Official Languages Committee on Nov. 30th, 2017

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

As chair, I have a little problem. We are talking about processes here. Does our committee exist to deal with process issues? It doesn't just apply to the Commissioner of Official Languages. If I'm not mistaken, there will soon be other commissioner positions, including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Isn't it the House or a similar entity that is responsible for the process itself? As far as we're concerned, the name comes to our committee, and we have to look at the candidate's skills. We've had this discussion in the past.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm ambivalent. If anyone else wants to talk about it, I invite them to do so.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I have a brief comment to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Right. Then it will be Mr. Samson.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

What I understand is that the opposition wants a veto over appointments. If one of the opposition parties comes to form the government, be it the Conservative Party or the NDP, do you think it will want to give us a veto? Thank you very much. That was my comment.

At the moment, these aren't the rules of the game. As for us, we'll follow the rules as they are.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Mr. Samson, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I move that we vote, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Does anyone else want to add anything?

Is it clear for everyone?

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Can we hold a recorded vote?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

A recorded vote is requested. I will let Madam Clerk proceed with the vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

I would like to go back over the agenda items for next week.

Given the first motion we have adopted, Tuesday's meeting will be reserved for Mr. Théberge's appearance. As I already mentioned to Mr. Clarke, he will be chairing the meeting next Tuesday, since I won't be able to attend.

Would you like the commissioner's appearance to be televised?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Very good. Madam Clerk, you can make the provisions to that effect.

The other news I want to share with you is that I appeared before the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee earlier today, and they adopted the budget for our travel in February and March 2018 to British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon. The House will then have to endorse the decision. As you know, there are several requests from various committees, and the House must endorse these requests. I must admit that it went very well. Presenting a request for a budget for the Standing Committee on Official Languages before this subcommittee is quite something. Everyone around the table said congratulations. I just wanted to share it with you.

Go ahead, Mr. Vandal.

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

You didn't mention Winnipeg. Does that mean that our budget for Winnipeg wasn't approved?

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

It includes our trip to Winnipeg.

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

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

You were right to mention it, Mr. Vandal.

Mr. Généreux.

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

If all goes well, Mr. Chair, it's thanks to the clerk and analyst of the committee. I want to point that out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Absolutely. And I sincerely thank them. You're right to point that out, Mr. Généreux.

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

Don't forget that they'll be on the trip, too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Super.

Next Thursday, the Minister of Canadian Heritage will be here, and the meeting will be televised.

Between now and the Holidays, we'll have a lot of visits: on Tuesday, the commissioner will be here and, on Thursday, the Minister of Canadian Heritage will join us.

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

That's a lot of guests: Minister Duclos, the commissioner, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Mr. Bernier, you should visit us more often.

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

I almost voted with you.

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

You wanted to. The will was in the right place.

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

I saw you; I saw it in your eyes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Denis Paradis]

Does anyone else want to add anything?

Mr. Choquette, go ahead.