Official Languages Committee on Dec. 8th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I call the meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 44 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, May 30, 2022, the committee is resuming consideration of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

Pursuant to our routine motion, I wish to inform the committee that all witnesses completed the required login tests prior to the meeting.

I would now like to welcome our witnesses, Pablo Rodriguez and Ginette Petitpas Taylor. Thank you for being with us. We've known the people accompanying you for many years and we see them from time to time. Welcome, everyone.

The witnesses will have five minutes each for their opening statements, and a period of questions will follow. I would like to emphasize for newcomers that I am very strict about speaking time so that committee members can ask more than one question.

Ms. Petitpas Taylor, who is the Minister of Official Languages, will be first to speak.

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, I'd like to understand the process. Yesterday at 5:19 p.m., we received a notice of meeting stating that Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Petitpas Taylor would be appearing here today from 11 o'clock until noon and that the second hour would be given over to the Department of Canadian Heritage people. However, the notice of meeting was amended at 8:45 this morning.

Can someone explain to us what happened between 5:19 p.m. yesterday and 8:45 a.m. today?

That's my first question. I'll have more.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The notice of meeting was amended to reflect the fact that Ms. Petitpas Taylor will be available for both hours of the meeting, unlike Mr. Rodriguez, who will be with us for only one hour.

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

Mr. Chair, we have requested on several occasions that the Minister of Canadian Heritage appear before our committee, but there has been a lot of resistance. So I don't know what's going on today.

Reading the entire motion that we unanimously adopted, I see we agreed to two meetings consisting of one hour per minister and department. That means Mr. Rodriguez should appear alone for the first hour together with the members of his team and that Ms. Petitpas Taylor should also appear alone for one hour with her employees.

Did I understand the meaning of the motion, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Literally speaking, you are right. However, Ms. Petitpas Taylor will be prepared to answer our questions for the full two hours, so for one bonus hour, as stated in this morning's notice of meeting.

You are free to question Mr. Rodriguez and the people accompanying him in the first hour.

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

Can we choose the bonus minister that we get for two hours, that is to say, Mr. Rodriguez instead of Ms. Petitpas Taylor?

[Some voices]

Oh, oh!

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Petitpas Taylor will be with us for two hours, which is more than what was stated in the motion. I really hope there's no more filibustering.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a minute.

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

The heritage minister is here. I want us to have him exclusively for one hour.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I request the attention of everyone around this table. All this noise won't get us any further ahead.

Mr. Godin, I hear and understand what you say, but I don't see how the situation is a problem for you or for the members of each party independently, since Mr. Rodriguez is here for the first hour, which is flying by.

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

As I understand it, Mr. Rodriguez will answer questions in the first hour, and we shouldn't speak to Ms. Petitpas Taylor. Is that it?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You are free not to ask Ms. Petitpas Taylor any questions if you so wish, Mr. Godin. It's up to committee members to decide whether they want to ask questions.

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

No, Mr. Chair. The motion is clear: it's one full hour for each minister. Why are these two ministers here together today? The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the President of the Treasury Board were here alone. The motion provides that the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Official Languages will appear for one hour each.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I hear what you're saying, but I repeat, in a different way, that I don't see how that robs the members of this committee of any right under the motion you refer to.

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

We want each minister to appear for one hour. Is Mr. Rodriguez afraid he can't answer questions for a whole hour?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Those are questions that you can ask him. I received the same notice of meeting as you this morning.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Beaulieu, I find your opening somewhat arrogant. There's a minister responsible for official languages, and it's Ms. Petitpas Taylor. I think you should know that.

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

Mr. Chair, a point of order was raised before the witness started speaking. The issue regarding the motion should be resolved.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Rodriguez, please wait until you are asked a question.

I'm listening, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, what is the motion? We have to abide by the motion or else someone will introduce another motion and we'll vote on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The committee is free to do what it wants. If you want to introduce a motion, you may do so, but the clock is ticking. Mr. Rodriguez is here for one full hour, and Ms. Petitpas Taylor is here for two full hours.

Are you suggesting that Ms. Petitpas Taylor should leave the room while the Minister of Canadian Heritage is here?

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

No, what I'm telling you is that the motion provides that each minister will appear for one full hour. I want to have one hour with the Minister of Canadian Heritage and one hour with the Minister of Official Languages. That's it. I'm referring to the motion that we all adopted here.