Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2022

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

Mr. Chair, that's not a point of order.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I wanted to clarify that the minister did not refuse to appear.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Serré, that is not a point of order.

Thank you for clarifying that, but Mr. Godin is right.

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

Mr. Chair, thank you for agreeing with me and confirming that that was not a point of order.

So as I was saying, we wanted the four ministers to appear before the committee. I think it's important to point that out and really stress that, which is the point of my subamendment. I want to ensure that we can do our work properly and proceed with our clause-by-clause with no time limits.

That's my first comment, to help set the tone to start debating this subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, go ahead.

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

I'd like to amend Mr. Godin's subamendment.

In point 1—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment, Mr. Beaulieu.

After speaking with our analysts and our clerk, to make things easier, more fluid and less confusing, it is being strongly suggested that we proceed one item at a time, rather than everything all at once. This is at my discretion. I would suggest that you present your subamendment one point at a time, if you wish. I assume there'll be a number of points.

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

There are four.

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

Mr. Chair, I want to make sure I understand what you mean by “one point at a time”.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Rather than proposing four subamendments to your subamendment, since Mr. Beaulieu is proposing subamendments, is that not right, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

It is one subamendment with several points.

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

I'd like to finish my thought. I wouldn't want my colleague's parliamentary privilege to be breached or for him not to be able to propose more than one subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That was certainly not my intention. On the contrary, I would suggest that we study all the subamendments, but in order to avoid confusion, I'm suggesting that we look at them one at a time. If there is a point (a) in his subamendment, let's discuss it, debate it and vote on it. Then, Mr. Beaulieu would present point (b), for example.

I'm not suggesting in any way that we limit committee members to just one amendment. That's not what I'm saying. Our rules of procedure must be followed.

Do you understand, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

Yes.

I could present all the points at the same time. It's pretty straightforward.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead.

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

Incidentally, we checked the procedure followed at our last meeting. We were told that the order of clauses could not be changed. My proposal was dismissed on that basis. We checked, and the order of the clause-by-clause can be changed, as long as there is unanimous consent. We can come back to that. That was an aside.

In point (a), I would change “November 17”. November 17 is fast approaching.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Excuse me, Mr. Beaulieu, but the amendment clearly states November 24.

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

Right.

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

I have a point of order.

I'm hearing discussions and comments from the support staff. I think only the members in the room should be given the floor to speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I haven't given the floor to anyone besides committee members thus far. What you're really saying is that people around the table need to keep their voices down.

To our wonderful support staff, please take note.

Mr. Beaulieu, go ahead.

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

Thus, “Thursday, November 24, 2022” would become “Thursday December 1, 2022”.

Next, I would add the following: The committee also invite the following witnesses to appear and that they be divided into three different blocks for a minimum of one hour to hear the evidence of each of them: (1) the Quebec Bar and French-speaking jurists, (2) the francophone school boards of Ontario, British Columbia and Acadia, and (3) the Université de Moncton and Alphabétisation Québec, provided that all the evidence is heard no later than December 8, 2022;

I will provide this in writing.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

So there are two points related to Mr. Godin's amendments.

The first has to do with changing the November 24 date suggested by Mr. Godin to December 1.

There is also the second point.

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

That's what I just read.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The second point would follow the fourth paragraph of Mr. Godin's amendments.

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

This could go after the first paragraph.