Official Languages Committee on Sept. 20th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Let's move on.

I have put down a half hour for l'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario and a half-hour for the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, but we can look over it again at the end.

What are we doing with the Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan?

Mrs. Boucher, you have the floor.

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

We had a lot of witnesses in June because we were not too sure what the game plan was. It was also the end of the session. Now, as Mr. Arseneault said, all those organizations have to be similar, in a way. There is the FCFA, which is involved everywhere in minority situations, and there are other groups in Quebec and elsewhere.

Could we not see those groups again together?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Although they are similar, if they are focused on a group of francophones in Saskatchewan, they have to be able to come to tell us about it. In my opinion, even though there are significant similarities from one province to the other, it is good for them and good for us that they can express their views to their elected representatives.

Mr. Choquette, the floor is yours.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, there is not a lot of time left and I feel that we are practically at the end of the list. I think that we could hand over what is left to the clerk and the analysts.

Also, I would like to make the following proposal to the committee, if it helps. The next time we have to choose witnesses, we could perhaps each do it within our parties and then meet together, with the chair and vice-chairs, in order to be quicker and more efficient.

In addition, I have tabled a motion. I am very concerned by one matter and I feel that all organizations working in the area of official languages are concerned as well. The Commissioner of Official Languages was supposed to leave his position next October 16. Fortunately, however, he has agreed to extend his mandate until the end of December. But I believe that it is extremely important for the committee to point out the need to make the transfer of knowledge, in order to protect bilingualism and our official language minority communities everywhere in Canada.

Mr. Fraser has been the commissioner for 10 years. He has probably held that position for the longest time of anyone. His knowledge, his expertise and his network are really extensive. I have tabled a motion, but the wording can be changed. It reads as follows:

That the Committee invite the Governor in Council to publish the job posting for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages and select a candidate as soon as possible in order to provide for time to transfer files, knowledge and expertise between the new commissioner and the outgoing commissioner, Graham Fraser.

We do not have to vote on this motion today. I will give you time to read it and analyze it. If you want to suggest something else, we can come back to it on Thursday, at the end of the meeting. But, as the Standing Committee on Official Languages, it is important that we pass this message on.

I have something else to submit, but I can do it once the meeting is over.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Okay.

Mr. Vandal, the floor is yours.

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

It has been suggested that we set aside an hour for Air Canada in the next meeting. In my opinion, that’s a long time, given that we will have motions to debate. I don’t think it’s necessary to discuss the matter again for an hour. So I propose that we deal with Air Canada and our motions in 30 minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We could include the Air Canada matter in committee business and use that hour to good effect.

Any other comments?

Yes, Mr. Arseneault?

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

Forgive me for jumping all over the place, but the number is already too high, as I understand it.

Could the clerk ask all the non-governmental associations to submit a summary to us of who they are and what they do, together with their objectives? If they do that, it may not be necessary to have them appear here. We should make the best use of our time when it is possible to do so.

I claim no credit for that idea. My assistant whispered it into my ear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Your turn, Mrs. Boucher.

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

I think your idea is very good. Mathematically speaking, as my friend Joël Godin said, it would perhaps be a good solution to prioritize our issues efficiently.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

So we could ask them to send us about five pages.

[Some hon. members]

A brief.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

A brief? Okay.

Yes, Mr. Samson?

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

I think you said that we would first hear from government and community officials, and we would then move to the other category.

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

I do not know what you mean by “community”, but if you mean the Acadian, Franco-Manitoban and English Quebec federations—

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

Okay, but I am talking about the list of government and community officials.

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

Ah, we are not touching that, no.

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

Okay. You scared me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Lefebvre, you have the floor.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I would like to add a clarification to Mr. Arseneault’s comments.

In the list, we have prioritized the federal government and all organizations with a national scope. We are inviting them. As for the others, we are going to ask them to send us a report in writing.

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

As someone who has written one, I feel that a brief is something substantial. I don’t know what you understand by “brief” but that is perhaps not what they would like to send to us. We would like to know their goals and objectives and their concerns about immigration in minority situations. Perhaps we might call that a brief, but that is what I see in it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Who are we asking?

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

Everyone to whom we are not sure about giving a half-hour, or whom we could have in groups of four per hour. It is not necessary to hear from them, actually.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

So, in summary, we are not changing anything for those to whom we have given one hour, unlike those to whom we have given half an hour. I count four to whom we have given half an hour.

I see here that we have set aside an hour for each of the following organizations: the Quebec Community Groups Network, Action réfugiés Montréal, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario and the Office of the French Language Commissioner of Ontario.

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

There are others too, like the Francophones of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan.