Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for appearing today.
I've been looking very closely at part 2 of this bill with respect to federally regulated workplaces. Subclause 6(1) is of major importance. It says:
In relation to communications with or services provided to consumers in Quebec or in relation to workplaces in Quebec, Quebec's Charter of the French language applies instead of this Act to a federally regulated private business if the federally regulated private business chooses to be subject to Quebec's Charter of the French language.
Subclause 6(2) goes on to say:
A federally regulated private business must, in accordance with the regulations, give notice of the day on which it will become or cease to be subject to Quebec's Charter of the French language.
This is very problematic for me, because, one, the Minister of Justice outlined his opposition to Quebec's Charter of the French Language with respect to minority rights and the use of the notwithstanding clause. In this legislation, the Government of Canada is potentially subjecting Canadian workers to a law the justice minister has criticized.
Do you have any comments on this process and how the government will ensure charter rights are protected? Say, for example, that a business decides to be subject to a law the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice have criticized for its use of the notwithstanding clause and the potential charter challenges related to individual rights with respect to language.
Thank you.