Mr. Choquette, Mr. Généreux, Mr. Nater, thank you for highlighting our concerns, but also those of the organizations we support. Since I am a Quebecker, we don't have any francophones in minority situations in the province. Our minority is anglophone.
I was shocked yesterday evening, in the Senate. I was sitting next to Mr. Nater, and I asked him at some point whether I was not hearing properly or whether, every time a senator asked Ms. Meilleur what she would do for anglophone minorities, she would actually only talk about the francophonie.
Toward the end, when she said she would be commissioner of the francophonie, I must admit that it disturbed me. In fact, there is no committee on the francophonie; there is only the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Until further notice, there are two official languages: French and English.
In light of what we are learning day after day, it is clear that this is a partisanship issue. This is a truly partisan appointment; and don't try to suggest otherwise. The problem is not that her name is Madeleine Meilleur, but rather that she is highly partisan.
During the latest election, she walked around with Mr. Trudeau practically every time he was in Ontario. She donated a total of $5,500 to the Liberal Party. She was still an Ontario minister less than a year ago. She should take a little a step back. That is actually what most of the senators told her yesterday. They asked her why she did not take some time to distance herself a bit from politics.
For example, Mr. Fraser was not associated with any political party, and that was his strength. He could find fault with us any time. We were on that side of the table, where you now sit, and when we made a mistake, he did not hold back and he let us know. That was to his credit.
Frankly, even if Ms. Meilleur had the nicest résumé in the world or she had all the necessary qualifications, she would not pass muster because she is affiliated with the Liberal Party, which forms the government. In addition, the commissioner's role is that of a watchdog.
All the opposition parties, like organizations, know that no one will believe what she says. She should begin today by doing her homework, including preparing for appearances before a committee. Her statements change from one committee to another, and that misleads us. I think it is becoming problematic.
I know that you will unfortunately vote in favour of Mr. Choquette's motion. It would have been possible to create some distance between partisanship and Ms. Meilleur's appointment. As I said earlier, we could have invited both those who are in favour of her appointment and others who are opposed to it, gotten to the bottom of things and maintained our independence. As Ms. Joly pointed out, our committee is independent.
However, I would say that, based on what I am seeing today, this is anything but the truth.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.