Official Languages Committee on Feb. 20th, 2020

[The Clerk]

We'll get organized.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

We've just passed the routine motions.

Normally, a 48 hour notice is required for a motion. I've discussed this with the clerk. A 48 hour notice is required, provided that the motion isn't directly related to the business then under consideration by the committee. Since we're discussing our future business, the motion before us isn't really an issue. However, we can debate this notice of motion and see where the members stand.

I'll ask Ms. Lambropoulos to read her notice of motion.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

All right.

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the Committee initiate a study consisting of at least 10 meetings to examine the ways that the Government of Canada can:

a) Ensure the protection of linguistic minorities with regards to protecting the rights of right holders to receive an education in the minority language and in an attempt to protect the identity and culture of the members of the Official Language minority communities.

b) Ensure the promotion of bilingualism and raise the bilingualism rate across the country;

that this study be completed by June 2020; that the Committee report its findings to the House; and that, Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Beaulieu, you may go ahead.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I prefer to wait until the next meeting. There are other very important issues we could include in the agenda for the upcoming meetings.

We need to be able to clarify things, for example, with respect to the term “linguistic minorities”. According to the Quebec minister responsible for Canadian intergovernmental affairs and the Canadian francophonie, an official language minority exists across the country, and it's francophones. Are we talking about institutional or individual bilingualism? I would prefer to take the time to look at that properly. We don't have a timetable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. d'Entremont, you may go ahead.

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate your comment. I'd very much like to take a closer look at that. Next week, we already have work to do in connection with Statistics Canada. Could we resume the discussion on Tuesday?

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

It's obviously a notice of motion, so we can talk about it at the subcommittee and have it listed as a future study after Statistics Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Great.

Are there any other comments? Go ahead, Mr. Arseneault.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Should we talk about the subcommittee right away?

Who will be on it? Where, when and how will it meet?

I can tell Mr. Chong really wants to be on it.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

No, I have too many meetings as it is.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Perhaps we can save a bit of time by saying that the vice-chairs will automatically be on it.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Would you mind explaining what a subcommittee is all about? I saw it mentioned in the Standing Orders.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Yes, it's in the Standing Orders.

[The Clerk]

As a general rule, the majority of committees have at least one subcommittee, which can have different names, but only one official name—the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure—often referred to as the steering committee. It has a limited number of members. Usually, it's made up of the chair and a member from each party, depending on party representation in the House.

Not all committees have a working subcommittee, but many do to help them plan future business. Subcommittees can propose topics for study, for example. The subcommittee has discussions and, then, reports to the committee, which considers the subcommittee's recommendations and makes any necessary changes. Once the committee adopts the recommendation, it becomes the decision of the committee. A lot of the groundwork is done by the subcommittee.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I see.

Since the rule dictates that the subcommittee have a member from each party, I'll be on it by default.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

Normally, we go through the whips' offices to find out who will be on the subcommittee. In the chair's case, it's clear, but when it's one or two members from each party, it isn't always obvious.

You can discuss it now amongst yourselves, if you like, and perhaps even make a decision. You could put forward a motion specifically designating the members of the subcommittee. If the motion isn't clear, though, I'm not the one who will decide. In the committee's case, the subcommittee has to have five members. As I said, in the chair's case, it's clear. Then, it's one member per party, and that's not an issue for two of the parties.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Go ahead, Mr. Généreux.

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

I am ready to propose the makeup of the subcommittee: you, Mr. Chair; the first vice-chair, Mr. d'Entremont; the second vice-chair, Mr. Beaulieu; the member from the NDP, Mr. Angus; and someone from the Liberal Party. Can the parliamentary secretary also sit on the subcommittee? If so, I call that an abuse of power.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

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

I still nominate Mr. Arseneault for the subcommittee.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

He's proposing an abuse of power.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Go ahead, Mr. Angus.