Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2022

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To summarize the first point of my subamendment, we are asking that four meetings be added to meet with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the President of Treasury Board, and the Minister of Official Languages, as well as four sessions to hear from the remaining witnesses.

Some people say we are filibustering, but that is not our goal. Our goal is to ensure that Bill C‑13 will result in changes that will ensure the future of French in Canada and Quebec.

This morning, we learned of an open letter written by Messrs. François Larocque, Mark Power and Darius Bossé. They say that Bill C‑13 “[...] is one of the ten longest government bills ever drafted”, and that “The last revision of the Official Languages Act was conducted in 1988”, when the Mulroney Conservatives were in power. You may recall that this revision did not call into question or modify the principles of the Official Languages Act, which continued to defend and promote English in Quebec...

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have the floor, Mr. Godin.

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

The meeting appears to be in camera.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We have just sent a message asking that the problem be fixed. This is part of the technical problems I told you about at the beginning of the session. The repeated suspension and resumption of the meeting is causing these problems. We are going to sort it out after the meeting, because we are going to adjourn it to start a new hearing next Thursday, resuming the debate. I want to reassure you in that regard.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

We could wait until the meeting is no longer posted as in camera.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Last week's meeting was posted as closed when it was not. This was confusing.

We'll wait a few moments.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will adjourn the meeting immediately and start a new one in 15 minutes. We will then resume debate on the motion.

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

Excuse me, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have the floor, Mr. Godin.

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

For your protection, Mr. Chair, I would ask for unanimous consent to adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's a good idea, Vice-Chair.

Do we have the unanimous consent of the committee to adjourn immediately and reconvene in 15 minutes?

I don't see any objections.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The meeting is adjourned.