Official Languages Committee on Nov. 1st, 2022

[The Clerk]

In the one you just sent us, there are no changes to the dates of November 24 and 25 that are mentioned on points one and two. Those were subamendments that were proposed at the end of the last meeting and were communicated to the committee members. Technically, unanimous consent would be needed to withdraw those subamendments.

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

On point two, I do want to move that November 24 be changed to December 6. We're keeping that.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Madam Clerk, paragraph two of Mr. Beaulieu's subamendment does match what he told us earlier.

[The Clerk]

Yes, I can confirm that paragraph two is fine. I'm just talking about paragraph one.

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

Point one of Mr. Serré's motion proposed a deadline for receiving the ministers. We're not touching that.

Point two set a deadline for submitting amendments to Bill C‑13. We're going back to what was proposed in our original agreement, before Mr. Serré's motion, namely to make a decision on December 6 and potentially start the clause-by-clause study.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Okay.

Are there any other questions?

Is that clear, Madam Clerk?

[The Clerk]

I think it's all right. If it's clear for the members, I think that—

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

Mr. Chair, I have an observation to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I need to recognize Ms. Lattanzio first, Mr. Généreux.

Ms. Lattanzio, the floor is yours.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Given that the clerk said that the subamendments that Mr. Beaulieu moved this morning were different from the ones moved at the last meeting, do we need unanimous consent to accept these changes before we can dispose of the subamendments?

If we accept them as is, I would like them to be read out in full, from paragraph one to paragraph four, so everybody understands it all before the vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Madam Clerk, do you have any comments to make on this procedural question?

[The Clerk]

Yes, in theory, the unanimous consent of the committee members is needed to accept these changes, and I can read out the points if you like.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Okay.

Is there unanimous consent to allow Mr. Beaulieu to amend his subamendments?

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

We agree, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Everyone seems to agree.

Madam Clerk, I would ask you to please read out the subamendments.

[The Clerk]

Point one of Mr. Serré's motion would not change.

Point two would now read as follows: “amendments to Bill C‑13 be submitted to the clerk in both official languages no later than Tuesday, December 6, 2022, and distributed to committee members in both official languages by noon on Wednesday, December 7, 2022;”.

Before I move on to point three, a vote could be held on this subamendment first. I'll read out the others afterwards, so as to deal with them one by one.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, let's deal with one subamendment at a time.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like some clarification about one thing. If the first part of my subamendment isn't adopted, could my motion regarding point four of the original motion be submitted? It's the one calling for the committee to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration on December 8 rather than November 29.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Earlier, everyone, including all the parties and the clerk too, were in agreement that all of the subamendments introduced by Mr. Beaulieu constituted a single subamendment. Therefore, we don't have to vote on each paragraph of his document.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You're right, Mr. Serré. That's what I thought too. I got a little mixed up. Let's just say it's the chair's fault.

Madam Clerk, you just read out paragraph two. Can you keep going until paragraph four?

[The Clerk]

Sure.

Nothing changes on point three of the original motion with regard to Mr. Godin's amendments.

As for point four, the words “no later than Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET” would be replaced with the words “no earlier than December 8, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET”.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any other questions about these subamendments?

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

Yes, Mr. Chair. I asked to speak earlier.