Evidence of meeting #6 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Richard Smith  Vice-President, Greater Quebec Movement
Jean-Rodrigue Paré  Committee Researcher
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Graeme Truelove

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

No one else has asked for the floor. If there are no other comments on the motion...

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

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

I hope we understood it correctly.

9:25 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Chairman, I have been on many committees, and I can say that whenever we reach the end of a report, we always have to deal with the possibility that the House may adjourn. We are using this type of motion because we want to protect our reports. We do not want this brand new report to be shelved somewhere. Furthermore, this gives the government an opportunity to respond. There is nothing unusual about it. It is the usual way of proceeding.

9:25 a.m.

Bloc

Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC

Can you confirm for us, Mr. Chair, that the 48-hour notice period is not required when a report is tabled?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

We do not have to give 48 hours' notice when tabling a report.

9:25 a.m.

Bloc

Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC

Very good.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

I would like to ask Jean-Rodrigue a question.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Yes?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

I was wondering whether you would be able to meet these deadlines set out in this schedule.

9:25 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Jean-Rodrigue Paré

Yes, we are ready. We have worked everything out with the House Publications Service to get this done.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

And do you think that if we meet on the 12, we would be able to meet the deadlines?

9:25 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Jean-Rodrigue Paré

We will be distributing a draft report on December 3, next Monday. The committee may want to make some changes to it. If necessary, we will have to see how extensive these changes are. If we have to proceed quickly, it has happened in the past that I or my colleagues would hold a meeting and get the work done on time, if it is humanly possible to do so.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

In this case, it is humanly possible to do it.

9:25 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Jean-Rodrigue Paré

That is correct.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

So we can rely on this schedule, and not spend time talking about other possibilities. We could meet our objective, particularly if we can meet on December 12.

9:25 a.m.

Committee Researcher

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Is the committee prepared to vote on the motion? Would you like to have it reread?

9:25 a.m.

The Clerk

The motions reads:That the Committee recommends that its Report on the Court Challenges Program be deemed presented to the House upon its adoption by the Committee, if the House has already adjourned, and that the adoption of this motion be reported to the House.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

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

We could at least have the motion read in French. After all, this is the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

We do have simultaneous interpretation.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

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

That is not taken into account. I have had that problem in the past.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

The thing is that we have begun the voting procedure, Mr. Petit. I do not know whether you are raising a point of order.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

It is not necessary to have the motion read in English and French, because we do have simultaneous interpretation.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

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

On a point of order. That is not true. Simultaneous interpretation has nothing to do with the official languages. The document must be tabled and read in French and in English. The interpretation has nothing to do with it: it is not even an official consideration.