Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was minutes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
The next motion, which is very important, is about notices of motions:
That 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice shall be deemed effective if received electronically by the clerk of the committee by 4 p.m. on the second business day prior to the date of the meeting and that it be distributed to members the same business day.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
The next motion is about time limits for witnesses' statements and questioning, and states that at the discretion of the chair, witnesses be given ten minutes to make their opening statement. The motion states that the first round of questioning will proceed as follows: Conservative Party, 6 minutes; Liberal Party, 6 minutes; NDP, 6 minutes; Liberal Party, 6 minutes. The second round of questions will be as follows: Liberal Party, 6 minutes; Conservative Party, 6 minutes; Liberal Party, 6 minutes; Conservative Party, 5 minutes; NDP, 3 minutes. This amounts to 50 minutes in total.
May I have a mover?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I know that other committees have decided to have 7-minute interventions for the first round of questions.
Would the committee be willing to consider that?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I know that in the other committee I belong to, the Standing Committee on International Trade, we have chosen to work as proposed in this motion.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
The next motion is about televised meetings. It states that the meetings with the Commissioner of Official Languages and any minister be televised if possible.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I so move.
(Motion agreed to)
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We have dealt with a lot of topics today.
Are there any further points the members would like to raise?
Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Chair, I sat on the Standing Committee on Official Languages from 2009 to 2011 with my colleague Mauril Bélanger, who is here. We studied the roadmap, the one that is still in effect, I believe. If I am not mistaken, it will be in effect until 2018. In order to facilitate the research work of our personnel, would it be possible to add to the agenda of our next meeting, which will take place next Monday, that we are going to begin to study that roadmap, or at least to review its objectives? That will of course require a few meetings. I would like us to do an overview of the roadmap in question. I think that would be important.
I am back at this committee after being away for a time, like Ms. Boucher. Mr. Nater, however, is a new member. Mr. Choquette was also once a member of the committee, if I am not mistaken.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Since there are several new members on the committee, it would be important to update everyone on the roadmap.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
That is fine.
I was going to suggest that at the first meeting we choose which topics we want to discuss, and establish a timeframe. We could certainly begin with the topic you mentioned. Other members of the committee have also suggested other topics to me.
From now until Monday, I invite you to reflect on the topics the committee could study, so that our time here is well spent. Earlier I mentioned Canada's 150th anniversary, which we would look at from the perspective of official languages. There are some very important topics.
Let's make that the first order of business at our first meeting, next Monday. We could also examine the priorities in a smaller group.
Yes, Mr. Bélanger?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Hon. Mauril Bélanger Liberal Mauril Bélanger
The translation seems to have broken down and I don't understand why. Have there been too many staff cuts? Why?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you for raising that issue, Mr. Bélanger.
Translation in Ottawa, in Parliament, in all our committees and across the government apparatus as a whole is certainly a topic we must consider in this committee. I think that everyone is in agreement to make that one of the topics we study in the near future.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I would like to add something, Mr. Chair, about the funds allocated to the committee. You mentioned that it would be important for the members of the committee to be able to go and meet stakeholders in person, on the ground in all regions of Canada. It would be good to determine the timeframe for those meetings now. I certainly like the idea of going to see Mr. Samson and having some lobster, but we can't go there simply because we want to eat lobster.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
We have other reasons to go and meet with people, and we have to work out a schedule. If the committee decides to visit all of the Canadian regions, it is important that we plan this carefully.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you for your comment. The message will be conveyed to the clerk. As soon as we have determined a timeframe for travel to the various regions of the country, I'm going to ask him to ensure that measures are taken for the House to grant us the amounts needed for these trips.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I would like a clarification.
Mr. Boissonnault, who is here, is the parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for official languages, if I am not mistaken. I expect he is with us to ensure that the committee functions well?
