Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Actually, if the amendment is inadmissible, we can no longer discuss it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Order, dear committee members.
As you have understood, I'm not a rocket scientist, and we are well supported by our clerks.
Ms. Ashton, I'm told that the amendment as it stands is inadmissible unless there is unanimous consent.
This is an amendment to Mr. Godin's original motion, which is to issue an invitation as soon as possible for a two‑hour appearance. Those are the parameters of the motion.
Go ahead, Mr. Godin.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, can we read Ms. Ashton's amendment again, so that we know what we are voting on?
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Actually, now that I'm re‑reading the amendment, I'm not sure whether it's still procedurally possible. In any event, our desire is to add to this testimony those of the two ministers responsible, the Minister of Official Languages and the Minister of Transport, as well as that of the current Commissioner of Official Languages, Mr. Théberge and his predecessor, Mr. Fraser, who examined Air Canada in one of his reports in 2016. The purpose of this report is to explore what happened this fall and the challenges facing Air Canada's French‑language services. We want to find a mechanism that could resolve this situation.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Although it isn't my role, as chair, I could propose something.
I think that what you're proposing is to do a study on this subject, a little like what Ms. Lattanzio proposed. Moreover, I imagine that others will want to make a similar proposal on this subject.
So we could stick to this motion, Everyone has heard about the media appearance by the president and CEO of Air Canada. We would have him here for two hours, and perhaps that would lead us to other avenues that could result in our doing a complete study like the one you have proposed or the one Ms. Lattanzio has proposed.
Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this manner?
Mr. Drouin, would you like to say something?
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
I just wanted to say that I'm prepared to support Mr. Godin's motion as it stands. As for all the other proposals for study, I think we had agreed to submit them to the subcommittee. I think Mr. Godin's intention was to fill the first two hours when we come back in January.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just wanted to reiterate what my colleague Mr. Drouin said. I support Mr. Godin's motion. As for all the other notices, they should be submitted to the subcommittee so that the subcommittee can decide on the studies that the committee will undertake afterwards.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Is there unanimous consent to adopt Mr. Godin's motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
After Mr. Godin, it was your turn to have the floor, Ms. Ashton. I believe it was on motions or notices of motions.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
I would still like to put forward the motion I mentioned, because I think the Air Canada case is so serious that it needs a little more attention.
Our first motion is as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), following the events from the fall 2021 and the concern shared by Canadians regarding the respect of official languages by Air Canada, the Committee undertake a study on the measures adopted by the government and by Air Canada following the presentation of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, presented on June 7th 2016, On the road to increased compliance through an effective enforcement regime; That the Committee invites the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Official Languages, and the Commissioner of Official Languages to lay out the steps needed to follow in order for Air Canada to respect its obligations to serve Canadians in both official languages; That the Committee invites the President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada to testify on the importance of respecting the official languages and the measures taken by senior management so that Air Canada's culture reflects Canada's linguistic duality; That the Committee holds no less than four (4) meetings on this study; That the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Government table a comprehensive response.
As for our second motion, which we also sent a copy of to the clerk—
Liberal
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
This is the second notice of motion:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on francophone immigration in language minority communities, surrounding the presentation of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Statistical analysis of the 4.4% immigration target for French‑speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities: Almost 20 years after setting the target, it is time to do more and do better; That the Committee welcomes the Commissioner of Official Languages' testimony on this study; That the Committee welcomes the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s testimony on this study; That the Committee hears from representatives of francophone and Acadian communities on their experience with francophone immigration in their communities; That the Committee holds no less than five (5) meetings on this study; That the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Government table a comprehensive response.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Ms. Ashton.
I think the notices of motion are already circulating, thanks to how efficient our beloved clerk is.
So we have plenty to get our teeth into for the first meeting.
Mr. Godin, do you have anything to add?
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Actually, Mr. Chair, I'm asking for unanimous consent that we consolidate all the notices of motion introduced today and send them to the subcommittee. This means that you would have a plan for us at the first meeting. I would suggest that we do this to speed up the process. It would give us a good understanding of all the requests. We could then better plan the committee's schedule and divide the studies according to the parties represented.
Liberal
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Actually, my colleague beat me to it by reading my mind. I was just going to say that we can see from the my colleagues' remarks that the first three notices of motion are similar or have points in common. So I think it will be up to the subcommittee to look at the proposed topics of study, Air Canada, francophone immigration and the decline of French, and sort it all out.
I would simply point out that the only topic that has not been the subject of a notice of motion by other colleagues is linguistic security. I think that notice will have to stand on its own.
Anyway, I was going to make exactly the same suggestion to you, Mr. Chair, that all of this be sorted out at the subcommittee.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Yes, I think that is very important. As we may recall, two studies were not completed during the last session. So it is very important to take into account the timing and feasibility of the studies.