Official Languages Committee on Nov. 13th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Fine, you are done, that is good. So now it is Mr. Bélanger's turn.

You suggested two issues for the committee to deal with, the first being to invite the Official Languages Commissioner. Can you tell us about your second suggestion?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Certainly, I will explain it again.

In 2003, the official languages committee did a fairly substantive piece of work on health in general. Among the recommendations of the report was that the official languages secretariat undertake a review of the provision of health services where the Government of Canada is directly delivering health services to certain populations, whether the aboriginal population, the incarcerated population, or the veterans population. That report has now been done and was tabled in July of this year. I think it would be a very good report for us to pick up.

I'm particularly concerned with the conditions for veterans. We've just been through Veterans' Week,

Armistice Day, on Sunday.

Mr. Chairman, the Official Languages Commissioner's report contains recommendations which, I believe, should be followed up on, and I would like the committee to do this. The issue is probably fairly timely, it would play out over a relatively short period of time, but I believe that veterans deserve services in the language of its choice, and I believe that these services would be more readily available as a result of the committee's work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

So are you talking about the direct provision of health care services by the federal government exclusively to veterans? You also mentioned other groups.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

We can decide on that after we have reviewed the report.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

So it's about all health care services. Thank, Mr. Bélanger.

I will continue down my list.

Since we have changed the subject, I will renew this speaking order. I have Mr. Bélanger, followed by Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Lemieux, Mr. Godin and Mr. Nadeau. Let's begin with Mr. Rodriguez.

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

Thank you.

I am in complete agreement with Mr. Bélanger. We should ideally begin with Commissioner. In fact, it is a tradition, the committee always invites him following the tabling of his report. Therefore, if at all possible, we should invite him to come on Thursday or, at the latest, the following Tuesday.

Second, of course, our work regarding the Court Challenges Program was interrupted, you may remember, Mr. Chairman, for all kinds of reasons. We had begun studying the issue, but we were not able to complete our work. And this matter is certainly brought to our attention every time we visit a committee. So, in my opinion, we should make the Court Challenges Program a top priority.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

To my knowledge, we had run down the list of witnesses for the Court Challenges Program. But I will check with the clerk to see if there are any new elements with regard to that issue. All right.

Mr. Lemieux.

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

I would like to know wether the Standing Committee on Health will study the report. Indeed, we would not want two committees to do the same work. As for health care services, are your talking about approaching the issue from the point of view of official languages? Would you also want to study services at the community level? Our involvement is important when it comes to the provision of health care services in French. Just think of the Consortium national de formation en santé, for instance.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, would you like me to respond?

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

Yes, you may respond, and then I will continue.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Godin, would you mind if Mr. Bélanger answered a question?

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

I am sorry, but I have another question and I would like to continue.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Lemieux asked two questions, namely whether the Standing Committee on Health will study the report of the Official Languages Commissioner. I don't know, but it is obvious that our committee studies issues involving official languages, services to the francophone and anglophone populations respectively. Let's also not forget that the July 2007 report of the Commissioner was based on the study conducted by the Official Languages Committee in 2003.

In answer to your second question, namely whether we should study matters related to health in general, I would like to point out that the 2003 report did indeed deal with the provision of health services within Canada's official language communities. If the government decided to review the entire report, I would welcome that, because in some areas, things are going very well; this is clear and we are happy about it. However, there has been a lack of progress in other areas covered by the report. In particular, in the area of research.

I therefore do not object to reviewing the 2003 report, which in fact is one of the better reports produced by the committee. Mr. Godin was a committee member at the time. It might be important to update the report.

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

Yes. I believe that health care, and especially health care services provided in French at the community level, are important issues. They affect people who live in minority language situations.

Over the summer, I became involved with several projects at the Cité collégiale, which works in collaboration with the Université Sainte-Anne. I met with the president of the Collège Boréal, an institution which is located in northern Ontario. When the committee travelled during the last session, we visited post-secondary institutions. Some of these offered services in French. These are institutions in a minority situation. Others, mostly anglophone institutions, offered or would like to offer education services in French. I believe that the University of Ottawa has just published a report on its bilingual services. It's an important subject for me. We are greatly concerned with educating young French-speakers, especially in our minority language communities, and it is also a concern for the people living in those communities. This is why the Cité collégiale has just launched an advanced program for paramedics. Graduates of this program will find jobs in my riding. So there is a direct connection between post-secondary programs offered in French and minority language communities.

This is important for me and I also think it is for our committee. Mr. Chong also raised this matter during the first session.

I would therefore like to present the following motion:

That the Standing Committee on Official Languages study the role of post-secondary institutions in the promotion of linguistic duality and the teaching of official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you. I am pleased to see that there are many issues up for discussion.

Mr. Godin, do you have a point of order?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Yes, Mr. Chairman. When we discuss future business, we only discuss suggestions. Normally, a steering committee is comprised of one member from each party. The majority of members on the steering committee decide what the future business of the main committee will be. But there have never been any motions with regard to future business for discussion in committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

All right.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Further, we decided that we would all work together to determine what the future business should be. These discussions are not taking place in camera, at the steering committee, we are discussing the matter openly and we do not want to vote on motions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

With regard to your point of order, let me point out that this morning, the election of the chairman was on the agenda and for the time being, we're discussing routine business. Mr. Lemieux, I think that we are now discussing directions for the working committee. For the time being, three topics have been set out.

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

The committee has just begun its work and we have not established whether there will be a steering committee. If we want a steering committee, we can discuss it, that does not present a problem. We've just adopted the routine motions. We're now talking about subjects of interest and we have not talked about a steering committee. If we want to change the discussion and talk about a steering committee, that's perfectly all right.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I object, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I used the steering committee as an example. When we talk about future business which we recommend, motions are never tabled at the steering committee. Those are recommendations and we work together. We don't work on motions. We make suggestions, and in the final analysis, the majority decides what will be on the agenda of the committee.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Point of order, Mr. Chairman, with your permission.

Have you ruled on whether Mr. Lemieux's motion is in order or not?