Official Languages Committee on June 8th, 2017

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

The fact that Air Canada is a private company in a regulated world obviously places it in competition with other carriers. I looked through the whole report earlier, and I recall that, several times, previous reports have proposed that all transportation companies be subject to official languages.

Obviously, no government has ever gone so far. Inevitably, once again, in the competitive environment that Air Canada is in, once it is subject to this legislation and the other carriers are not, it must pay related fees. Its representatives have explained it to us. There are costs associated with implementing the act. The other companies do not have to pay that money.

If we want more competition in Canada, if we want the rules to be fair for everyone, shouldn't all airlines be subject to the act?

[Pascale Giguère]

In the report, you can see that we refer to a report of the Senate committee that encourages the government to evaluate that possibility.

It's also important to go back to the beginning and ask why Air Canada is subject to the act and other airlines are not. Air Canada, of course, has a relationship with the Canadian government.

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

Ms. Giguère, when Air Canada had to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Généreux, your time is up, but I will let you ask one last question.

Go ahead.

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

It was in 1982, I believe, when Air Canada was privatized that it was subject to the act.

[Pascale Giguère]

It has been since 1969.

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

It has been since 1969. So it was well before privatization. That information cancels out the questions I was going to ask.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Thank you very much.

That brings the witnesses' appearance to an end.

Thank you very much for the additional insight you've given us on Air Canada. Again, on behalf of the committee members, I thank you for being here this morning.

We will suspend the meeting for a few minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

We are resuming the meeting.

Mr. Choquette, you have the floor.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will withdraw the motion we debated last time because it no longer applies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

It is obsolete.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Yes, it is obsolete. We were asking to meet with witnesses about Ms. Meilleur's abilities.

However, I have two more very short motions that I would like us to take a look at today.

The first reads as follows:

That the Committee recommend to the Prime Minister that he meet with representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada and the Quebec Community Groups Network in order to include them in the appointment process for the next Commissioner of Official Languages and that the Chair report the same to the House.

The second motion reads as follows:

That the Committee recommend to the Prime Minister that he comply with the Official Languages Act, which requires genuine consultation of the leaders of the opposition parties, which means more than simply informing them of the government’s choice in a letter, and that the Chair report the same to the House.

I don't want us to go through the whole debate again, because we've already talked a lot about it. As you mentioned, we would also like to make progress on the special report on Air Canada and draft our own report, a committee report, on Air Canada. This whole controversy lasted five weeks and, fortunately, it is now a thing of the past. I know that Mr. Samson sometimes jokes that he now wants to apply for the position of commissioner.

However, the idea is simply to ensure that the committee, now that the controversy is over, does not repeat the same experience. So what can we agree on? We can't agree on everything, but can we agree, as a committee, on two things? I think so, and that's what I'm suggesting to you.

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

We could give the position to a Conservative Party donor.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

We must include the QCGN and the FCFA in the process. They must be consulted, it doesn't matter how. Do we just want to know what criteria they'd like to see used, or something else? It doesn't matter, provided they are included in the consultation. Besides, that's what they requested. They are still currently asking to meet with the Prime Minister. There should also be consultation with the leaders of the recognized opposition parties to avoid problems like those we've had.

I think we can reach a consensus on these two motions. I am, of course, prepared to amend them, if necessary, based on my colleagues' comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Given that we have just seen these two motions, I propose that we discuss them next Tuesday, during our morning session, because I had planned something else for today.

Do you agree, Mr. Choquette?

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will let the other members of the committee speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mrs. Boucher, you have the floor.

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

I disagree, Mr. Chair, because the motions are in order. We are doing committee work today. These motions are still in order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You're right; they are in order.

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

I think we could talk about them today, and it would be done. We could then move on to something else next Tuesday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Are there any other comments?

Go ahead, Mr. Vandal.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

According to the information I have, the FCFA has already made a request to meet with the Prime Minister; perhaps its members have already met with him, I'm not sure.

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

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Please, Mrs. Boucher.