Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Généreux.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Regarding the subamendments, everything is fine.

My observation is about the final part of Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments, which was ruled inadmissible. His intent was to emphasize Quebec's demands. We fully agree with what he was proposing, because the Liberal Party's motion basically seeks to silence all the witnesses who were scheduled to appear before this committee over the next few weeks—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Généreux, I would ask you to stick to your point of order.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

I actually just want to talk about the fifth part of Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments, which was dropped, and his intent. I want everyone here to understand that Quebec is being silenced here in committee, with this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Généreux, I'm sorry, but that's not a point of order.

Do you have any comments about the subamendments as moved by Mr. Beaulieu and read out by the clerk?

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

No, that's fine, we can move on to the vote.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, the decision made here earlier was based on Bosc and Gagnon's House of Commons Procedure and Practice. I would ask the opposition parties to consult it. It clearly explains why the final part of Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments were inadmissible. The clerk has already made a statement on this, so I don't understand why the two opposition parties are harping on this point.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Serré. That is indeed what we all agreed on after hearing the clerk's recommendations.

We are still talking about paragraphs one to four of Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments as written. All the rest of it was inadmissible. Are there any other questions or comments on this before we proceed to a vote?

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

I'd like to jump in to add some additional information.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

But you can't amend your own subamendments.

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

No, but I can defend them. Since Mr. Vis has asked to speak, I can go after him.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Vis, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Go ahead.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Chair, I just wanted some clarification. How do we define francophone communities outside Quebec? Does it mean people who want to learn French and who go to a French school, but whose first language is English, or does it only mean people whose first language is French?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Vis, are you referring to Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments?

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Yes, I'm talking about the last part.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

There is no last part anymore.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Okay, sorry. There was so much going on that it was hard to follow.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

True.

You're right.

Are there any other questions?

Madam Clerk, we're ready to vote. It's going to be a recorded vote, right?

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

Mr. Chair, Mr. Gourde wanted to speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm sorry, Mr. Gourde. Go ahead.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To clarify the situation for everyone, can you confirm that we're about to vote on Mr. Beaulieu's subamendments relating to the amendments that Joël Godin would like to make to Mr. Serré's motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, that's correct.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

That's good. We'll get there yet. I'm pretty sure a lot of people are finding it difficult to follow us. As we say back home, this is often as clear as mud.

We will start with the basics. We will vote on the subamendments, then we'll come back to Mr. Godin's amendments, and after that maybe we can finally vote on Mr. Serré's motion.

I think everyone now knows exactly where we are, or very close to it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Gourde, to pick up on what you said, I'd say things are just a bit clearer than that, but we will find our way.

I don't see any hands up, Madam Clerk, so I think we'll proceed to a vote.

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

Mr. Chair, may I provide some additional information on the merits of my subamendments?