Official Languages Committee on Sept. 27th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Good morning, everyone.

I would like to welcome the two new members, Jean Rioux and Brenda Shanahan.

As agreed, we are going to take the first half-hour to try to resolve the motion on Air Canada. At our request, Mr. Généreux and Mr. Samson met about that last week. They produced a document that seems to have unanimous agreement. I gave that document to Mr. Choquette to examine.

I am going to read you right away what that gives us as the final product.

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

Mr. Chair, I have circulated a simplified new version with red markings. I would be prepared to reread the amendment, if you agree.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

All right, Mr. Samson.

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

Thank you.

I distributed a document with the additions and changes marked in red, after the meeting that Mr. Généreux and I had. We have not invented anything. It reflects the discussion we had at the last meeting and the suggestions that were made. I would like to read it, to make it official.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Go ahead, Mr. Samson.

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

Just turn the page if you want the text in French or English.

The motion reads as follows:

Whereas Air Canada has been subject to the full Official Languages Act for close to 50 years; Whereas serious concerns have been raised by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in its special report on Air Canada published in June 2016; The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada evaluate the feasibility and desirability of implementing the four (4) solutions proposed in the special report by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages: a) That the government strengthen the enforcement regime applicable to Air Canada and expand the powers of the Official Languages Commissioner, in particular to enter into compliance agreements; b)That the government amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act to give the Federal Court the power to award damages for violations of certain provisions of the Official Languages Act without the claimant having to prove an actual loss stemming from the violation. The Federal Court could assess damages based on a number of explicit factors to be taken into consideration; c)That the government introduce provisions for fines to be imposed by the courts for certain regulatory violations; d) That the government provide for administrative monetary penalties that can be issued in response to non-compliance with the legislation. That the Committee continue to study at a later date, the Commissioner's report on Air Canada, and present its conclusions and recommendations to the House of Commons.

Mr. Chair, that is my amendment to the motion proposed by Mr. Généreux.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Are there any comments?

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

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

I have a brief comment to make.

In the sentence that has the words "évalue qu'il serait faisable et souhaitable d'adopter des quatre (4) pistes", "des" should be replaced by "les".

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Have you finished, Mr. Généreux?

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Choquette, you have the floor.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

It is in the same place, where I have noted a mistake. I would have written "one or many of the four (4) solutions" but if we prefer "the four solutions", I have no objection.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

So are you proposing that we write "one or more"?

Are there any objections?

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

That's fine.

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

It is fine with me too.

What are we writing?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Do you want to make a motion, Mr. Choquette?

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I move that we write "one or more"

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

It is passed.

A small change is being suggested to me, at the end, in the final paragraph. The words "Be it resolved" should be removed and it should start with "That the Standing Committee on Official Languages continue".

Are there other comments?

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, when we say that we will set a date later, we agree that we will not wait until 2020. After we complete our study, by the end of December or maybe when we come back at the beginning of next year, we should make sure that we do not let this matter drag on forever.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I would like your comments to be noted, that this should not be allowed to drag on forever and it should be dealt with speedily.

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

At the same time, Mr. Chair, that gives the government some time. When the motion is tabled, the ball is in the government's court, and it will have to decide whether it is desirable and feasible. So there should be some kind of report or intentions that could be sent to us by the end of the year, so we would have some idea of where we stand when we resume our work at the beginning of next year.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Do you want us to add, at the end of the final paragraph, "as soon as possible"?

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

That is implied. I will rely on the good faith of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I think we are in agreement.

Are there any other comments?

[Some hon. members]

That's fine.