Evidence of meeting #143 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 directive.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
However, priority may vary based on who shows an interest.
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
If, for example, CMHC expresses its interest—is it SCHL in French? French acronyms aren't my strong suit.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
It's the Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement, or SCHL.
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
As regards the federal lands initiative, we have to see where we can develop affordable housing.
Since that's a federal program, priority will eventually go to an interest at the municipal level.
A priority could be established for a property subject to routine disposal.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you very much for your explanation, Mrs. Levesque.
I have a very important question because this is the first time I've heard this.
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
In a strategic disposal, all interests are part of what we assess for the disposal plan, which is then sent to the Canada Land Company.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
That's really important for the committee.
So does priority go back to the party that responds first?
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
No, priority doesn't go back to the party that responds first.
Director General, Real Property Services Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada
If it's a routine disposal, priority means the first right of review.
We consult everyone at the same time, but the first right of review goes to the federal government, then to the crown corporations, the provinces and the municipalities.
If it's a strategic disposal, all interests are considered in the disposal plan and added to the agreement of purchase and sale.
Earlier Mr. McBain showed you an example from schedule G of the agreement prepared for the Heather Street project.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Yes and no, because I'm not entirely certain I clearly understand.
If the determination as to whether it's a routine or strategic disposal is made before the aboriginal consultation, what's the point of the aboriginal consultation?
For example, let's say the disposal is routine or strategic and that a lot of people have expressed interest.
You're at the disposal determination step, and everyone is interested, whether it be crown corporations, provinces or municipalities. Two weeks later, you get a call from an aboriginal community.
Will it have priority over all the other parties that have already expressed interest?
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
The aboriginal consultation was conducted in step 4. The federal, provincial and municipal governments are consulted in step 5.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Yes, but Mrs. Levesque said there was a kind of immediate synergy between step 3 and step 5.
Senior Director, Real Property and Materiel Policy Division, Acquired Services and Assets Sector, Office of the Comptroller General, Treasury Board Secretariat
If I may, there's a distinction between rights-based, so indigenous groups could have rights-based land claims, and that's separate. That occurs and we undertake that work.
What we're talking about when we circulate to people is interest-based. It's not about rights-based. It's about interest-based, and so—
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Which of the two takes precedence?
Is it interest-based or rights-based?
Senior Director, Real Property and Materiel Policy Division, Acquired Services and Assets Sector, Office of the Comptroller General, Treasury Board Secretariat
Rights-based would be first, and then interest-based would be considered second.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Could we just have a written explanation of all this, please?
Senior Director, Real Property and Materiel Policy Division, Acquired Services and Assets Sector, Office of the Comptroller General, Treasury Board Secretariat
Absolutely, it would be my pleasure. It is quite complicated, but I would be happy to provide that.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
All that is left is for me to thank you, Mr. Mills, Mrs. Levesque, Mr. McBain, Ms. Sultan and Mr. Déry. Thank you very much for your presentation. This meeting with our committee was very interesting and rewarding. I therefore thank you on behalf of the members of the committee.
We will suspend for a few minutes and then continue in camera to discuss future business of the committee.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
[Public proceedings resume]
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We will resume the public meeting at the request of Mr. Clarke, who has something to present to us.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Dear colleagues and citizens, here's the notice I submitted last Thursday:
That the Committee call on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to reverse its decision, effective April 1, 2019, to end unilingual francophone training at its academy, Depot Division in Saskatchewan.
I would like to say that there's no particular intent behind this motion. I was somewhat troubled when I saw it. In fact, it really made me angry. I thought that, if the committee unanimously agreed to this motion, that would send a strong signal. I even hoped that the present Government of Canada would find this decision clearly made no sense. I think it's a non-partisan issue.
I sought an outside professional opinion on Canadian law. Those people told me that the RCMP probably had budget considerations. In its own view, it may feel they are legitimate—I know that budget issues are not always easy for the RCMP—but our duty isn't to consider the RCMP's concerns regarding budgets or other matters. Our duty is to determine whether this decision contradicts the spirit or letter of the Official Languages Act, which, according to the opinion I have received, is the case.