Official Languages Committee on Feb. 5th, 2009

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have been a member of this committee for five years. We have almost never had a subcommittee. We created one that lasted for a certain period of time last year because the committee had become too partisan and we were arguing all the time during our debates. We decided to eliminate the partisanship and set up a small group that would decide on the agenda and find a way to make it work. I do not want to be unkind, but I would say that if the parliamentary secretary is a little less partisan than in the past—and I believe this will be the case—it may be easier to work as a team, and therefore, to not have to strike a subcommittee. That is my point of view.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. We will now have to see if there is a mover.

Mr. Godin?

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

I agree with Mr. Rodriguez. It does not bother me at all to work as a team. We can see if we are able to do so. We will see what the will of the committee is. If things go the way they did last time, we will review this motion and deal with it accordingly. We are saying that we want to work out an agenda, but devoting a lot of time to that and requiring a second meeting makes no sense. That was a reality and that is why we were obliged to strike a smaller committee. Personally, I support doing this work all together. If it doesn't work, we will do what we have to do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Madam Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

In a spirit of cooperation, I move that we do not strike a subcommittee and that we work together.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Very well.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Does that require a vote?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

It is a proposal. If there is unanimous consent, we do not necessarily...

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

We will stick to the proposals and everything will be fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We therefore have a motion on the table. It is moved that we not create a subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

All in favour of this motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Before moving on to the next motion, allow me to welcome our analysts from the Library of Parliament. May I introduce them to you: Mr. Jean-Rodrigue Paré, a loyal servant of the committee, as well as Mr. Julian Walker.

Mr. Godin?

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

Jean-Rodrigue's parental leave was not too difficult. Congratulations!

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We have another motion. It concerns reduced quorum. It reads as follows:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition.

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

I move the following motion:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including two (2) members of the opposition.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Thank you for reminding me. You are moving the motion that was passed by our committee during the last Parliament. Very well.

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

Therefore, it is four members?

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

Including two members of the opposition.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

All right, we have a mover. I am ready to hear your comments on this motion. If there are none, I will call the question.

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

It is a very good motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Everything seems to be in order. If there are no comments, shall I call the question?

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

Yes, we will vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Those in favour of the motion as moved by Mr. Godin?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Distribution of documents

Essentially, the motion passed by the committee comes from the standard motion, except that we specifically advise every witness that they must provide documents in both official languages. It reads as follows:

That the Clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to the members of committee only when they exist in both official languages and that no documents provided by a witness be distributed without the Clerk's authorization and, since the documents must be in both official languages in order to be distributed, that the Clerk advise the witnesses of the availability of a translation service.

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

I move the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We have a mover, Mr. Godin. We do not need a seconder, but I take note of your support, that strengthens the motion.

I see that the members agree. I call the question.

(Motion agreed to)