Official Languages Committee on May 4th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Hello, everyone.

Since the agenda will be somewhat disrupted once again this afternoon, let us look at the motions before us. There is one from Mr. Choquette, one from Ms. Lapointe, one from Mr. Samson, and two from Ms. Boucher. There is also the motion from Mr. Vandal relating to matters we can discuss. We will also discuss the draft report we intend to produce regarding translation tools.

First though, I would like to mention an invitation to see what your interest might be. Some members of Quebec's National Assembly find it hard to believe that there are many francophones members from outside Quebec serving in Ottawa, from all parties. I contacted the government leader in the National Assembly, Jean-Marc Fournier.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Of course, he had to reply.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Fournier has invited all francophone members from outside Quebec, from all parties, along with the members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, to meet with the Quebec members. I have drawn up a list of people who might wish to attend the meeting. If any of you are interested, please feel free to have a look at the invitation.

We could travel there individually or on behalf of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

We could go on Wednesday, June 1, leaving as a group at about 5:00 p.m., from the Gatineau airport. We would go to the National Assembly to meet the members, and then have dinner with them and discuss the French fact in Canada. We could return at the end of the evening.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Wait a minute. I also sit on the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Is the date firm?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

The date was chosen in accordance with the calendar of Quebec's National Assembly, so it would be Wednesday, June 1.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I would also like to meet Yves Beauchemin, for him to see that I am still alive and well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I have checked with the Liberals, the Conservatives and the NDP. They gave me the names of francophiles would might join us on the trip. There would be thirty or so members in all.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Very well, we'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

So it will be Wednesday, June 1. I have to reply to Jean-Marc Fournier, the government leader in the National Assembly.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

So far so good.

The Standing Committee on Official Languages is, however, supposed to meet on that day.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We will have to cut our meeting short then. Actually, the meeting in Quebec will replace the meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. We will be meeting at the National Assembly instead.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Will we charter a plane?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We will charter a plane. We have already enquired about the cost of a 40-seater. Each member could use a travel point to cover the round trip.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Généreux, do you have any points to lend us?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Are we in agreement on this course of action then?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Since I am replacing Mauril Bélanger, I don't know if I can accept on his behalf.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Yes, but you have a second role here. You are a francophone from outside Quebec. The invitation is not only for committee members but also for francophone and francophile members from outside Quebec.

Would you like to say something, Mr. Généreux?

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

So you mean francophones from outside Quebec, francophiles, and all franco-friendly members, as they are called?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

They are called franco-curious.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Well then we will have to charter a plane with more than 40 seats. I would like to see the list. There are some Conservative members who speak French very well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I will provide the list.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

They are not francophones, but they speak French very well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

That's right.

The list includes a number of Conservative members. We could look at it together.

The clerk said that if the trip was on behalf of the committee, each member would have to use one travel point. Should we decide to pay for the dinner from the committee's budget, though, we would have to adopt a motion to that effect.