Evidence of meeting #19 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 côté.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
Are you saying then that we not only need specific immigration corridors, but that we also need promotional efforts in the places where we wish to recruit immigrants?
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Excuse me Mr. Chair, but there appears to be a technical problem. I switched on the French channel and can hear interpretation in English at the same time.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Before checking this with the clerk, I'd like to ask Mr. Duguid whether the interpretation towards English is working properly when the conversation is in French.
Terry, do you have any problem with translation?
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
For your information, Mr. Chair, after de-activating the function, I can hear what's being said in the language being spoken without any interpretation.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I can still hear the interpretation towards English.
5:30 p.m.
The Clerk
I've been told that the English interpretation is on the French channel. Is that right?
5:30 p.m.
The Clerk
I'll check it out.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
The problem has been solved.
Thank you.
Three and a half minutes out of the four minutes of speaking time for Ms. Martinez Ferrada have gone by.
Let's continue the discussion.
Mr. Joyal, it's back to you again.
5:30 p.m.
Jurist and Former Senator, As an Individual
As I was mentioning before, the government needs to adopt a comprehensive approach. You heard about it in the discussions with the previous witnesses. The comprehensive approach was mentioned here and there in the act, but there was never any formal recognition. Nor does the act provide any accountability on how the government assumes this responsibility. That, very precisely, is the aspect which in my view you need to focus on technical difficulties.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you.
We have just two minutes to continue the discussion.
Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I'll be brief.
Ms. Jennings, you said just now that you wanted to hop on the bus, but did not want to be sent to the back. I hope that's not a reference to the kind of racism that occurs in the United States.
Quebec francophones are often blamed for their determination to secure the future of French. In my view, it's the francophones who are now seated in the back of the bus, and French that is in decline. I just wanted to check that with you.
Do you consider that francophones are entitled to secure the future of French in Quebec and Canada?
Are francophones in Quebec entitled to make French the common language?
5:35 p.m.
President, Quebec Community Groups Network
Mr. Beaulieu, I can't make it any clearer than I already have. You heard what the QCGN's position was. The organization is an ally for our fellow brothers and sisters outside Quebec, for our fellow citizens who live elsewhere in Canada, in terms of promoting and protecting not only the French language, but also the vitality of their communities.
What we're asking is for people here in Quebec to stop making us the scapegoat every time there's a problem. Senator Joyal has given excellent advice on how to strengthen the vitality of our francophones everywhere in Canada, including Quebec, whether in terms of immigration, policy formulation, social media, or cultural content. Stop making the anglophone minority in Quebec a scapegoat—
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Do you consider our wanting to make French the common language amounts to scapegoating anglophones?
5:35 p.m.
President, Quebec Community Groups Network
Mr. Beaulieu, we already said—
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Excuse me, but it's getting difficult for the interpreters.
You have 10 seconds left.
5:35 p.m.
President, Quebec Community Groups Network
As we said before, we are the most bilingual group, and that's thanks to the education system we control and administer.
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you very much.
For the final intervention, I'm going to give the floor to Mr. Boulerice.
Mr. Boulerice, you have two minutes.
