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

The meeting is adjourned.