Evidence of meeting #66 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was year.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Pascale Giguère  Director and General Counsel, Legal Affairs Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Jean Marleau  Acting Assistant Commissioner, Compliance Assurance Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Mary Donaghy  Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Communications Branch, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

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

Don't they read the newspapers?

June 8th, 2017 / 12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

I think it would be nice if they met, and I think that, even without this motion, they will meet to discuss the process.

On the second motion on the consultation, again, I believe that the Prime Minister knows the legislation on appointing a Commissioner of Official Languages. So I don't think we need a motion like this one.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

We should dispose of one motion at a time.

Mr. Lefebvre, you have the floor.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Mr. Chair, we just received the motion. I propose that we discuss it on Tuesday, because there are other things on the agenda today.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Mr. Picard, you have the floor.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Michel Picard Liberal Montarville, QC

I'm only passing through, but I will convey the message to Ms. Lapointe.

Personally, I oppose the first motion concerning the organizations because I think Cabinet is already available. I have visited a few committees, and the kind of recommendation where a group meets with the Prime Minister could turn his office into a human resources department, and I don't think that's the intent. I think his office is already fairly accessible and open enough to receive members of organizations without having to make a recommendation about it.

As for the second recommendation on the consultation, I think it's in everyone's interest to speak and discuss. However, the word “genuine” is subjective and will be difficult to interpret. It will make interpreting the motion difficult. So I oppose both motions.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis

Thank you.

Do you have any other comments?

If there are no other comments, I think we could discuss this informally outside this forum and put it on the agenda for Tuesday morning, so that we can move on to other topics now. So on Tuesday morning, the first item on the agenda will be the two motions put forward by Mr. Choquette.

I'm going to suspend for one minute before we go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera.]