Official Languages Committee on April 16th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I just want to point out to members that we are not going to be able to report this bill back to the House at the pace we're going, because as I understand it, votes are to be called shortly. So we either—

[The Clerk]

And there will be bells.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The meeting is until 5:30, so we can expeditiously get through the rest of this, or we can continue this on Thursday.

Is there any further debate on clause 2 as amended?

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

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Seeing none, I'll call the question. I'll pass the floor to the clerk.

Shall clause 2 carry as amended?

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

Sorry, point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

You cannot call a point of order.

Clause 2 is being called.

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

The clerk named Mr. Dion twice during the vote, but did not name me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Clause 2 as amended has—

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

Pardon me, Mr. Chair, but she named Mr. Dion twice and did not name me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay. Clause 2 as amended has carried.

(Clause 2 as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Godin, now you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I did not vote and Mr. Dion voted twice.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Godin, what do you want to do?

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

I am opposed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, merci. I'll instruct the clerk to note that on the record. Thank you very much.

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

But we could allow the fact that Mr. Dion voted twice. That would win the vote for us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I understand.

(On clause 3—Regulations)

Okay, now we're on clause 3. Is there any discussion on clause 3? I understand that there's an amendment proposed by the government. We'll distribute the amendment. We'll wait until all members have it.

Does a member of the committee want to move the amendment on clause 3?

Mr. Gourde, could you present it? Okay.

The amendment is to negative clause 3. Is there debate on this clause?

Monsieur Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a comment, but the government members are not required to respond to it.

Here we are talking about striking the following words: "The Governor in Council may, by order, add offices to the list established in section 2". According to the information that was provided to me, the Governor in Council has always had that responsibility with respect to agents of Parliament in particular. That is subsequently approved by Parliament. I do not see the need to strike this clause. I believe it helps make matters clearer.

Perhaps the government people want to strike it for only one reason: that, in the event they do not form the next government, they would like to prevent individuals from being appointed to those offices without the permission of the House or the Senate, which has a Conservative majority. Perhaps they want to block the process in the event the next government wishes to appoint agents of Parliament.

Agents of Parliament are not appointed lightly. Their candidacy is subject to debate. As we have seen, there are even discussions between the Prime Minister and opposition leaders. I would like the government people to explain to me why the Governor in Council could not, by order, appoint an agent of Parliament. It has always been done that way.

Perhaps they want to paralyze the next government. That is not what the Conservatives usually try to do. They always want the government to have power, but, in this case, in the case of official languages, that is not what they are seeking. It is not as though this were nothing. They are prepared to give us, to give Parliament, power over everything, but, in the case of official languages, they want to strip the government of the power to do the things that would normally be requested by the public.

For those reasons, I cannot support the amendment to strike clause 3, that is to say the following words: "The Governor in Council may, by order, add offices to the list established in section 2." We are talking about adding them here, not removing them. We are not asking to strike what is set out in clause 2. Those in favour of the act must know that it will continue to apply. We cannot remove people, but we can add those who are bilingual. How could we prevent the government from adding to the list of bilingual people to represent Canadians when the country has been bilingual for 43 years and there are two official languages?

For those reasons, I cannot support the amendment, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Do any other members of the committee wish to speak?

Just to be clear, we're going to have a formal recorded—

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

Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Dion, go ahead, please.

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

I think we should invite Mr. Gourde to explain why he wants to strike this clause. He must be able to give the committee an explanation out of simple politeness. That is the least he can do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

If he doesn't want to speak, he doesn't have to.

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

I am sure he is a polite and courteous gentleman. He will—

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

He has not indicated to me that he wishes to speak. Members are free to speak or not to speak.