Thank you, Chair.
I'm very disappointed that the amendment didn't pass, because it addressed the concerns that I have with the motion.
I don't like this motion. I don't like the way it was presented. I think we're above this at this committee. We're trying to promote the French language, and I think it is very vindictive and petty to be pointing out people's behaviour.
It's clear that all parliamentarians have made a mistake at one time or another. We know that Mr. Fraser, when he was the minister, was criticized for publishing memos only in English. Mr. Brock, from Brantford—Brant, realized that he had made a mistake, and he apologized, and Minister Duclos accepted the apology.
I think this committee has wasted over three hours talking about this. Clearly it is our job, as committee members, to remind the House of Commons that everyone can speak in either official language, but the way that this is phrased at the beginning, that there is “disappointment at the behaviour of Conservative MPs”, it's as though they're lumping everybody together all into one.
I don't appreciate that, because I think I've been very clear that I'm super-supportive of French and English across the country. I've demonstrated that continually at this committee and in the House. You heard Mr. Dalton talk at great length and passionately about his appreciation of the French language, so I don't like lumping them all together.
I also don't like that there's an assumption at the end of it that denounces “the inaction of the Conservative leader in the face of repeated anti-francophone remarks”. People have no idea what the leader did or did not do here, so to assume that he didn't take any action is unfair and, frankly, not true.
I don't like this motion, so I would like to move an amendment that would delete, in the first paragraph, “Conservative MPs”. Then in the third paragraph, it would say, “That the committee accepts that the MP for Brantford—Brant apologized in the House”. Then we keep the next paragraph, but strike the last paragraph.
That's what I think we should do so that we can get back to the good work of the committee.
We have done a lot of good reports here. I think the point that the Liberals wanted to make has been made ad nauseam for three hours, so let's move this amendment and see if we can vote on it and move on.