Official Languages Committee on Dec. 8th, 2022

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

Thank you for that observation.

We're aware of who is here in the room, but the bill refers to your department. As you said in your speech, the status quo clearly isn't working, and we could say that applies to the responsibilities that are conferred on your department. What we've heard from the community is clear: the status quo regarding responsibilities assigned to the Department of Canadian Heritage doesn't provide adequate protection for French. That's why we need a central agency to direct all that. I'm eager to put similar questions to Ms. Petitpas Taylor when she testifies later this morning.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Ashton, you had 30 seconds left. Thank you for staying within your time limit.

In the next round, we will have turns of five minutes or two turns of two and a half minutes.

Mr. Dalton and Mr. Généreux will share the next five minutes.

Mr. Dalton, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Thank you very much.

Buenos dias, Mr. Rodriguez.

Do you think French is in decline in Canada, yes or no?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes, French faces enormous challenges. As I said earlier, there are eight million of us outside—

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

We don't have much time.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Do you want me to answer? I can give you a longer answer.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

No, I need a yes or no.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

The percentage of francophones outside Quebec has declined sharply—

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Yes, I'm moving on to my next question.

Mr. Rodriguez, I don't have much time.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

In Quebec, the challenges—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Rodriguez, please direct your remarks to me.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes. Pardon me, Mr. Chair.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

So you don't want to answer that.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I did answer it. Yes, French is in decline, and we have to do more.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

The bill contains a lot of fine words. It states that we will support francophones, for example. However, many witnesses told us that the bill didn't go far enough to preserve French.

Do you think that Bill C-13 can be improved, yes or no?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Nothing in life is perfect, but I think we have a very good bill here. It's up to the committee to look at it. The minister has done an excellent job—

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

So that's a yes.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Wait a minute; I just want to add something.

You have to consider the bill as part of an ecosystem. There are a lot of other measures that reinforce the use, promotion and protection of French—

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

All right. Thank you very much, Minister.

Are you open to amendments? You're responsible—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Tell me about a bill that I'm responsible for, and I'll tell you yes, but I can't answer for my colleague.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Okay.

Do you have an idea of the financial implications of this bill for your department's budget and the budget in general?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You'd have to ask the minister responsible for the bill, the minister responsible for official languages.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

So you have no idea. We're somewhat disappointed—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You need only ask the person responsible.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have 30 seconds left, Mr. Dalton.