Official Languages Committee on April 16th, 2013

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

I want to comment.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

—at this point respond accordingly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Strahl.

Mr. Godin has the floor.

He will be followed by Mr. Trottier.

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

The reason we left it is that we had a preamble that was for les agents du Parlement. Now that you want to remove it, you open the door. That's what you have said. You've opened the door. That's the only reason. If you want to vote for the preamble, we have no problem to not go with it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Trottier, go ahead, please.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Godin, the bill concerns the offices of people who serve Parliament. There are a few agents of Parliament and two other offices. If other offices are added, that will go beyond the primary aim of the bill.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Dion, you have the floor.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I would like Mr. Trottier to realize that we can agree with him only if the preamble is retained. If it is stricken, we do not know what the bill is about. The bill is called the Language Skills Act. There is nothing about agents of Parliament in the title, in the text or in the body of the bill. Only in the preamble does it state that it applies to those who are appointed by both Houses. If we strike that, it is entirely logical for the two offices to be added because they are key offices for bilingualism in Canada.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I have just two points of information from your chair.

The correct terminology for

CBC/Radio-Canada is "président-directeur général".

It's “president” in English.

For the CRTC, it is "président".

In English, it's “chairperson”.

My apologies: I was referring to it as the “commissioner”. That's just to be clear about the amendment in front of us.

The second point I want to make is that

if we keep the preamble, your amendment is inadmissable.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I agree with you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

Just to be clear, the amendment that has been proposed by Mr. Dion is not consistent with the preamble, because these two positions are not appointed in the same manner as the list from (a) to (j) in the bill as it was originally presented.

Is there any further debate on the amendment?

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I have a question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Ms. Michaud, you have the floor.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I would like to know whether the committee can agree to study the preamble before we get to that. We are about to decide on an amendment that may not be admissible later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Normally, bills are reviewed in a way such that the preamble is reviewed after all the clauses have been reviewed. Okay?

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

It's to make sure that the preamble is consistent with the text of the bill if amendments to the bill have been made.

Is there any further debate on Mr. Dion's amendment?

Seeing none, I'm going to give the floor to the clerk for a formal recorded division.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The amendment has been defeated. We're now back to clause 2 as amended previously.

Is there any further debate or a further amendment to clause 2?

Mr. Chisu.

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I just need that clarification if it is possible.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

I know.

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I want clarification. We are speaking about the officers of Parliament. I see the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner—I just need clarification—and the president of the Public Service Commission. Are they officers of Parliament?

[An hon. member]

No.

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I'm just asking if they are there for a reason.

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

And the government accepted it.

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Okay.

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

Okay.

If they say “yes”, just follow.