Evidence of meeting #38 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 point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Mr. Généreux, can you confirm that you're withdrawing your subamendment for the moment?
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Chair, I need three minutes. I just want to make sure to get this right.
Liberal
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
You meant to say “Mr. Généreux”, didn't you?
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
There was some confusion earlier, but I think I might be a little more on the ball.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I see my microphone is on, and Mr. Godin is listening. I've been caught red-handed.
Getting back to Ms. Lattanzio's question, I move that the sentence I wanted to add to Mr. Godin's amendment to point 4 of Mr. Serré's motion be withdrawn and that it be added as a new point 5 instead, since point 5 in Mr. Serré's original motion has been deleted by another amendment moved by Mr. Godin. This new point 5 would read as follows: “that, before proceeding, the Government of Quebec be given the opportunity to submit its positions or to appear.”
We could call a vote on that. I think everyone pretty much agrees.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Yes. If there is unanimous consent, I may suggest something else to allow you to do what you want to do, Mr. Godin.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
You mean Mr. Généreux.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Yes, I'm sorry.
Is there unanimous consent for Mr. Généreux to amend his subamendment so he can add to point 5 of the original motion?
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Removing point 5 was actually about getting rid of the deadline for our clause‑by‑clause.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
There would no longer be a point 5.
Point (a) of Mr. Godin's amendment is about inviting witnesses, for example.
Bloc
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Chair, it doesn't matter whether it's in point 1 or point 5. I'm almost tempted to tell you to put it wherever you want. What matters is that Quebec government officials are invited back to appear before the committee to present their amendments in person or propose new ideas before we proceed to our clause‑by‑clause consideration. We all agree on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Okay. We have five minutes left, because I've been told that the technical team has to finish at 1 p.m. sharp.
So, is there unanimous consent for—
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Godin's amendment struck out point 5 of Mr. Serré's motion precisely so that there would be no deadline for our clause‑by‑clause. At that point—
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
In that case, let's put it in point 1.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
We can put it in point 1, since Mr. Généreux seems to agree.
It's important to understand that one of the main purposes of Mr. Godin's amendment was to drop the deadline for our clause‑by‑clause. So, if we want to avoid distorting this amendment or moving away from its substance, since that was probably not Mr. Généreux's intention, perhaps we should propose this change in point 1 of Mr. Serré's motion.
Liberal
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I am seeking permission from the committee to propose that point 1 of Mr. Serré's motion be amended by adding the following, after the deadline for ministers to appear, although I don't remember the new date, because Ms. Ashton had proposed amendments: “that, before proceeding with the tabling of amendments, the committee be given the opportunity to allow the Government of Quebec to submit its positions or appear before the committee”.
Liberal
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Chair, before we proceed to the vote, I would like to ask for clarification. At this point, are there any witnesses who have been called and have agreed to appear before the committee by November 24? Has the clerk already scheduled any witnesses before November 29, and if so, who?
I wonder how this will be handled if Mr. Godin's amendments are adopted.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
That's a good question and is relevant to Mr. Godin's amendments.
Madam Clerk, can you tell us which witnesses have confirmed their attendance?