Official Languages Committee on April 16th, 2013

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

Thank you.

I'd appreciate knowing, as a sub here, if “understand” versus “clearly understand” had been discussed as part of the evidence you had heard prior to this amendment.

To me, being able to speak and understand is sufficient, but I will defer to the permanent members of the committee if there has been previous discussion about the necessity of the word “clearly”. To me, being able to understand French and English naturally infers that it is understood clearly, and that it would be an unnecessary addition.

Perhaps other members, having heard the full testimony on this bill, could enlighten a substitute such as myself.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Strahl, no witnesses have spoken to this particular point simply because nobody was aware of these amendments before they were tabled here today.

I'll now address Mr. Chisu's request for a definition of “clearly”. The word is defined on Wikipedia as an adverb, and says “without a doubt; obviously”.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

How about Oxford?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

That answers your question, Mr. Chisu.

The floor is Mr. Gourde's now.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank my colleague for clarifying that point.

However, a question comes to mind. Canada is a big country, and people therefore speak the same language differently from one region to the next. Newfoundland English and that spoken in British Columbia are not necessarily identical, but both are English. The same is true of French. The best example is Mr. Godin's French.

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

That is what we tell you about the Quebec City Marine Rescue Centre, my friend.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Will the definition of the word "clairement" take all that into consideration? Could someone be prevented from occupying this kind of office because of his or her accent?

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

You need only go to Quebec City.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

That is a question I would like us to reflect on.

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

I agree with you, Mr. Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Can accent be a factor?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there further debate on the amendment? No.

I'll pass the floor to the clerk to record a division.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Suzie Cadieux]

Madam Bateman.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

You know what, I don't have clarity on this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I'm calling the vote. The vote is whether or not the amendment, which is to add the word “clearly” in English and to add the word “clairement” en français is to be adopted.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We are now back to clause 2 as amended. Are there any further amendments to clause 2?

Mr. Dion.

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

I propose that we add paragraphs (k) and (l). Paragraph (k) would be for the president of CBC/Radio-Canada and paragraph (l) for the chair of the CRTC. I expect that the preamble will be stricken. So that opens the door to the addition of those two offices.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

So you are moving an amendment.

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

Following paragraphs (h), (i) and (j), there would be paragraph (k), which would be for the president of CBC/Radio-Canada and paragraph (l) for the chair of the CRTC. Since I have just learned that we are going to strike the preamble, that makes it possible to add these two offices.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay. We now have an amendment in front of the committee, which is to add two additional positions to the list enumerated in clause 2. The two positions would be the president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada and the chair of the CRTC.

The amendment is presented orally. I don't have a paper copy for you. Is there any debate on the amendment proposed by Mr. Dion?

Mr. Godin.

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

First of all, I would like to congratulate Mr. Dion for introducing that amendment.

How could the government object to the president of CBC/Radio-Canada being bilingual? That president represents both CBC and Radio-Canada. That covers English and French radio and television. Can you imagine a unilingual person occupying that position? I want to thank you for your wisdom, Mr. Dion.

I cannot conceive how the government could vote against that. The same true is of the CRTC. It makes regulations for radio, television and all communications matters, and its chair would not be bilingual?

I think this is a very good amendment and I encourage my colleagues on the government side to support it, since they want to strike the preamble, as you say. It is time we resolved that matter once and for all. I am sure Mr. Harper would never appoint a unilingual president of CBC/Radio-Canada. The same is true for the CRTC. That would be in the act, since they are feeling big-hearted now and are ready to accept this bill. It is time to resolve this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Strahl, you have the floor.

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

To respond to Monsieur Godin, how could the NDP and Madame Latendresse have left them out in the first place? It really is outrageous.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

Certainly we must—