Official Languages Committee on Sept. 20th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Let's go back to the other Quebec organizations, like the Quebec Community Groups Network and Action réfugiés Montréal.

Do we give them half an hour each?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Before we do that, let's see how much time we have left.

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

We have to be close to Christmas already.

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

I think we should just pick some out of a hat.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

At the end, we will see if our schedule is too full.

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

One hour seems much too much time for francophone community organizations from various provinces. I would like to spend the time hearing from governments or any organization with decision-making power.

I certainly want to hear from those associations, but Acadians and Québécois and Franco-Ontarians are all going to end up saying the same thing.

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

Me too. I agree with you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

As a template, Mr. Arseneault's suggestion is a good one, which I see like this: we give an hour to each provincial ministry and a half-hour to all the community organizations. That would be fair in terms of both impartiality and distribution.

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

I am not imposing anything here but I suggest that we set aside an hour to hear from Acadian, Franco-Manitoban and English Quebec organizations. I would put four of them in an hour. They will give a presentation of 10 minutes each and they will all say the same thing. We will have heard from them and it will allow us to have a better idea of the challenges they face.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Up to this point, we have been talking about full hours. Now we are at the province of Quebec. We have given an hour to the ministère de l'lmmigration, de la Diversité et de l'lnclusion. Do we give the Quebec Community Groups Network and Action réfugiés Montréal half an hour each?

[The Clerk]

They could appear together in one hour.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

So, two times a half-hour.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

One hour for them both.

[The Clerk]

Yes, exactly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Now we are on the same page.

What's the situation with British Columbia?

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

There is only one organization.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Yes.

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

Can we wait for Mr. Boissonnault's list? He said that he had suggested other organizations in western Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Boissonnault, do we set aside one hour for British Columbia?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

One hour, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Okay. We will wait for proposals for British Columbia to come to us.

For Ontario, there is the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario and the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner.

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

Did no one think to invite the Ontario Ministry?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Especially since the minister is here in Ottawa.

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

I think that's right.