Thank you for reminding me of that connection. Actually, the connection is extremely important, and I'm going to tell you why.
A few weeks ago, as you may remember, the operative word was “choice”: we talked a lot about choosing a French-language education, choosing to attend a francophone university, choosing the place and so on. Now the operative words are “area of jurisdiction”. Mr. Chair, your intervention reminded me of the other connection that should be made, so I thank you very much for that. My colleague Mr. Beaulieu's motion is inadmissible because the committee doesn't have the necessary authority to do what it asks it to do. The committee cannot compel Mr. Drouin to resign. The Canadian section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie actually held an extraordinary meeting, but it wasn't convened as a result of this motion. It was all done in accordance with recognized procedures. The meeting was properly conducted, and the outcome was decisive: Mr. Drouin will continue his excellent work both nationally and internationally.
Having the necessary authority to act: that's the connection with my remarks about Judge LeBlanc. Judge LeBlanc rendered a decision in his jurisdiction, but the province claimed he didn't have jurisdiction in the matter and appealed to the Supreme Court for it to decide the matter. However, as it turned out, Judge LeBlanc actually did have jurisdiction, and he also set a precedent, as a result of which anyone can now use that approach. This is a big deal. It can completely change the law. You know that, Mr. Chair, because you're a lawyer. Why couldn't I advance another argument concerning areas of jurisdiction relying on that common law precedent?
You reminded me to go back to the subject of the debate, Mr. Chair, but what I was going to say is directly related to the motion because it requests that the committee take measures which it doesn't have the authority to take. It seems to me you've previously discussed that. I can't tell my neighbour what to put behind the house on his property. It's his property, not mine. I don't have the authority to act on his property. In the same manner, the motion asked the committee to take measures that it doesn't have the authority to take.
As I've said many times, the members opposite should look at themselves in the mirror and acknowledge that we're wasting time when we should be on the job. That job, which stems from an important motion tabled by Mr. Beaulieu, is to complete our study of post-secondary educational institutions. I believe we still have some time to pursue that study and provide officials with some findings. That would help us focus on the topic that Mr. Beaulieu himself has proposed. It's an extremely important study, and we must be able to conduct it.
I must say I'm disappointed with this situation. The Commissioner appeared here the other day, and I don't know what water the opposition members had drunk, but I want to congratulate them for at least agreeing to hear the Commissioner and to take action. It's helped us forge ahead.
Now I'd like the members opposite to say that they've now finished playing games and want to hear from the minister. I know the minister said that his schedule left him no time to appear before the committee again. If we could spring into action, we could move forward. I would remind my colleagues that the minister previously came to see us but that no one could hear him.
There's something else that troubles me. As you know, the study on post-secondary educational institutions isn't the only thing we haven't yet completed. That's also true of the study on economic development of the Acadian and francophone communities outside Quebec, which would really help us advance matters. Don't you think there would be more action in the post-secondary field if the economy was good and the vitality of the official language minority communities was strong? If we complete our study on post-secondary institutions, that would address the concerns that Mr. Beaulieu raised when he proposed that topic for study.
Mr. Chair, I must say I wish we could put an end to these games sooner rather than later and get a move on.
Thank you.