Evidence of meeting #44 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-13.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Chair, we're wasting an hour.
I'm pretty sure it's the Minister of Canadian Heritage who's here. I recognize him; it's Pablo Rodriguez. I recognize him; I know it's him. I could single him out if he had committed a crime. I would know it's him, Mr. Rodriguez.
Mr. Godin, you raised the point of order. Now perhaps we could continue with questions. Then we'll see if that suits you or not.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Just a moment.
Mr. Godin, the motion you read earlier, the one we unanimously adopted, sets out the committee's business, but the committees can't control how witnesses appear. The witnesses were called and are here in accordance with the motion. It's up to you to question both witnesses in the first hour, or only one, as you wish.
According to the notice of meeting I received this morning, as everyone did, Mr. Rodriguez will be here for one hour, and the clock is ticking. You may ask him questions for one hour, which doesn't defeat the purpose of the motion in any way.
I honestly think we should start questioning our witnesses; we've been waiting for them for a long time.
I'm listening, Mr. Godin.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
My colleague Mr. Drouin said I was wasting time, but the Liberals wasted seven meetings for the sake of the francophonie. So I refuse to accept any blame from my colleague.
You may proceed, Mr. Chair. Pursuant to the motion, I will question Mr. Rodriguez in the first hour and the Minister of Official languages in the second.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you very much.
Mr. Rodriguez, you have five minutes for your presentation.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Good morning, members of the committee. Thank you for your invitation.
The bill that you are considering today is both a priority of our government and, in my humble opinion, essential to the future of French across Canada, including in Quebec.
Right off the top, I want to state something that you already know: that my colleague is responsible for official languages. I play no role in developing or coordinating the Official Languages Act.
However, as the lieutenant for Quebec and Quebeckers, I consider this bill particularly important both professionally and personally. I am an immigrant, and I spoke neither English nor French when I arrived here, only Spanish. As I learned each of our two languages, I gradually discovered Canada's cultural richness and what we were as a nation.
First of all, French made me love our songs, our films and our culture, and, thanks to French, I developed my sense of belonging to Quebec and Canada. However, like many francophones, I am concerned about the future of my language. The government acknowledges this concern and understands that it must take strong action to support the vitality of French. Bill C-13, which was introduced by my colleague, is definitely a tool to that end, and one of its principles is based on the fact that the French language is threatened across the country, including in Quebec.
There are 8 million of us francophones in a sea of 360 million anglophones in North America. French is vulnerable. French is in the minority in our country and across our continent. Let me be clear: inaction is not an option and the status quo is not a plan.
We now recognize, for the first time, that English and French cannot be considered as requiring equal protection. Their situations are not the same. Our government definitely intends to shoulder all its responsibilities in this regard in a manner consistent with federal and provincial jurisdictions.
I believe we must all recognize that Bill C-13 represents a major step forward for francophone communities across the country. Let me be clear: as we do more to protect the French language, we will continue protecting the rights of linguistic minorities, including English-speaking Quebeckers. A Quebecker is a Quebecker.
The proposals made in Bill C-13 are not something we pulled out of a hat; we didn't just make them up. The opposite is actually true. Based on the consultations conducted across the country, the government introduced a comprehensive bill that proposes specific solutions on many fronts. It is a major step forward.
For example, with regard to federally regulated private businesses, we would acknowledge and frame the right of consumers to be served in French and the right of workers to work in French both the Quebec and in communities with a strong francophone presence. It is critical that we be able to do so. The government would also have a duty to introduce a policy on francophone immigration. My colleague has high hopes for that and will have all the necessary tools to do so and to achieve those objectives. The bill would also confer new powers and more authority on the Commissioner of Official Languages, who would then be able to make orders in non-compliance cases. Those are only a few examples.
In closing, I would say that the future of French is everyone's responsibility. It's a responsibility that we share with our provincial counterparts and, in particular, with the Quebec government. We do not always agree on the means, but we definitely have the same objective.
We will therefore continue listening to the provinces, but we will also act. We definitely will not shirk our responsibilities. Bill C-13 contains significant measures that would apply to the country as a whole and that are consistent with federal and provincial jurisdictions.
Colleagues, I ask that we all work together to advance this important bill, which is of considerable significance to Quebec and all of Canada. Francophones across the country and Canadians as a whole eagerly await this reform.
Thank you, and I will be glad to answer committee members' questions.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.
Each party will have six minutes of speaking time in the first round of questions.
We will begin with the first vice-chair of the committee, Joël Godin.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Rodriguez, we do indeed have the same objective, which is to acquire the means to protect bilingualism in Canada. By bilingualism, I mean English and French. It is important to note the two languages that are involved in our bilingualism because certain actions that your government has taken are questionable, particularly the appointment of a Governor General who is bilingual but doesn't speak French.
Mr. Rodriguez, you said in your statement that you had conducted consultations and that the purpose of Bill C-13 is to improve French. I don't know whether you consulted the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, but it requests that Bill C-13 centralize powers in the Treasury Board. I'd like to hear your comments on that subject.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
You're asking me questions about the bill and the consultations that were conducted, but my colleague the Minister of Official Languages and her team are responsible for that.
I can answer any questions you may have about Canadian Heritage. We definitely want to reinforce the two official languages in a manner that respects the minorities, Mr. Godin. That's essential.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
The Minister of Official Languages isn't mentioned in the bill. The powers are allocated between Canadian Heritage and the Treasury Board. You may not know it, but you're responsible for it together with the Treasury Board.
Can you tell me about the division of powers between Canadian Heritage, of which you are the minister, and the Treasury Board? What's your vision? Do you agree that there should be a division of powers between those two departments?
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
As the Minister of Canadian Heritage, I transferred responsibility for official languages to the Minister of Official Languages. It was done officially, Mr. Godin.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Yes, it was done by order, but you're still responsible for the Canadian Heritage portfolio.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
You're actually shirking your responsibilities, Mr. Rodriguez. Canadian Heritage is the department mentioned in Bill C-13.
By order, your department transferred authority to be its representative to the Minister of Official Languages, but that isn't the responsibility of the Department of Official Languages. There is no Department of Official Languages. Canadian Heritage is responsible for official languages.
With all due respect, what I mean is that neither you nor the Minister of Official Languages has control. So why not agree to transfer all powers to the Treasury Board?
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
She isn't our representative. She's the titular Minister of Official Languages. There's a fundamental distinction between the powers conferred on her and the department's responsibilities.
Once again, Mr. Godin, I'll be pleased to answer any questions you have about Canadian Heritage.
Why are the Conservatives filibustering on the bill—
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
I'm stopping the clock.
Mr. Rodriguez, we know how the committees work. The questions come from the members of the committee. I respectfully ask you to answer my colleague's questions, whether or not they're relevant. I'm not saying they aren't. I respectfully ask you to answer his questions regardless of what you think of their quality.
I will restart the clock and give the floor back to Mr. Godin.
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
You have a right to answer the question that's asked, Mr. Rodriguez. The six minutes are shared. You don't have six more minutes to answer the questions.
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Of course, Mr. Chair, but I still want time to answer his question, even though it's not that relevant.