Official Languages Committee on Sept. 20th, 2016

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

You're right, Mr. Samson.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Here's a question for you. When the witnesses appear, we'll discuss immigration with them, but will we also talk about the roadmap? Often we receive the same people for immigration and for the roadmap.

I was asked this question a little earlier. I said that if some witnesses invited to speak to us about immigration felt comfortable talking to us about the roadmap, we would find out when we invite them to appear before the committee. We can do both at the same time. It would be unwise to bring them back to talk about the roadmap after they have already spoken to us about immigration.

Mr. Lefebvre?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I want to be sure about one thing. I'm taking a quick look at the calendar and, after October, I count 12 meetings in November and December. I don't think we'll need 12 meetings to draft and finalize our report on the roadmap and immigration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

No, I had only set aside November for that.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Why not give us until December? Let's keep as many meetings as possible to do a proper job on the roadmap and immigration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

No, because we need to be done by November 30. The report has to be tabled in the House on November 30.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

So we're planning seven meetings for the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

That's right.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I think that's too many.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I agree with Mr. Lefebvre. We can set aside two more for witnesses.

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

What date is that? Are we talking about December 1?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Yes.

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

There are more than seven meetings.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

No.

Whatever number of meetings we've determined, can we keep a few others to study the roadmap and immigration? That's what I'm asking.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We can add two meetings.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

That's still eight meetings.

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

I can assure you that we're going to lose time if we listen to four witnesses a meeting and address both topics. It's impossible. Each witness will have 30 minutes: 10 minutes for the presentation, then we will go to questions. The witness won't be able to address francophone immigration and the roadmap at the same time. It's impossible.

If that's our intention, we will need to hold more meetings and not hear from four witnesses per meeting. Otherwise, we won't get any work done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

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

I agree with Mr. Samson.

Actually, if we set aside four meetings to draft the final report, that adds about two or three meetings where we will speak about both the roadmap and francophone immigration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Yes.

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

I agree with you, Mr. Chair. For example, if we invite people from FCFA or other people from western Canada, we aren't going to invite them to speak for just half an hour. We will have to give them an hour. There are probably other witnesses we should give an hour to, or at least an hour and a half, so that they can talk about both issues. We have to make the connection.

I think we should go through all the witnesses and choose the ones we are going to keep. We can decide then who to give half an hour or an hour to.

We don't have a choice. We have to give an hour to national organizations. We can't ask these people to travel here for half an hour. That's utterly ridiculous. These people won't have enough time. We'll get through three questions and that will be it.

Let's write down the names of witnesses and keep fewer to give them as much time as possible. After we've finished with the list of witnesses, we will return to the roadmap with another list of witnesses, certainly. However, some witnesses, like the FCFA representatives, will intervene on both issues. We need to give them time to properly answer our questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

According to my quick calculations, we'll have about 20 hours available to us.

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

Is that for all the committee's work?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

It will be for the work that will precede the report.

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

We only have about 20 hours? Not more than that?