Official Languages Committee on April 29th, 2021

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

You could also give us your general comments about the subject.

[Prof. Robert Leckey]

Of course, every level of government needs to make separate efforts depending on their areas of jurisdiction. The usual expectation, in our Canadian federation, is that actions taken at each level of government need not be the same, and that they should complement one another, rather than aim at total consistency.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much.

That's all the time we have for this meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

On behalf of all members of the committee, I would like to thank the witnesses for having taken part and for having made such constructive contributions.

I would like to thank Professor Robert Leckey, Dean and Samuel Gale Chair at McGill University's Faculty of Law, and Ms. Anne Michèle Meggs, the former director of research at the Office québécois de la langue française, both of whom appeared as individuals. I'd also like to thank the representatives of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, Mr. Denis Bolduc, General Secretary, and Mr. Gilles Grondin, Union Advisor.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention to the committee members, and the people who follow our work, that the next two meetings will be in camera. In these meetings, we will be studying the COVID-19 report, which the committee members will be receiving soon.

And finally, thanks to the everyone on the technical team for their assistance.

I see that Ms. Lalonde would like to comment.

Go ahead, Ms. Lalonde.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

I'm sorry, I only need 30 seconds.

Does the analyst know when we'll be getting the first version of the COVID-19 report?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

We received it this afternoon at approximately 4 p.m. The analyst will no doubt ell us whether you will be receiving it this afternoon or sometime tomorrow.

Ms. Lecomte, do you have any information for us?

[Lucie Lecomte, Committee Researcher]

The report is in fact ready for distribution to everyone. I'll let the clerk tell you when she's going to distribute it. I believe that you're right, Mr. Chair, and that it will be delivered this evening or tomorrow morning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

Mr. Godin would like to say something.

You have the floor.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Chair, at our previous meeting, we were able to get through our discussion of the news release fairly quickly. I sent you my corrections. What's the next step?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

As you know, we lose a lot of time when the meeting begins in camera and then continues publicly, and vice versa. That's why I didn't want part of today's meeting to be held in camera. The Tuesday and Thursday meetings next week will be in camera, and so we'll be able to discuss the news release fairly quickly.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

I wish the witnesses a good trip home, even if they're already there. They should at least enjoy being disconnected.

Good afternoon to everyone.

The meeting is adjourned.