Official Languages Committee on April 4th, 2019

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Did you share your opinion with your colleague Luc Berthold when he criticized Diane Lebouthillier simply for speaking French? It's a shared obligation.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay, but what do you have to say about the Prime Minister, who spoke only in English yesterday to 78 daughters of the vote participants from Quebec?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I can certainly tell you that the responses to the questions were in French.

I can also certainly tell you that the position taken by a colleague from Quebec, the member for Mégantic—L'Érable, regarding the place of French in the House of Commons is utterly unacceptable.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Yes, but you don't show leadership.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Sorry to interrupt you, but time is short.

Mr. Rioux, you have the floor for two minutes.

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister Joly, one reason that I went into politics was the reopening of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. I felt that, at the national level, it was important to ensure bilingualism in the Canadian Armed Forces. I must admit that this issue had an economic impact on my constituency. Thank you for all the support that you provided on this issue.

We've been looking at another matter. The goal of Pearson College in English Canada is to train young people to eventually become agents of peace. French Canada lacks this type of institution.

What do you think about having a francophone institution that also promotes bilingualism, in order to promote French?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Rioux. I also want to thank you for working very hard with our team to ensure that the Royal Military College Saint-Jean will now provide university-level training.

The students enrolled at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean are often Quebeckers or francophones from other parts of Canada. These individuals will now have access to university-level training at the college. In concrete terms, this change means that the senior members of our armed forces are more likely to be francophone or even bilingual. The only other military college in the country that provides university-level training is in Kingston.

Thank you for your support on this issue.

Regarding the project that you mentioned, I think that it's a very interesting and very good idea. I look forward to discussing the project further with you.

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Rioux.

Before we finish, I want to mention how the governments of Canada and Quebec made an excellent choice with regard to the number two at the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

I want to propose that our committee congratulate our fellow Canadian Catherine Cano on her appointment as administrator of the OIF, the second most important position in the organization. I think that this should be acknowledged. Do I have your support?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

It's unanimous.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

This was part of the Government of Canada's negotiations with the various member states of the Francophonie to ensure Canada's leadership role at the Sommet de la Francophonie in Yerevan, Armenia, last October. We're very proud that the number two at the OIF is a francophone, a Quebecker and a Canadian. The OIF is the second largest international organization in terms of membership, after the United Nations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Minister Joly, thank you for joining us today.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Thank you. It was nice to see you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Let's continue with our fine program.

Thank you, everyone. We'll resume our work next week.