Official Languages Committee on Oct. 29th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Lightbound, the floor is yours.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Louis-Hébert, QC]

I essentially agree with the amendment proposed, because I have little sympathy for the apointment of a governor general who does not speak French. However, I agree with Mr. Iacono: the proposed amendment has no connection with the motion before us.

That said, I was very glad that Mr. Godin read the following passage from the motion: That the Committee expresses its disappointment at the behaviour of Conservative MPs, notably the MP for Lethbridge and the MP for Brantford—Brant, toward Francophone ministers and toward the entirety of the Canadian population that speaks French, an official langue of Canada;

I thank him for reading that passage. It was good to hear. Last Thursday, in the House, we did not see the Conservative members from Quebec and the francophone Conservative members rising to say it made no sense to question that a minister, my colleague, the member from Quebec, answered in French, his language. I was outraged. I am pleasantly surprised to hear Mr. Godin read the motion. I invite him to read it again, as often as he likes, and to read the rest of the motion as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Lightbound.

We are still on the amendment, and Mr. Généreux has the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It is important to remember the facts. Our colleague, the member for Brantford—Brant, asked a question. The answer given by the Minister, Minister Duclos, was in French. My colleague wanted to hear the answer, but he was not wearing his earpiece. He was therefore not able to hear the answer properly. That is what happened. His intention was absolutely not to correct the Minister or tell him he had not answered in English, but he moved on to something else.

In fact, Mr. Iacono said as much in reminding us of the facts. That said, the member for Brantford—Brant apologized after question period—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Généreux, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but we are talking about the amendment.

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

I'm getting there.

The member apologized and Mr. Duclos accepted his apology. The member's intention was not to say he didn't want the Minister to answer in French.There is no connection.

Mr. Iacono's motion asks members to apologize to the House. What Mr. Godin is moving as an amendment is to add that Prime Minister apologize for appointing a governor general who does not speak French.

Mr. Iacono referred earlier to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is a bilingual country, but the Prime Minister appointed someone, a person for whom I do have great respect, who does not speak a word of French.

Sincerely, between you and me—

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Wait a minute, please, Mr. Généreux.

Mr. Iacono, the floor is yours.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I understand very clearly what my colleague opposite is saying. I am not saying that what he says is false, but the motion relates to an event that took place in the House of Commons. It does not relate to the appointment of the Governor General.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair: what is Mr. Iacono's point of order?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you know how this works. If you want to speak, you raise your hand. That is what we always do.

I am allowing people to finish what they are saying. I am much more permissive than strict, as you know. If I have to call a colleague to order, I will do it, but I want to hear Mr. Iacono complete this thoughts.

The floor is yours, Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would first like to apologize to the witnesses who are here today, whose time is being wasted.

At the beginning of every meeting, you give instructions about how members are to speak so as not to make life difficult for the interpreters. When a member speaks at the same time as another member, what do you think happens? Can you advise Mr. Godin, once and for all, to let members speak? He will have a chance to speak afterward. If I did that while he was speaking, I don't think he would be happy. If there is to be no respect for members—because there really isn't any—I would ask for a bit of respect for the interpreters.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you for reminding him. We had a good discussion about that.

I am speaking to all members. Contrary to what we always thought during COVID‑19, the acoustic incidents are not down to Zoom or the people attending virtually; rather, they are down to the people who are around the table in person. That is where the acoustic incidents happen. That is why I ask you to wait for me to give you the floor before speaking. Raise your hand, wave it around if you think I haven't seen you or the clerk hasn't seen you. Please do as I ask.

Mr. Iacono, I am going to let you finish your point of order.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Chair, my motion relates to an event that took place in the House of Commons, not to appointments of governors general, judges or anyone else. It relates to something that was done and words that were spoken on October 24, 2024. When I referred to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it was about what took place in the House of Commons, not what took place elsewhere.

Every member has the right to speak in the language of their choice. We have two official languages in Canada, and on October 24, 2034, a member of the official opposition party failed to show respect not only to his colleagues in all parties, but to all Canadians.

I am a proud Quebecker; I was born in Quebec to Italian parents, and I learned French. I studied law in French after attending McGill University in English. My son also speaks French; he attends a bilingual francophone school.

If we may not move this motion at the Standing Committee on Official Languages, where should we do it? We are here to defend the rights of francophones. My colleagues opposite bring forward motions at every Tuesday and Thursday meeting to advance the rights of francophones. If we cannot move this motion at this committee, why would it be different now?

If the members of the Conservative Party block this motion, they will be blocking access to French in the Parliament of Canada, and that makes me ashamed.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Iacono.

Some of you have spoken, and I will go around the table up to Ms. Gladu before deciding whether Mr. Godin's amendment is in order. I would like to hear everyone speak to this subject and I will rule after that.

Mr. Godin, do you have a question? I would like to let Mr. Généreux finish his comments, unless you have a point of order.

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

Mr. Chair, you said you would go around the table up to Ms. Gladu. Will I also have the opportunity to speak?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you spoke first, and Mr. Iacono and Mr. Lightbound have also spoken.

Do you want to speak again? Did you raise your hand?

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

While Mr. Iacono was talking, I signaled with my hand and you agreed with your eyes, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, this is the list I have in front of me. Because Mr. Généreux had not finished speaking, I am going to start over with him. After him, it will be Ms. Gladu's, Mr. Samson's and Mr. Lightbound's turns, then you, and last Mr. Dalton.

Let's listen to what Mr. Généreux has to say about the amendment you have moved to Mr. Iacono's motion.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Out of respect for the interpreters, I have very patiently waited my turn. I now have the floor and I would like to invite my colleagues to dial it back a bit.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment, Mr. Généreux.

Do you have a point of order?

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I'm wondering if we could let the witnesses go. The Conservatives seem to be wanting to drag this out completely, and I don't want to keep them here unnecessarily. I find this unacceptable.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Since there seems to be a consensus around the table, Ms. Bégin and Mr. Caron‑Malenfant, we thank you for being here. You are free to leave.

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

The reality is that this is a motion by the Liberal Party—