Official Languages Committee on Oct. 29th, 2020

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

If there is a meeting next Thursday and no other time slots are available, we could also consider having the subcommittee meet first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes, it's still possible to have the subcommittee meet first. Immediately afterwards, the subcommittee would report to the committee, as appropriate. That's an option.

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

I thought of this but didn't mention it. Would it have been possible for the subcommittee to meet today at 3:30, or four o'clock, actually, because of the vote, and, then, for the committee to meet a bit later? That way, both meetings could have taken place and the groundwork could have been laid before the committee met. Would that have been a possibility?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No.

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

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

In light of the circumstances surrounding the vote, we always have to check whether staff are available.

Mrs. Lalonde, you have a point of order. You may go ahead.

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

Mr. Chair, I don't mean to contradict you or the clerk, but right now, according to next week's calendar—which is distributed to all the parliamentarians—the committee is supposed to meet on Thursday, November 5. The schedule I received indicates that our group would meet at 3:30 next Thursday. I think it went out to everyone, because I got it.

Again, Madam Clerk, I'm not trying to impose, but I just want to make sure that this was approved by the clerks and the whips' offices. That was my understanding as far as our schedule for next week goes.

That means we have a meeting next Thursday at 3:30, Mr. Beaulieu.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

All right.

Thank you.

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

I just received the same information.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

A lot of information is going around. I assume that, if we can meet during the break week, we'll be able to meet next week.

If, next Thursday, we don't have any dates for the subcommittee to meet, how do you wish to proceed? Should we allocate a half-hour or an hour for the subcommittee to meet and report to the committee, and then have the committee carry on with its meeting?

Mr. Arseneault raised his hand, as did Ms. Lambropoulos.

Mr. Arseneault, you may go ahead.

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

Sorry, Mr. Chair. I forgot to un-tick the option.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Ms. Lambropoulos, it's over to you.

After that, it will be Ms. Ashton's turn.

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

On this motion and all those the committee intends to examine, I think it's important for all members to be present. I have much to say on this motion and others and I'd like an opportunity to say it, so I disagree with referring this to the subcommittee.

My preference is to be part of the discussion, since I'm not on the subcommittee. I'm sure other members on this side have a lot to say as well. For that reason, I don't think it should go to the subcommittee for study. The discussion should continue at the committee level.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

For everyone's information, the clerk just confirmed that we will have a meeting on Thursday, November 5, at 3:30.

I would also like to clarify that the subcommittee does not decide on which studies the committee undertakes. It simply provides a means of working together to advance the discussion as quickly as possible. The committee is the one that makes the decisions on motions, determining whether to adopt them and move forward or not.

Ms. Ashton, you may go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just wanted to say that I agree with what you said. I think it's a very efficient way to do things. I feel as though we've wasted a bit of time in the few meetings we've had. It is important to have discussions, yes, but subcommittees exist for a reason. Let's make use of the subcommittee so we can discuss the crux of the issues we all care about.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton.

If no other dates are available for the subcommittee to meet before Thursday, I suggest that the subcommittee meet for the first hour of next Thursday's time slot and that the committee take the second hour.

We have time for one last comment, and it will be Mr. Beaulieu's.

Mr. Beaulieu, the floor is yours.

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

Mr. Chair, I agree with you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

Members of the committee, Madam Clerk, I acknowledge the will of the committee. Let me say once again that we will do our best to schedule a subcommittee meeting before Thursday, so keep an eye on your inbox.

If we can't find a time for the subcommittee to meet, next Thursday at 3:30, we will begin our study. The first hour or half-hour will be set aside for the subcommittee to meet; it will depend because we don't know whether any votes will be held. The subcommittee's job will be to review all of these motions and determine whether they will be put on notice. It can recommend that certain motions be combined and that others not be considered by the committee; it can also propose a work schedule so the committee can begin its studies as soon as possible.

I want to respect the committee members' will. I know everyone has other commitments; the room isn't available and neither is Mr. Williamson. We all have packed schedules.

I'd like to thank the members once again for today's meeting. I hope that, next time, we will be able to undertake our studies and turn our focus to an issue we all care about.

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

Mr. Chair, can I just move that the debate be now adjourned, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Madam Clerk, the floor is yours.

I didn't catch who, but someone moved that the meeting be adjourned.

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

That was me.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mrs. Lalonde.

Is there unanimous consent, or would you prefer that a recorded division be held?

There seems to be agreement from both the committee members here, in the room, and those participating via Zoom.

(Motion agreed to)

All that's left to do is adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I see no objections. The meeting is therefore adjourned.

Thank you everyone, and have a good evening. Thank you, as well, to the interpreters, the technical staff and everyone who helped make this meeting possible.