Official Languages Committee on Nov. 19th, 2020

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Chair, you were very clear. We'll vote on the motion regarding the five meetings and the list of witnesses, which will be provided tomorrow. You clearly stated that, when it comes to prioritizing committee business, the committee must make the decision and that this wasn't in the motion before us. If things change, this change will invalidate our entire conversation. I consider this a breach of procedure.

I think that we must vote on the motion. We can then decide how to prioritize the work. I suggest that we set aside an additional 15 minutes. Before we adjourn the meeting, I'd like us to agree on a roadmap. The people, the communities, expect us to deliver results. I think that we have great staff, who are also eager to get to work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Blaney.

Ms. Lalonde, before I give the floor back to you, I'll consult with the clerk. Unfortunately, I'll need to suspend the meeting for a few seconds.

The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

The meeting is resumed.

Again, I want to be very clear. Ms. Lattanzio moved a motion that referred to five meetings and the need to send the list as quickly as possible, by Friday.

This motion was the subject of a debate. We'll also need to vote on this motion. Since we're running out of time, we'll then decide what we'll do starting next Tuesday.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Ms. Lattanzio, the floor is yours.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

The committee members made it clear today that they want to start working. We have other motions to consider as well.

I moved my amendment earlier. I gather that the list must be provided tomorrow so that we can begin the work next Tuesday. Clearly everyone agrees with this and wants to move forward. We spoke about five meetings that would take place before the holiday break so that we can address other very important motions. These motions are piling up, and we must discuss them before we vote on them.

I expect this to be clear for everyone. There will be at least five meetings, and the list must be sent out tomorrow so that we can begin hearing evidence starting Tuesday. That's why I asked the clerk how much time she needed to make sure that the witnesses could come next week.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Ms. Lattanzio.

Yes, this is what the clerk and I discussed. As you just said, the list should be sent out so that we can get started as soon as possible.

However, you referred to dates, such as November 20 and November 24, which weren't in the original motion.

As a result, the decision is to proceed to a vote.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

There's still some confusion. You and Ms. Lattanzio aren't saying the same thing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Beaulieu, thank you for your comments. However, this is the decision. We'll now vote on Ms. Lattanzio's motion to hold at least five meetings and to send the list to the clerk by tomorrow. We debated this motion.

However, I clearly stated that the purpose of the motion was to begin a study as soon as possible.

In terms of the schedule, right after we vote on this motion, we'll have two motions. We must decide which motion to start with. If the committee wants to get started as soon as possible and there's another motion, we would really need to see whether the witnesses are available, for example.

That's the context and the current situation.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. You're talking a bit about the schedule again here.

I'll vote against the motion, because this isn't what we debated initially. The point of the debate was to hold five meetings. Now, the issue is more about setting dates and choosing between two motions. There are many other motions on the table. I think that we shouldn't be voting on whether these motions will be introduced.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

Here's what I said. We'll vote right away on Ms. Lattanzio's motion to hold five meetings and to send the list of witnesses to the clerk by Friday. I'll stop there. The committee must then decide which study will be started next Tuesday.

The clerk is in the meeting room. In order to proceed quickly, I want to know whether there are any objections to this motion to hold five meetings and to send out the list of witnesses promptly.

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

I would like a recorded vote, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

All right.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

The motion was adopted unanimously.

Colleagues, it is 5:33 p.m. Unfortunately, we have had some minor technical difficulties. However, as other committee meetings are scheduled, I propose to end the meeting in 10 minutes, at the latest, that is, at around 5:40 p.m.

Are there any objections?

You have the floor, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

I would like to present my motion, of which I have given notice. Its purpose is to conduct a study on the situation of French in Quebec for francophones and anglophones, as well as the situation in francophone and Acadian communities.

It would also study the impact of the Official Languages Act on measures to protect French, such as Bill 101, and would seek to determine how to integrate this into efforts to modernize the Official Languages Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

Do you want to speak to the motion that was informally discussed?

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

I believe we can go to a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Can you please tell me which motion you are putting forward now? Is it the one—

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

This is the second motion I submitted. I can read it to you, if you want.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You have the floor, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Okay. The motion is worded as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the Committee undertake a study on the measures that the Government of Canada can take to fulfill its responsibility, as set out in the Speech from the Throne, to protect and promote French not only outside Quebec but also within Quebec; that, as part of this study, the Committee:

a) Provide an objective and detailed portrait of the situation of English and French in Quebec, as well as of francophone and Acadian communities, based on key linguistic indicators, such as French as the mother tongue, main language spoken at home, language shifts, main language of work, and so on;

b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the government’s language policies with respect to the objective of protecting and promoting French as well as the impact of these policies on provincial legislative measures to protect and promote French (particularly the Charter of the French Language in Quebec);

c) Consider possible amendments to the Official Languages Act to harmonize the government’s commitment to protect French with provincial legislation;

That the Committee allocate a minimum of seven (7) meetings to this study and that these meetings be completed no later than March 1, 2021; that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Government table a comprehensive response.

I feel it's important. As far as the pandemic is concerned, the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne have already done studies. Especially on this issue, we must act now to ensure that health authorities respect people's right to be served in English or French. We should start working on this study immediately.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Did you send us a copy of the motion? I am looking for it in my documentation and I don't know if I have a copy.

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

Yes, you already received notice of the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

All right, thank you. I don't have it at hand.

Mr. Blaney, Mrs. Lalonde and Ms. Lattanzio wish to speak. I may have to interrupt you when the meeting is about to end.

Mr. Blaney, you have the floor.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to speak in favour of Mr. Beaulieu's motion. I believe this study needs to be done urgently. We are all concerned about the pandemic, but it is important that our committee focus on its priority, which is to ensure that the language rights of communities are respected. There is a sense of urgency, given the linguistic realities in Montreal. So I feel this study is extremely important.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make one important point. This is that it would be worthwhile to have people from Statistics Canada appear before the committee. They could be called to appear very quickly. They are available and they have the relevant data. We must get an idea of the linguistic landscape in the communities, whether they are the English-speaking communities in Quebec or the French-speaking minority communities in English-speaking environments.

The new minority community is the community of Quebec in North America. Statistics Canada has all the data on the French that is spoken. It would be easy to call them to appear very quickly, and we could start working. It would also give committee members time to draw up their list of witnesses.