Official Languages Committee on May 27th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

This is the infamous short-form census that we managed to get done. Imagine if we hadn't invited them, even though we're waiting for information.

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

No other witnesses have been proposed either.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Ashton.

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

I agree to hold a discussion to determine which witnesses could give us a general overview of the situation.

I know that we strongly recommended inviting local witnesses so they could speak about the daily reality in our schools.

However, I think it would be important for the committee to invite national experts.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Given her experience, could our analyst, the oracle on your right, do a pre-screening now to tell us which witnesses are missing so that we can perhaps fill in the gaps?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We can discuss it in subcommittee, since the work has already begun.

I would also like to tell you that, because of available resources, a subcommittee always takes the time slot of a regular committee meeting.

Hold on a second. I'm going to consult the oracle on my left.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh! (laughter)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Here's what we could do: The subcommittee could meet during the first half-hour. I suggest that the meeting be held Thursday morning, and that the subcommittee meet for half an hour. We should have enough time, because once we produce a report, get it translated and so on, we will have it in our hands as quickly as possible. This is still the study on the education continuum.

Would that be okay?

Mr. Serré, you have the floor.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Last week, we were supposed to review the report on the economic development of official language minority communities. We're still on version two of the report.

Is that planned for the second hour on Thursday?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We have to make a decision and plan accordingly.

Had it not been for these two items, which I had to bring to the committee's attention, we would have resumed where we left off when we adjourned on Thursday and continued the debate on Mr. Beaulieu's motion as amended by Mr. Samson. I already had the list of the first four speakers.

If all goes according to plan, that's what we'll do Thursday.

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

Can you give us the list of speakers again?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

On the list are Darrell Samson, Mario Beaulieu, Angelo Iacono and Marc Serré. We can add other names afterwards. That's where we were when we adjourned. It was as if we had suspended the meeting, but the meeting was actually adjourned.

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

Basically, we would meet in subcommittee for half an hour and then come back to the debate for the rest of the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That is what the clerk has just told me.

We could meet as a subcommittee for half an hour to discuss the witness list. Then we could continue the debate on the motion as if nothing had happened.

Would that be okay?

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

From what I understand, the subcommittee must provide a bilingual report. We need to set aside time to have it translated. In the meantime, the committee can continue to debate Mr. Samson's amendment. Then, at the other committee meeting, the subcommittee's report will be presented to the committee.

Is half an hour enough?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The analyst tells me that it is.

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

I'm fine with that, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

To make it easier, the subcommittee will meet in the same room. It will be the two vice-chairs, Ms. Ashton and Mr. Serré, and myself. As chair, I am neutral. Then the other members will join us half an hour later. Instead of starting at 8:15, the meeting will start at 8:45.

Then we will resume the debate where we adjourned it last week. However, before we do that, we will have to decide what we are going to do about the post-secondary study. Do we want to complete it and give instructions to the analyst for the report? Do we want to invite officials to give evidence? I urge you to think about that. We will take the first five minutes of Thursday's committee meeting to decide.

If we want to invite officials, we will do so and set a date. They are much more flexible than other witnesses.

Mr. Généreux, go ahead.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Does our analyst think it would be appropriate to bring in the officials? If she finds it relevant, let's invite the officials.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I made a suggestion. Let's give ourselves time to deliberate. Let's come back Thursday morning to work on the study and the witness list. Then let's go back to the debate that was adjourned at the last meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Okay.

Ms. Ashton, it will be early for you. You will have to join the meeting before 8:15 a.m., because we'll have only 30 minutes.

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

I'm always online before 8:15. It's the committee that's not always online at 8:15.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I don't always see that, but you may be right.

That said, committee members, the notice of meeting will reflect exactly what we have just discussed.

The meeting is adjourned.