Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
I will check with the clerk. As she just said, this is our first meeting. We have just passed the routine motion dealing with the 48 hours' notice.
In my view, a number of motions can be presented to prepare for committee business, but it does not necessarily mean that the motions will be debated in the order in which they are presented. For example, one can present the topics that one would like the committee to address during the session.
Madam Clerk, am I correct?
Clerk of the Committee
Actually, the first thing I would like to clarify with you is whether Ms. Lambropoulos is hereby giving notice of her motion to the committee today or whether she is moving it for immediate debate by the committee. If it is an oral notice to be discussed later, that is fine. If she is moving the motion to open debate immediately, I will read again what the routine motion you just passed says about notices of motion:
That a forty-eight (48) hours notice, interpreted as two (2) nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration...
It is up to the chair to define what constitutes a motion not directly related to business currently under consideration by the committee. Right now, the committee seems to be considering what is referred to as “committee business”. It is therefore up to the chair to judge whether or not the matter of future business is directly related and whether or not it can be debated.
However, before the chair makes that decision, we should check with Ms. Lambropoulos to see whether she intended to give notice of her motion or to move it for immediate debate.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
I wanted to move that we open debate at this meeting. Because we are considering committee business, we do not require 48 hours' notice. That is how it works every time we consider committee business. In addition, I could not provide notice because the committee was not yet struck.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
All right, thank you.
Before moving on to Mr. Beaulieu, I will give the floor to Ms. Lattanzio and Mr. Blaney.
Ms. Lattanzio, you have the floor.
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Chair, I just wanted to say the same thing as my colleague. However, I am keeping my hand up because I also have a motion to put forward.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Essentially, what I have to say is intended to complement the routine motions. I am not planning to introduce formal motions, but I do want to bring to your attention that, on occasion, ministers' appearances have not been televised. In my view, when the committee has the privilege of receiving a minister, it is always in the public interest that the hearing be televised. I bring this to your attention, Mr. Chair, so that it may be taken into consideration when we have notices of motion on this matter.
I would also like to point out to members that, in a previous session, the Standing Committee on Official Languages tabled a report without requesting a response from the government, which is unfortunate. It had to do with the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. It seems to me that, unless otherwise specified, a government response should automatically be requested within 30 days of a report being tabled. Again, it is in the public interest.
These two points remind us how important good motions are to ensure that the committee is as effective as possible, in the public interest.
Clerk of the Committee
Mr. Chair, we should go back to the debate process. First, we clarified Ms. Lambropoulos's intention to move the motion for debate by the committee. As I mentioned, it is up to you to judge whether the motion is in order today. If you were to find it in order, it would be up to you to open debate. If so, what Mr. Blaney has just said should not be moved at this time, because the committee already has another motion before it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
That is right. Thank you.
Before responding to Ms. Lambropoulos, I would like to hear from Mr. Beaulieu.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Since it is almost 5:30 p.m., I believe we do not have enough time to consider all motions that could be brought forward. In my opinion, it would be better to simply give notice of these motions. We could debate and vote on them at our next meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
It is indeed 5:25 p.m.
Ms. Lambropoulos said she would have preferred that her motion be debated. I have a decision to make on that. Given the time, I am going to turn off everyone’s mics and cameras—I am only joking—to consult with the clerks, Ms. Ménard and Ms. Vohl.
Ladies, could you advise me on how to proceed, given the time and the importance of what Ms. Lambropoulos said?
Mrs. Lalonde, if you don’t mind, we are going to listen to what the clerks have to say. I will give you the floor right after that.
Clerk of the Committee
Mr. Chair, are we to understand that you wish to suspend the meeting for a few moments to have a discussion with us?
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Chair, if we are going to adjourn the meeting in the next few minutes, I’d like to suggest that I be the first to speak at the next meeting so that we can continue with this motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Okay, duly noted.
We are going to take a short break so I can speak with the clerks. We will be back in a moment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
We will now continue the meeting.
Colleagues, now that I have consulted the clerks, here is what I suggest to you.
We heard what Ms. Lambropoulos just said. Since it is 5:35 p.m., I think it would be advisable for us to agree that she can send her motion as a notice to committee members. That way, all the other members can also send motions they wish to debate. So, at the next meeting, we would address committee business and we would start with the motion that Ms. Lambropoulos sent.
Since we will then have had the 48 hours’ notice, we will have time to read the motions from all members and to debate them in the time allotted for committee business. Then we can establish our work schedule for future meetings.
Mrs. Lalonde wishes to speak. We will then go to Mr. Beaulieu.
It is true that we have no further commitments after this. We could decide to move forward a bit today, but ideally, we will do what I just proposed.
Let us hear from Mrs. Lalonde, Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Dalton.
Mrs. Lalonde, you have the floor.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I certainly agree with what you have proposed. However, I would like us to follow the speaking order. I know, I am insisting a little bit on protocol, but I believe it is important to show respect for my colleague Ms. Lambropoulos, who was the first to want to speak. Then I saw that Ms. Lattanzio, Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Blaney had their hands up.
By the way, Mr. Blaney, I want to tell you that if you wish to make a formal motion about what you were saying, you are welcome to do so. We look forward to hearing your motion and debating it here at this fine committee.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I have no objection to that, as long as everyone can send their motions as a notice. That way, all members will have seen the motions. We will see whether Ms. Lambropoulos's comes first. We could always decide to prioritize the motions right away. Or we might oppose one motion and give priority to another. We will see what the procedures are at that time. That is fine by me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Okay.
Before we move on to Mr. Dalton, I need to explain what I proposed.
Ms. Lambropoulos said that she would present her motion as a notice of motion provided that the committee debates her motion first. That does not mean it will be in a working session. Rather, it will be during the time allotted to committee business. Members will then decide which motion the committee should address first. I just wanted to make that clear.
Mr. Dalton, you have the floor.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to know whether we are going to meet every Tuesday at the same time. Has that been determined?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
I with consult the clerk, but I can tell you that we cannot know right now, because there are several committees and the whips of all parties have to discuss among themselves the best time to have meetings. I believe the committees are certainly going to sit, but we cannot know right now how many times a week or when we are going to meet.
Conservative
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
I would like us to meet next week, because we have not made any decisions about the motions. If I need to make a motion to that effect, I am prepared to do so, but I feel we should meet next week.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
It is not up to me.
However, if you have motions to put forward, you may do it now. That way, at the next meeting, the 48 hours’ notice will have been given and we can then address them during the time allotted to committee business, proceeding in the agreed-upon manner.
I saw some of you raise your hands.
We will hear from Mrs. Lalonde and then Mr. Arseneault.