Evidence of meeting #85 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 théberge.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Ms. Joly, you are currently before the Standing Committee on Official Languages. It is not for you to ask questions to the members here at the table. I would therefore ask you to answer the question as you wish, but without asking any others.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I will be pleased to.
Our position on the Supreme Court and the bilingualism that should be required is clear. I understand that the NDP leader has now disavowed the party's position on bilingualism of the Supreme Court.
I hope the NDP will set the record straight and say the same thing everywhere, both in Quebec and outside that province.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Chair, one thing is clear. On October 25, 2017, the minister and the Prime Minister, who also claims to be in favour of bilingualism on the Supreme Court, both voted against a bill that would have required any judge appointed to the Supreme Court in the future to be bilingual.
No matter what spin you put on it, the minister is still evading the question.
She said she voted against the bill because she had something better in mind. That may be. So when will the Liberals put that bill forward? It will soon be three years since they have been in office—sad but true—and we still have not had the slightest indication from them what they intend to do in this regard.
When will a bill be put forward to make bilingualism a requirement for Supreme Court appointees?
There is something wrong if a lawyer called Dupont feels the need to plead a case in English before the Supreme Court. We want that to change. Our position on that has always been the same.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Two things are clear. First, the NDP disavowed its position on the bilingualism of the Supreme Court. Second, we have appointed two bilingual judges to the Supreme Court, and we will continue to do so.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
When will you be introducing this great bill?
Why are you refusing to answer such a clear question?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Mr. Mulcair, you are not answering the question about the bilingualism of the Supreme Court either.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I am saying that our government considers bilingualism of the Supreme Court essential.
We agree on the end result, but not on how to get there. As to the means, we will find a way...
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
...of making sure that, in the end, any other government...
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Respect the chair, Madam Minister.
Have you called upon exempt staff —that is the term used for political staff here in Ottawa—before nominating the proposed candidate, Mr. Théberge? As an opposition party, we were never consulted about that.
Has political staff in your office, specifically Ms. Caroline Séguin, participated directly or indirectly in the nomination of Mr. Théberge? Has she or other exempt staff in your office contacted candidates or validated information?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Just as we are very proud of the process for the appointment of Supreme Court justices, we are also very proud of the nomination process for the Commissioner of Official Languages. We received hundreds of applications. I sent a letter to Mr. Mulcair to...
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Please be brief, Madam Minister, because we have to move on to the next person.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
...hear his views and recommendations during the process. The NDP made three requests. First, the NDP wanted to be consulted, and we did that. Second, it asked us to consult the FCFA and QCGN, which we also did.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Third, the NDP wanted us to propose an Acadian candidate, and we proposed a candidate from the Université de Moncton.
So we responded very well to the NDP's requests.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Alupa Clarke
Thank you, Madam Minister.
Ms. Lapointe, you have the floor.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you for chairing the meeting again today.
Welcome, Madam Minister.
Thank you for being here, Mr. Lussier and Mr. Gauthier.
I know that QCGN is with us today. I'm very glad they are there. Recently, the Quebec government appointed a new minister responsible for the relation with the English-speaking Quebeckers. Did you have the chance to meet with Mrs. Kathleen Weil?