Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll keep my remarks brief, because I'd like us to vote on the amendment without further delay.
First, we oppose the amendment because it strays from the spirit of the motion. It's as though the committee has turned into a circus. The committee has the power to take a stand on the conduct of one of its members, but we are hoping that the chief government whip will act on her own or that the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie will act on its own. What's more, we hope those actions will reflect the committee's will, which is to ensure that the unacceptable comments of one of its members meet with appropriate consequences.
Second, I want to say something about the arrogance of politicians. I don't think it's enough for someone to acknowledge their mistake, apologize, forget about it and move on. That's not how you deal with the situation we all witnessed a few weeks ago.
Today, I want to talk about the Liberals' arrogance, which has been on display for a while now. The Liberals are protecting one of their own, someone who not only tarnished the committee's reputation, but also inflamed the debate around a dangerous trend affecting the country, the decline of French. We are trying to reverse the trend on three simultaneous fronts: the modernization of the Official Languages Act, the updating of the action plan for official languages and the work of the committee. Let's face it. The committee member in question minimized the serious concerns raised by witnesses regarding the decline of French in Quebec, the most French-speaking province in the country. We can't act as though he said something in the heat of the moment or showed a lapse in judgment, or accept some other excuse.
The truth is that Canada, a country proud to call itself bilingual, is facing a big problem. French is declining, a trend that has continued since the Liberals came to power nearly 10 years ago. Rather than take the situation seriously and say it's unacceptable to insult witnesses who tell us they are extremely worried about the situation in Quebec, we are here, talking about whatever.
As I said the first time, we don't doubt whatsoever how the member in question stands up for Franco-Ontarians. I nevertheless think it is extremely offensive to say that what's going on is an insult to francophones outside Quebec.
A highly regarded witness, a francophone outside Quebec who wanted to remain anonymous, told me he was considering never appearing before the committee's current members because of their behaviour. It wasn't a Quebecker who said that. It was a francophone outside Quebec, a well-respected member of their community.
I want to tell the Liberal members that they are again displaying arrogance. They don't have a monopoly on the views of francophones outside Quebec. Furthermore, the committee has turned into a circus if it overlooks the fact that witnesses who spoke about the decline of French and the challenges facing Quebeckers were insulted.
I've seen the Liberals' arrogance on display a number of times. It's harmful to our national unity and our well-being as Canadians. Frankly, when all of us here should be focused on the decline of French in our communities, our provinces and our country, we are having to watch this circus.
This is what I want to know. Does the member really want to stay on as chair of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie? Let him run again as chair, then. Good for him.
I do not know how someone who behaved the way he did can represent Canada on the world stage after minimizing the testimony of French-speaking Quebeckers who said that their province was facing a serious problem that needed to be taken seriously. I don't know how he can do that with any integrity.
As committee members, we all want to be here, but it's up to the Liberals to make that decision. I was here when Ms. Lambropoulos had to be moved to another committee after she made remarks that were much less serious. I don't know whether sexism or other factors are at play, but honestly, what I see is the Liberals continuing to protect one of their own who has sullied the committee's reputation. Worse still, he insulted witnesses with whom he disagreed on a number of points while discussing the main issue of concern to the committee, how to counter the decline of French.
The Liberal arrogance we've been seeing for weeks is shocking. I hope we can move to a vote on the amendment and the motion as soon as possible and thus take a stand, knowing that others must do so as well.
I am telling you that I will not accept the Liberal arrogance on display again today. I hope that, for our future, for the sake of our communities—which don't have enough schoolteachers, child care workers or French service providers—we can move on to the issues that matter.
Thank you.