Official Languages Committee on Nov. 29th, 2022

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

There is nothing to prevent Mr. Serré and Mr. Godin from having discussions without the formality of the committee.

It is simply a matter of sitting down around the table to talk and being able to come to an unofficial agreement even before coming back to this committee and its formality.

If everyone reaches out, including Mr. Beaulieu and Ms. Ashton, to move things forward, there might be common ground.

For us, the concern is not necessarily associated with what goes on here, rather with what goes on elsewhere.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a lot of respect for my colleague, who is the chair of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. He is a man whom I admire greatly, but I do not agree with his comments. He is trying to ascribe motives to the members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

I have always been committed to advancing the cause. I cannot agree to him accusing the representatives of the Conservative Party of Canada of receiving instructions from on high. I could say the same thing about the members of his party, but I don't want to play that game. My objective is to find a solution.

I think Mr. Drouin's suggestion may be useful. However, I believe we have to do it in subcommittee, so it is recorded in evidence.

Mr. Drouin, Mr. Serré, Ms. Kayabaga, Mr. Iacono and Ms. Lattanzio, I can assure you that I am not acting in bad faith. We have not received any instructions.

I have the privilege of being the Conservative Party's official languages critic and I want to assure my colleagues of my complete attention. I have not received an order to make inappropriate remarks.

Mr. Chair, my invitation still stands.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm going to listen to comments from Ms. Ashton and Mr. Beaulieu. I will then say what I think and we can find some potential solutions.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

I thought Mr. Beaulieu was to speak before me.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, do you want to speak on this subject?

You told me earlier that you wanted to speak again, so I put your name at the end of the list.

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

I want to speak again later, but I also want to speak on this question.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

I am having trouble understanding what Mr. Drouin has proposed. He has proposed an informal discussion among committee members to find a solution. He is afraid it will not work out if we discuss it in subcommittee.

Is he talking about informal in camera discussions?

I didn't understand his intention.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

If I understand Mr. Drouin's comments correctly, he wants these discussions to be held outside the four walls of the committee.

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

So he doesn't want us to talk about it here. Is that right?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No, he wants to hold these discussions outside the four walls of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

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

Is that for the entire committee?

Does he want to hold a subcommittee with everyone?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Chair, can I clarify my intention, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

We often do it in other committees. We have two-hour meetings during which we sometimes just keep arguing about some comma or other. There is plainly some openness, and Mr. Serré and Mr. Godin seem to be reaching out.

I won't participate in these discussions; I am going to let Mr. Serré handle it. This may be a good way of finding a solution. When we have the unanimous consent to withdraw amendments, then we will already be getting along. If we withdraw all the motions and go back to subcommittee to do the same thing, we will be no further ahead. Instead of starting over at zero, we should continue here.

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

Both sides have the answer.

It bothers me to limit this debate, since I think it is essential.

We held an initial meeting in camera. During that meeting, we decided on a number of meetings. I think that brought us to February, because of the break for a month over Easter. We agreed to change the date to December 6. And then there was a motion to change that agreement.

The last time, we reached out to the government party to have members come and see us outside committee hours, but that didn't happen.

If they don't intend to give some space and allow a clause by clause debate that makes sense, it will be very difficult, regardless of the format. If there is a desire to have discussions and expand the subject, that would be fine.

I would also like to raise a point of order and come back to...

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, your name is on the list, but I want us to finish the discussions before giving you the floor.

Last week, we talked about the possibility of holding a meeting of the subcommittee. I took steps to see whether it was possible to hold an official meeting of the subcommittee, that is, with the clerks, the analysts and the interpreters. However, it was not possible to do that before the holidays, given the lack of resources.

Since it will soon be noon, the committee could use the time to meet officially in subcommittee. I propose that idea.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

That is what I was going to ask.

Is it realistic for it to be possible to organize a subcommittee meeting?

For months, we have been trying to find times so we can meet more often. In theory, it's a good idea. We have subamendments to examine in connection with what we have done, to be able to find a way of doing the work that is needed before the holidays. I would like us to be able to vote on the subamendments. I don't know whether we are going to have time today. I am also open to a meeting of the subcommittee.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you seem to want to add something.

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

In fact, Mr. Chair, I am going to withdraw my first proposal. Let's suspend all the subamendments, the amendments, and the motion. I am asking for unanimous consent so we can meet in subcommittee and work on sorting it all out. We are going to waste this meeting, that much is obvious.

I am not judging anyone. I think that if we all want to be good sports, we have to be able to adjourn the meeting and go to subcommittee. Unfortunately, we are going to release our colleagues who are not on the subcommittee, but that is in the interests of parliamentary law and Bill C‑13.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, that is exactly why the subcommittee exists. I simply want to remind the members of the public listening to us that I went ahead last week to see whether it was possible for the Standing Committee on Official Languages to meet outside the calendar arranged. There is little hope, not to say no hope, of it being possible, given the limited resources.

If there is unanimous consent from the group, I am prepared to propose that we meet in subcommittee immediately.

Did you want to speak to that, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

I think it is a good proposal. I imagine that if the meeting is held informally, it may even be more efficient that way. It is a possible solution.

Whether the subcommittee meeting is held informally or officially, I don't see a big difference.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

There is a huge difference in that...

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

There will be no minutes, but that is not important unless our goal is to catch one another out. If our goal is to reach an agreement, I don't think it is essential.

What you have proposed is another possible way of working.