Official Languages Committee on Dec. 8th, 2009

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mrs. Glover needs to understand that my motion is not about supporting her government. That was not my intention whatsoever. My intention is to ensure that the program will continue after April 1.

Mrs. Glover, this sentence could be removed from the motion on April 1. I feel that there is some doubt in the minds of certain community groups. Given that there is some doubt in their minds, we have to believe that they have good reasons for writing us and asking that we exert some pressure. I want to ensure that the program will be in place on April 1. This is not in any way support for the Conservative government. Had we always relied on the comments and promises made by the government, many things would not have happened and we would still be waiting for many things today.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Mr. D'Amours, I believe that the recommendation comes from the letter that we all received regarding the concerns of certain organizations. I will now turn the floor over to Mrs. Glover.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I would simply like to say that the promise was made. Eligibility criteria will be announced shortly. As I already said, this is something that has already been done. It is not only a matter of time, Mr. Godin, the fact is the decision has already been made. I would like to amend the motion so that it be presented as I suggested.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Mr. Nadeau, you have the floor.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I would like to point out that indeed, the Association de la presse francophone spoke to us because, in fact, there is a concern.

I would like to tell Mrs. Glover and the members of the Conservative Party, who are currently listening attentively, that there is a concern. This concern is being felt by the organizations that work in the sector and they need this type of support. This is therefore support for organizations and communities who want to get information via their written media about activities that are taking place in their regions. The question is not about whether or not we are for or against the government; this is about helping communities who need help in this area.

Secondly, in a spirit of transparency—I repeat: in a spirit of transparency—it is very appropriate that we submit this recommendation to the House of Commons so that there is transparency, Mrs. Glover and members of the Conservative Party, so that everyone will be aware of the concern expressed and so that they understand that people have fears about the current situation.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Thank you, Mr. Nadeau.

We will hear a final intervention from Mr. Rodriguez. We will then vote on the amendment and on the motion.

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

That is the subject of my intervention. I think that everything has been said about this excellent motion. It speaks for itself.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

All right, we can proceed. We will vote on the amendment to withdraw the last sentence of the motion in both French and English.

Ms. O'Neill-Gordon, we are going to proceed to vote on the amendment.

Who is in favour of the amendment? Who is against the amendment?

[An Hon. Member]

[Editor's Note: Inaudible]

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Yes, I am entitled to vote. I received the letter, there are some organizations who are worried about this issue and I believe it is important. I will therefore vote against the amendment.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Madam Chair, I raised my hand on a point of order.

I apologize, Madam Chair, but I am told that the whips of each party currently have a rule in place stating that the chair no longer votes. That is what I am being told. That is why I am calling a point of order.

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

Point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

That is the whip's rule; not the committee's rule.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

That is what I was told.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

Mr. Godin.

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

Point of order, Madam Chair. What Ms. Glover is saying is extremely important. The agreement indicates that when the chair is a member of the opposition, one of the government members must withdraw. That is the agreement.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

So, as I said, the chair does not vote.

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

You have to pull one of your members.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Okay, but I was right.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

We will now vote on the motion.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Once again, Madam Chair, I apologize.

You didn't acknowledge that I actually was correct in my indication, contrary to what you had said previously, so I'd like that put on the record.

The other thing is that I am informed the rule is that the government will not substitute a sixth person--it is not that they should remove a fifth but that they should not substitute in a sixth--and that the chair from the opposition doesn't vote. So it sounds as though we have some conflict here. That is what I'm being told, and that's what I'd like to share.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Lise Zarac]

The vote on the amendment is 5 yeas, 5 nays, and the chair may vote.

(Amendment negatived)

We will now vote on the motion as such, because we are running out of time.

(Motion agreed to)

(The meeting is adjourned)