Official Languages Committee on Sept. 20th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the meeting, the committee's first meeting of the fall session. I hope you all had an enjoyable summer.

First of all, I would like to officially introduce our new clerk, Mrs. Christine Holke. Ms. Holke might like to say a few words to introduce herself.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Christine Holke]

We're off to a good start. Thank you, Mr. Paradis.

I am very happy to be here.

I have been a committee clerk for the past nine years, so I do have a fair amount of experience. Twenty years ago, I started working on the Hill as a parliamentary guide. Then I worked for an MP, and then for the Speaker of the Senate. In 2004, I became a committee clerk.

I am really looking forward to working with you. I am here to serve the committee, of course, so I am very pleased to see you this morning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much and welcome.

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

Mr. Paradis, we could go around the table and introduce ourselves as we will be working with the new clerk over the coming months.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Of course, we will start with you, Mr. Samson.

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

Excellent, even better.

I also have a great deal of experience. You have nine years of experience; I have nine months. We learn fast here.

My name is Darrell Samson. I am the only Acadian elected in Nova Scotia. I am pleased to meet you and work with you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You're next, Mr. Vandal.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

My name is Daniel Vandal and I am the member from Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital. I have nine months of experience, like Mr. Samson. I am a French-speaking Métis from Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg. I am pleased to be here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Vandal.

Mr. Boissonnault, please go ahead.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My name is Randy Boissonnault and I am the member for Edmonton-Centre and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. I am very pleased to be here.

In 1991, I spent the summer as a parliamentary guide here when I was 20. It was very hectic, but not as hectic as this past summer. So I have a bit more experience than my colleagues.

Thank you for being here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Boissonnault.

Mr. Lefebvre, please go ahead.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Hello.

My name is Paul Lefebvre and I am the member for Sudbury. I am a Franco-Ontarian. Like my colleagues, I have nine months of experience.

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

Not to worry, that is a lot of experience in politics.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Ms. Lapointe, please go ahead.

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

Hello and welcome.

My name is Linda Lapointe and I am the member for Rivière-des-Milles-Îles. My riding includes the cities of Deux-Montagnes, Saint-Eustache, Boisbriand, Rosemère, and Montreal's north shore. I am a francophone in a riding with an anglophone minority.

I am very happy to be here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you.

I would like to officially welcome you, Mr. Arsenault.

Mr. Arsenault previously served as a substitute member. He is now officially a member of the committee.

Mr. Arsenault, please go ahead.

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

My name is René Arsenault. I am an Acadian member from New Brunswick, representing the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.

This is my first day as an official member of the committee. Last season, I had the tough job of replacing Mauril Bélanger. I will do my best.

I am delighted to meet you.

To all our permanent staff here, I am very pleased to work with you. Your work last year was truly remarkable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Arsenault.

Mr. Godin, please go ahead.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I have to say, the atmosphere is very pleasant here.

Welcome.

Unfortunately, I will not have the privilege of working with you on a regular basis. I am replacing another MP this morning, and hope to come back. As Mr. Arseneault said, he is starting out so he does not have as much experience as the others. I hope to come back to the committee and catch up with his experience.

I am the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, in the Quebec City area.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

You have the floor, Mrs. Boucher.

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

Hello.

My name is Sylvie Boucher and I am the member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix. This is my second time here. I served as parliamentary secretary on the status of women, parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister for La Francophonie and for Official Languages, in the former Conservative government. I lost the election in 2011 but came back in 2015.

I am always very pleased to be part of this committee. I consider the official languages to be very important in Canada today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mrs. Boucher.

Mr. Généreux, please go ahead.

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

My name is Bernard Généreux and I am the member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup. I have 27 months of experience on this committee. I was an MP from 2009 to 2011. I am back and very pleased to be here.

I said jokingly earlier that this past summer made me feel 20 years younger. Usually we feel older, but now I feel younger. I am very happy for that.

I am very pleased to be here with you. As Mr. Godin said, we have camaraderie and get along well on this committee, which is positive and conducive to good discussions. We also have an excellent chairman. Flattery gets you everywhere.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you, Mr. Généreux.

Mr. Choquette, please go ahead.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

The clerk knows me already. We worked together on the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development. We had a great deal of pleasure working very hard, and we will continue doing so.