Official Languages Committee on Oct. 31st, 2024

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

Mr. Chair, I apologize and withdraw my comments.

I'd like to ask some questions of my colleagues opposite, who loudly proclaimed that Mr. Brock had apologized in the House last Thursday. How can they say that? Where did they learn or read that he had apologized? Last week, I referred to the texts published in the media, in which it was made very clear that Mr. Brock had only apologized in the media, on the platform X or on other social networks. He has never apologized to the minister or to the House of Commons.

Furthermore, I'd like to ask my colleagues opposite, those who were present and especially those who weren't—I'm referring to everyone—how they came to the conclusion that the MP in question had put on his earpiece. How did they know whether it was working or not? Why do they say that MP Brock got up in the House to tell the Speaker that there was a technical problem, something he never did? How did my colleagues opposite come to these conclusions after viewing the video of the House of Commons proceedings? They misrepresented the facts.

Mr. Chair, I ask that the committee proceed to a vote on the motion. I hope it will be adopted.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Iacono.

Mr. Godin, the floor is yours.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to express my appreciation for my colleague Mr. Iacono's comments about my passion for defending official languages. He confirmed that I had the privilege, as a member of Parliament, to stand up in the House of Commons on Tuesday to demonstrate my full commitment.

I was pleased to propose a motion to conduct a study on the educational continuum for Quebec's English and French-speaking communities. Unfortunately, on Tuesday, my colleague tabled a motion that we believe is far-fetched. I'll explain why later, Mr. Chair.

I think all stakeholders in Canada's official language minority communities are being shortchanged by the Liberals, once again.

At the end of the last session, in May and June, there were seven meetings that we couldn't hold, because a member had told witnesses that they were full of something that starts with “s”. I'll let you complete the sentence, Mr. Chair. We're not talking about “full of love”. I won't go any further. The MP had treated these people disrespectfully. Some witnesses no longer wanted to appear before the committee, because they didn't accept being treated that way.

There's a journalist in the room. It's important to remember that, at the end of the meeting, the MP said he wouldn't apologize. When he left the caucus on Wednesday, he paid lip service to the fact that if he had hurt people's feelings, he was sorry. I can't believe it.

What's important is how long it took for this MP to apologize. He appeared before a committee to read a text without necessarily respecting procedures. His colleagues probably put pressure on him, and I thank his colleagues for making him see reason.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have the floor, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to ask why we are talking about Mr. Drouin here. The motion is about how Mr. Brock was disrespectful to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Mr. Duclos. That's what the motion is about.

I would like to know what relevance Mr. Godin's comments have. The motion stems from the fact that Mr. Brock was really irresponsible and disrespectful to Mr. Duclos on the floor of the House of Commons.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'd like to say two things.

Thank you for your comments, Mr. Serré.

Mr. Godin, is what you're saying related to the motion?

I will tread carefully, because I was chairing the committee when the incident with Mr. Drouin occurred. I will let you continue, as long as your comments are relevant to the motion under consideration. I'm giving you a little leeway to see how you're going to tie it all together or bring it all back to the motion.

You have the floor again, Mr. Godin.

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

My colleague's question is very relevant, and I will help him understand the connection between what I am saying and the current motion, which concerns apologies on the part of members for their behaviour in the performance of their duties.

In case my fellow member Mr. Serré cannot make the connection, I'm talking about apologies. The motion does say “apologize”. I think it's an easy connection to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

First of all, a motion was proposed in Mr. Drouin's case. We debated it at length. It is over and done with. What does it have to do with this motion?

I remember that I even had to rule Mr. Godin's motion out of order, and the committee overturned the chair's decision, by a majority, I might add. What I mean is that the matter is settled—it's been decided and dealt with.

How does what you're saying relate to this motion?

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

Mr. Chair, we're talking about elected officials who did certain things in the performance of their duties, and we're asking for an apology. We spent seven meetings asking for an apology in Mr. Drouin's case. I refer to that because now the roles are reversed. In the spring, it was a Liberal member, and now this motion is aimed at two Conservative members.

Past testimony on this motion is about the actions of elected officials. I'm referring to Mr. Iacono, but I'll be referring to Mr. Lightbound later as well.

I think it's important to give us an opportunity to express our views on this, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

As long as you're debating the motion, I'll let you do so.

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

In that case, I will continue.

I find it odd that the member needed four days to apologize—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are you talking about Mr. Brock?

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

No, Mr. Brock did it very quickly. I'll come back to that later. I'm talking about Mr. Drouin.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Okay.

I would ask that we pause for a moment, Mr. Godin.

As chair of the committee, I was there. Everyone was there, except for Marilyn Gladu, who was not yet with us at the time.

When Mr. Drouin made the comments you refer to, which are certainly not parliamentary or appropriate for witnesses, I raised my gavel to reprimand him. Immediately, in the heat of the moment, he apologized before I asked him to do so.

At the time, I did not gauge the extent of Mr. Drouin's remorse, nor could anyone here, by the way. That was not my role. However, even before I admonished him, in the heat of the moment, a few seconds after his inappropriate remarks, Mr. Drouin apologized. That's what happened at committee.

Then a motion was proposed. I don't remember whether it was by Mr. Beaulieu or by you, Mr. Godin, but it was proposed by the opposition. There were consequences of some kind. We discussed the motion and voted on it. We know the facts.

However, on the current motion, I'll let you speak—

Do you have a point of order, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

No, but I remember Mr. Drouin saying, “I'm sorry, but I think you're full of hogwash.” I guess it's an apology of sorts—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

In any case, I will go and see—

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

We have to see—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

However, I remember that, in the heat of the moment, Mr. Drouin apologized before I even reprimanded him because I was stunned, as were many people here.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor again, but go back to the current motion.

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

Mr. Chair, from the outset, I simply want to tell you that I wasn't accusing you of not being impartial as chair. I was simply stating the facts, as my colleague Mr. Iacono earlier relayed facts that we feel are not true, let's just say.

Mr. Chair, we're talking about the lack of an apology in the House of Commons by the member concerned. We, the Conservatives, are being accused of not getting him to apologize quickly enough.

My colleague Mr. Lightbound, the member for Louis‑Hébert, is accusing us, the francophone members of the Conservative Party, of not defending the French language. Where was he when his colleague made unacceptable comments to the witnesses, as has already been mentioned? It took five days for an apology to be offered.

Before he hurls insults at us for not moving quickly, I would like to remind my colleague from Louis‑Hébert, Joël Lightbound, that we were never aware of any measures he took within his party to encourage his colleague to apologize.

Speaking of apologies, Mr. Chair, I have here the verbatim record of what happened in the House of Commons on October 24. I won't read it in its entirety, but if there are questions, you can interrupt me, Mr. Chair.

At 3:02 p.m., Larry Brock rose and asked a question, probably to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Mr. Duclos. Mr. Fergus turned the floor over to Minister Duclos, who said:

Mr. Speaker, you also could have said it in French, because I am going to say something in French that my colleague has already heard several times in English.

Mr. Duclos is asking Mr. Brock to speak in French. Mr. Brock has rights.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Please continue, Mr. Godin.

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

I'm hearing reactions from the other side.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Please continue, Mr. Godin.

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

I will read Mr. Duclos's full answer. I didn't make it up. This is a House of Commons document:

Mr. Speaker, you also could have said it in French, because I am going to say something in French that my colleague has already heard several times in English.