Official Languages Committee on Oct. 8th, 2024

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

The problem is not the individual, but rather the process and the missteps the government has made since it came to power. I have here a list of missteps that demonstrate the government's incompetence when it comes to protecting French, which is one of the two official languages.

First, the Centre d'expertise en immigration francophone was established in Dieppe, New Brunswick a few years ago, but we still have no information on its expenditures and what it's done so far.

Second, I could talk about the hit CBC podcast that was translated into French in Paris.

Third, certain bilingual positions are held by unilingual anglophones in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Fourth, I could talk about the ArriveCAN app, which does not respect both official languages.

Fifth, there is the issue of unilingual English labelling during the pandemic.

Sixth, there are the appointments of the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada. She speaks only English and she has not committed to learning French, which is unacceptable.

Seventh, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the comments of our colleague from Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, who made vulgar remarks about the witnesses.

Eighth, I could talk about Ms. Gainey. When she entered the House of Commons, the Prime Minister introduced her in English only.

As I said earlier, Bill C‑35 makes no mention of official languages in the day care process. It was the Conservative Party of Canada that tabled amendments.

Ninth, I could talk about the commissions of inquiry chaired by Justice Rouleau and Justice Hogue. The Commissioner of Official Languages confirmed that it was unacceptable that the documents were not translated.

Tenth, the government order and regulations for modernizing the Official Languages Act, Bill C‑13. Nine orders remain. Royal assent was received in June 2023. This shows that the government has neither the will nor the intent.

Eleventh, no one is accountable for the Action Plan for Official Languages.

This list is not exhaustive, but I wanted to show that the government made a mistake when it appointed the Governor General.

Mr. Chair, I don't know if I can do it now, but I'd like to move an amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I thought you were going to say that you wanted to move your motion.

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

I'm going to draw on my motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, I understand.

Procedurally speaking, you may move your amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, I'd like to move an amendment to my colleague's motion. According to my proposed amendment, the text would begin with “Given that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has failed to appoint a bilingual Governor General and that the latter is still unable to speak French after 3 years in the position”.

Then we would go back to the next two paragraphs of Mr. Beaulieu's motion, the one that begins with “the media reported” and the one that begins with “the Governor General said she was ‘deeply committed’”.

We would strike out the rest of his motion and replace it with, “Be it resolved—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment, Mr. Godin. I just want to clarify that all members received this on their P9 account.

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

I will resume, Mr. Chair.

The rest of the text would read as follows:

therefore, be it resolved that: a) The committee report to the House the Prime Minister of Canada’s failure to respect Canada’s official languages by appointing a Governor General that cannot speak French, and has not demonstrated any improvements over the past 3 years; b) Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee undertake a study of the reasons which led the Prime Minister to appoint the Governor General unable to express herself in one of Canada’s two official languages and that, as part of this study, the committee invite to appear: - The Honourable Jean‑Yves Duclos, Quebec Lieutenant; - The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, former Quebec Lieutenant; Advisory Panel on the Selection of the Next Governor General: - The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Co‑Chair; - Janice Charette, Co‑Chair; Privy Council Office: - Donnalyn McClymony, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Senior Personnel and Public Service Renewal)—

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead on a point of order, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, the motion that Mr. Godin is reading is the same as the one he already submitted in his notice of motion. I just want to make sure it's in order. It's an amendment, but he is proposing his entire motion as an amendment to Mr. Beaulieu's motion. I want to make sure that's allowed.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin gave notice of his motion, but he told us earlier that he was going to draw inspiration from his motion to amend Mr. Beaulieu's motion.

If I understand correctly, he will not be introducing this text twice.

Is that correct, Mr. Godin?

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

Absolutely, Mr. Chair. There's nothing better than being on site to get a solid grasp of the situation.

May I continue, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That was—

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

It was a cheap shot.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Okay. I'll continue with the list of people the committee should invite:

- Donald Booth, Canadian Secretary to the King; Office of the Secretary to the Governor General: Ken MacKillop, Secretary to the Governor General; that the committee allocate a minimum of 5 meetings to this study; and, that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

That's my motion, Mr. Chair.

I think we have to be concerned about this appointment made a few years ago. In addition, we have to be consistent. However, I believe that the Prime Minister and his government representatives need to come and explain themselves so that we can understand how the appointment process for the person currently occupying the position of Governor General was conducted.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

One moment, please.

I've been conferring with our clerk.

Mr. Godin, I have to rule on the following question.

I get the impression—and I'm even convinced—that Mr. Beaulieu's motion has been completely transformed, because Mr. Beaulieu's motion intended to express the committee's disappointment with the appointment of the Governor General, without doing any additional work or studies, without summoning anyone.

I am using the words of Mr. Beaulieu's motion, in point a), that the committee “express its profound disappointment”, and so on, for the same reasons that appear previously, in the section that says “Given that”. Your amendment proposes to remove the core intent or objective of Mr. Beaulieu's motion; in addition, it would require a study, and to summon witnesses to reach conclusions and report them to the House of Commons.

It seems I have to decide. I must tell you that your motion is still up in the air, we can agree on that, but that the amendment you are proposing it is out of order.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, given the respect I have for the committee and for your role, I will accept your interpretation. I don't agree with that interpretation, but I accept it.

You will understand that I intend to move my motion and that I will seek the floor to move my motion at the appropriate time.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Absolutely.

I want to come back to Mr. Beaulieu's motion.

I know you have your hand up, Mr. Beaulieu, but Mr. Dalton had his up before you. I'm sorry, did you have a point of order?

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

I'd like to know if I can withdraw my motion and then move an amendment to Mr. Godin's motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No, you can't withdraw your motion without unanimous consent first.

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

Okay.

Is there unanimous consent?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Is there unanimous consent to…. Actually, it will amount to the same thing.

Mr. Godin has already moved his motion within the prescribed time. You can ask for unanimous consent. It's up to you.

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

Otherwise, we'll continue the discussion on this, and if my motion is defeated, Mr. Godin can move his. Ultimately, I can move a new amendment to his motion, if necessary.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Actually, if Mr. Godin decides to move his motion, for which he gave notice in due course, one motion will follow yours, if yours isn't adopted. We don't know what will happen to your motion. You just moved it. You can't withdraw it yourself, but perhaps you can ask for the unanimous consent of the committee to amend your own motion based on Mr. Godin's motion.