Official Languages Committee on May 4th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Arseneault, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to clarify our colleague Ms. Lapointe's position.

If I understood correctly, you moved an amendment to the motion, Mr. Choquette. Is that the case, or was it simply a comment?

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Arseneault, I suggest that we postpone the vote. If we vote now and hear Ms. May afterwards, it will not serve any purpose, since we will already have voted on the motion.

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

I understand. It's a matter of procedure. I simply wanted to clarify things.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

There is no problem, Mr. Arseneault.

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

But there is a motion on the table.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Yes.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

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

I move we vote today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Lefebvre, you have the floor.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I also move that we vote today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Samson, do you share that opinion?

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Very well. We will nevertheless reserve the right to receive Ms. May, if I understand correctly. However, you suggest that we adopt this motion immediately.

Is everyone in agreement to adopt this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will abstain from voting on this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Choquette's abstention has been duly noted.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Are you afraid that you will one of these days belong to an unrecognized group of parliamentarians?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[An hon. member]

That's mean.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I do not wish that upon myself.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I apologize.

I really appreciate you as a person, Mr. Choquette.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I am taking it as a joke.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We will now discuss Mr. Samson's motion, which is on immigration.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My motion reads as follows:

WHEREAS immigration is essential to maintaining and increasing the demographic weight of francophone minority communities; WHEREAS the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act's purpose is to enrich and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of Canadian society, while respecting the federal, bilingual and multicultural character of Canada;

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Samson, allow me to interrupt you for a few seconds.

I hear that the bell has started to ring. Are the members of the committee agreed that we continue the meeting for 15 or 20 minutes?