Evidence of meeting #5 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

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

Could the clerk let us know when the cutoff is for adding names to the witness list, should we want to, as it is not restrictive?

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Yes.

I suggest that we come together in a subcommittee.

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

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

Yes.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

As we usually do, we could ask all the committee members to submit a list of witnesses they want to hear from by a specific date, and then we will decide.

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

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

Madam Clerk would send us that date, right?

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

That's right.

Mrs. Romanado, go ahead.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to get clarity. We just voted on the amendment, and now we will go back to the original motion, but it's not as amended because we've just voted on the amendment—

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Right.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

—so now we're going back to the original motion, which is no longer what we just voted on.

I want to make sure that everyone's clear. I would like you to reread what you're going to ask us to vote on so that it's very clear to everyone what we are actually voting on, because we've just made an agreement to an amendment, and now we're going back to the original motion, which is not the same.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

No, not exactly.

Mr. Chong, you have the floor.

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We are going back.... What is on the floor of this committee right now is the motion as amended. That is the motion as amended by Monsieur Deltell's amendment. That is what's on the floor. When debate collapses, we'll have the vote on that motion as amended.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Exactly. Thank you so much.

Before taking the vote, I would like to ask either Mr. Godin or Mr. Deltell to read that motion as amended again, please.

In any case, this will clarify what we are voting on.

Mr. Godin, go ahead.

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Chair, the amended motion reads as follows:

That the Committee undertake a study of the government's decision to select We Charity/UNIS to administer the Canada Student Service Grant;

That the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Melanie Joly, be invited to appear for at least two hours in September 2020;

That the other witnesses include, but are not limited to:

a) The minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, the Honourable Bardish Chagger;

b) The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez;

c) The President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos;

d) NATIONAL Public Relations;

e) WE Charity/UNIS;

f) The Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you very much, Mr. Godin.

Mr. Arseneault, go ahead.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Chair, I just have a question before we vote. Is the number of meetings for a study normally set in advance?

My second question is about the allocated time. I know that we are in a crisis situation owing to COVID-19 and that the same rules don't really apply. We have already gone over the allocated time and we usually need to reach unanimous consent before we continue the meeting.

How will it work and how many days are planned for discussion? I don't know whether my question is out of order, but I feel it's necessary to ask it.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Mr. Beaulieu, go ahead.

2:15 p.m.

Bloc

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

The motion has been read, but the preamble is staying the same. Correct?

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Yes.

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

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

The motion, the original letter....

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

No. It's strictly what Mr. Godin just read. That's all of it.

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

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

Okay. The entire preamble is removed.

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Exactly. What he just read reflects our whole discussion.

If there are no further comments on the motion as amended, we will go to the vote.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Arseneault, go ahead.

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

First, there is the issue of the deadline concerning witnesses.

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Yes.

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

We have to agree and decide until when names can be submitted.