I would first like to commend Ms. Ashton for agreeing to our holding two meetings to hear the ministers. However, I want to point out that, if her objective was really to hold two meetings, perhaps it would have been better if she had voted against her sub-amendment. We'll see what happens.
Furthermore, if we agree on the date of December 6, the appearance of the ministers could well be compromised. Then we might have to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration without even being able to hear them.
As this is a public meeting, I want the people from Quebec to be able to see that an effort is really being made to muzzle us. I want them to be aware that Quebec is in the minority in Canada, that it isn't being given a chance to really express its point of view and that increasingly restrictive limits are about to be set.
I don't know why it's so important to limit debate if not to prevent people from becoming aware of what the Official Languages Act is. I'm asking Quebeckers to monitor what happens in the media. The Official Languages Act is the main factor in the anglicization of Quebec. It gives free reign to the assimilation of francophones everywhere. There's a lack of political will to fight it. We can see it in the act and in what goes on every day.
I hope we can make sure we have more time. The more we advance, the less time we have to debate and express our views.