Official Languages Committee on March 11th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Good morning and welcome to this 20th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Welcome to committee members, to our witness this morning, and to all those people who contribute to the work this committee does. This morning, we are embarking upon a new stage in this committee's business as we completed and adopted, at the last meeting, the report on the Official Languages Action Plan, more specifically the public service and language industry components.

Mr. Corbeil, I would like to thank you for having accepted the committee's last-minute invitation.

Before going any further, I simply want to inform members of the committee as to the substance of the last meeting of our steering committee, which took place last Thursday. I'm going to call on the clerk to distribute the proposed schedule for the upcoming meetings. Our committee has made plans covering the next 21 meetings, which would take us to the end of the spring parliamentary session, in other words right up to summer. If you have any questions or comments, we can deal with those later because we have a witness before us this morning.

For the time being, I'd simply like to give you the broad brush strokes. Basically, the committee decided on two major subjects for consideration over the upcoming weeks: first, the Canada-Communities Agreements, and then a study on youth and post-secondary education. Our agreed-upon approach will be to slot in a number of meetings on specific issues, such as the one we are dealing with this morning concerning Statistics Canada, and any other topics which appear on the proposed schedule.

Before starting, Mr. Bélanger has a comment to make. Then I'd like us to move on to a dialogue with our witness. This morning, we are fortunate to have before us Mr. Corbeil who is a senior specialist in the Language Statistics Section and he is going to give us a long-awaited overview. I think we had invited you last fall and you weren't available, but this morning, you're here with us in the flesh, and I'm sure that committee members will have several questions to ask you.

But to begin with, we'll hear from Mr. Bélanger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have taken a look at the proposed schedule and noted that Mr. Bernard Lord's name isn't there, despite the fact that I thought we had suggested inviting him to appear before the committee. Could you tell us a little about what is happening, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I spoke briefly with the clerk this morning. I've been told that Mr. Lord was invited, but that for the time being, he hasn't indicated when he'll be available. I'll consult with the clerk on this and get back to you with more precise information on Thursday.

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

The clerk told me that Mr. Lord declined our invitation. I wanted to check if that was indeed the case and, if it is, I may have a proposal to make with respect to this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Petit, on a point of order.

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

I'd like to know why the clerk is communicating directly with my colleague Mr. Mauril Bélanger—although I have nothing against that—and why I am not aware of this. He said that he already knows that Mr. Lord does not want to come. I didn't even know this. Why wasn't the committee told about this?

I'm not blaming you, Mr. Bélanger, I just want to know why you know his response.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That's a point of order. It's a procedural matter; so we will clarify that. I imagine that the clerk informs the committee members of any developments.

What's the usual procedure, Mr. Clerk?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Graeme Truelove]

If a member asks me a question in committee, I will answer him. And that is what happened this morning in Mr. Bélanger's case before the meeting started.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I see. I think that clears things up.

Mr. Petit?

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

I thought the clerk would provide everyone with the response. Under the circumstances, I may have reacted in the same way as Mr. Bélanger.

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

That's why I asked the question, and everybody got to hear the answer.

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

If, in the future, he gives answers in private, then I'll make arrangements with him. But it's not right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

It's preferable that all committee members be informed at the same time of any decisions relating to invitations.

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

Could you start by answering my question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

As I said earlier, when I met with Mr. Graeme this morning, after you, he told me that Mr. Lord had not communicated his availability to come and testify before the committee. That's why his name does not appear in the orders of the day.

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

Mr. Chair, I asked the clerk, who is seated beside me, if he'd received a response, and I'd like the clerk to share this response with everyone. In fact, Mr. Lord declined the invitation.

Am I correct, or not, in thinking that?

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

What is it, Mr. Lemieux?

Mr. Mulcair, you're still on my list.

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

Who decided to invite him?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

The steering committee.

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

Normally, recommendations from the steering committee need to be approved by the full committee. The steering committee cannot issue an invitation by itself. That is my point of order. The steering committee needs to present a report to the committee, which discusses and may accept any recommendations. The invitation extended to Mr. Lord, or to Statistics Canada, today, for that matter, is not really in order because the committee did not agree to proceed in this fashion.

I don't agree with the current process whereby the steering committee decides upon future business and determines who the witnesses will be. The committee must discuss such matters.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I accept your point of order because the steering committee is comprised of members of the committee, and it is therefore customary for the steering committee to have its decisions approved by the committee.

I'll now hear from Mr. Mulcair.

So, in closing, Mr. Bélanger, I will revisit this issue. I was thinking of possibly setting aside some time to take a look at the agenda and the invitations that have been issued.

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

Mr. Chair, I didn't get an answer to my question. The clerk told me, and I'd like him to confirm this, that Mr. Lord declined our invitation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Bélanger, I told you that as things stand this morning, Mr. Lord's name does not appear on the list. However, this list will have to be approved by the committee. Thursday morning, first thing, we will have an opportunity to approve the committee's future business. This morning, we have set aside time to listen to our witness.

Does that answer your question, Mr. Bélanger, yes or no?

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

No, it doesn't.