Evidence of meeting #37 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c13.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michel Bastarache  Legal Counsel, As an Individual
Yves Giroux  Parliamentary Budget Officer, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Michelle Legault
Patrick Taillon  Professor and Associate Director of the Centre for Constitutional and Administrative Law Studies, Faculty of Law, Université Laval, As an Individual
Pierre Asselin  President, Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

While we wait for the team to send us the duly drafted motion, I'd like to know if there are any other questions.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

I'd like to move a friendly amendment. I welcome my colleagues' efforts, but I would simply add this: "…and that the bill be reported to the House before Christmas."

In that case, we would support the motion.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Any questions on the amendment?

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

The idea would be to report the bill to the House before Christmas.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

May I speak, Mr. Chair?

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Mr. Drouin's amendment has just been moved, and Mr. Goldman wishes to speak.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

I want to go back to the amendment that Mr. Drouin moved concerning the deadline for reporting the bill to the House of Commons.

I've always said we should speed up the process. The Conservative Party is working in cooperative fashion. We've often said we were ready to add meetings. However, that doesn't seem feasible. We're not going to pick up the pace only to botch the job. We're talking about what's going to be a historic bill.

I can't accept the amendment my colleague is moving. Mr. Chair, I would point out that our intention is to begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill before Christmas. That's our intention, but I'm not managing our time. We adopted a motion providing that the situation will be reassessed after 20 meetings. We're now on our 11th meeting.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

As I understand it, you don't want to move an amendment to the amendment moved by Mr. Drouin but rather to raise an objection.

Does anyone else wish to speak to this?

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

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

I'm also opposed to the amendment.

We entirely agree that we should speed up the process. I've checked with our whips to see whether it would be possible to hold more meetings. I said we had discussed that in committee. However, our party's whip told me she hadn't received a request regarding this matter. I don't think the process is being delayed by the opposition.

It's important to do things right regarding our debates. I would point out that none of the amendments that the Quebec government has requested have been adopted and none of the main amendments proposed by the Quebec groups defending French have either.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

So I understand why you're opposed to it, Mr. Beaulieu.

Go ahead, Ms. Ashton.

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

I also think the amendment makes no sense. We have to do the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill before reporting it to the House. We have to do that efficiently as soon as possible.

The request to hear from the key ministers is a request made by every committee that has a bill it needs to study. I wonder why the Liberal members don't want to hear from the ministers as soon as possible.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Chair, may I speak?

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Since this is your amendment to Mr. Godin's main motion, I give you the floor, Mr. Drouin.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

I don't want to spend too much time discussing this amendment. I request the committee's unanimous consent to withdraw it. That way, we can quickly vote on Mr. Godin's motion and get back to our agenda.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

You have the Conservative Party's consent to withdraw the amendment, Mr. Chair.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

All right.

A brief aside, if I may. I just saw that Mr. Iacono's hand is raised.

Do you wish to speak to this matter, Mr. Iacono?

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

I wanted to address the subject of my colleague opposite who mentioned inviting the ministers.

I've attended all our meetings and, to my knowledge, the Liberal members have never said they didn't want to bring in the ministers. She should withdraw her comments, because—

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Just a moment, please.

Let's get back to where we were in chronological order.

Mr. Drouin requests unanimous consent to withdraw his own amendment.

Does he have the committee's unanimous consent?

Then we will move on to Mr. Godin's point of order.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Actually, if the amendment is withdrawn, I can withdraw my point of order, Mr. Chair.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

All right.

I see no hands raised on the screen, and I believe we have unanimous consent in the room.

Madam Clerk, would you please confirm unanimous consent?

October 27th, 2022 / 11:45 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Michelle Legault

I confirm unanimous consent, Mr. Chair.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

The amendment moved by Mr. Drouin to the main motion is withdrawn.

Are we ready to rule on Mr. Cohen's motion?

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Chair, there seems to be unanimous consent in the room.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

To speed things up, I will put the question to the members in the meeting room.

Do we have unanimous consent to adopt Mr. Godin's motion?