Official Languages Committee on Dec. 11th, 2007

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

I think that...

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That includes all subject matter. We must be clear.

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

I am flexible on that point. I think that the committee members will see who the witnesses will be for Thursday or for the following Tuesday. So we could decide that we would like to meet in a room that provides for television broadcasting. However, if a minister or the Commissioner for Official Languages is to appear, then there is no reason not to be in a room with television cameras, and that should be automatic.

The icing on the cake was the fact that the cameras were pointed at us but we were not rolling. That is hard to take.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Do you want to include “and other subject matter” in your motion?

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

I withdraw “and other subject matter”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

The motion, then, deals with a minister and the Commissioner of Official Languages.

Are there any questions or comments? We will now vote.

All of those in favour of the motion?

(The motion carries. [See the Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We should not find ourselves in the same situation that occurred during the last meeting.

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

Let's call the minister back.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Chairman, have you asked the government for a response to our report on the Court Challenges Program?

If not, could you ask the government to table a departmental response to the report on the court challenges program?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Chong, if the committee wishes to have a response from the government, then it should make that request. If that is what you would like, then you can move a motion to that effect.

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

You can request it.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Well, I move that the committee ask the department responsible to table a response to this committee's report.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Chong.

I am prepared to hear comments and suggestions on Mr. Chong's motion.

Mr. Godin.

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

Could you please repeat what was requested?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Yes. Mr. Chong moves that the government table a response to the report on the Court Challenges Program.

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

Yes, absolutely. The government must adopt the report before providing a response. That is usually how it is done.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

That is correct. The committee must request it.

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

When must the government respond?

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

Can someone tell me how we usually proceed? We table the report in the House of Commons. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

We're asking the executive branch of government to respond to a report from the legislative branch of government. It's normal.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

If the committee requests it, the report includes a request for a government response. Before Mr. Chong made his suggestion, the request was not in our report. Mr. Chong is asking the government to respond.

If there are no other questions or comments, I will reread the motion.

Mr. Chong is proposing that the government respond to the committee report on the court challenges program.

Who is in favour of the motion?

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chairman, before we vote...

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Is this a point of order?