Official Languages Committee on Jan. 31st, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any further comments?

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4.)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Let us move on to CPC-2.

Mr. Généreux, do you wish to say something?

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Since the other Bloc Québécois amendments have been defeated, we propose an amendment to clause 2 of Bill C‑13, by replacing line 20 on page 2 with the following: the duty to provide opportunities for everyone

In point b), we propose replacing line 26 on page 2 with the following:the duty to support sectors

In point c), we propose replacing, in the English version, line 28 on page 2 with the following:minority communities and to protect and promote the

Those are the changes we propose for CPC-2.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I am trying to see the difference in the English version.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It would say, “to protect and promote” instead of “protecting and promoting”. It implies more action.

In French, it says “appuyer les secteurs”.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I am trying to compare the French and English versions.

Are there any comments?

Since there are none, we will now vote on CPC-2.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5.)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That brings us to LIB-1, on page 5 of the bundle of documents provided.

Before we debate this amendment, it should be noted that if LIB-1 is proposed, LIB-2 cannot be, because it is identical.

Moreover, if LIB-1 is agreed to, amendments NDP-1 and CPC-3, on pages 7 and 8, cannot be proposed because of conflicting lines.

In the interest of consistency, I wish to point out to the committee that amendments LIB-1, LIB-2 and NDP-1 cover the same measures, but use different terminology. The words used differ from one amendment to the other, especially the English versions.

These amendments are also related to a number of subsequent amendments, some of which propose different definitions of the term “rétablissement”. Those are LIB-8, page 23, LIB-9, page 24, and DNP-4, page 26.

To recap, if LIB-1 is adopted, NDP-1 and CPC-3 cannot be proposed subsequently. Further, in other amendments that will be proposed, different terms are used for “rétablissement” and “restoring”. There is a difference between “re-establishing” and “restoring”.

That said, are there any comments on LIB-1?

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

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

I noticed that Ms. Kayabaga had raised her hand. I'm not sure if she is speaking before me.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Kayabaga, I did not see that your hand because of the reflection on the screen. I apologize.

You have the floor.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I would like to talk about the rationale behind the proposed amendment, especially since we are looking to have...

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I have to interrupt you, Ms. Kayabaga. Someone has to propose the amendment first. I missed that step.

Does someone want to propose it?

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

May I propose it?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, please go ahead.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I propose that Bill C‑13, in clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 37 to 41 on page 2 with the following:

the importance of remedying the decline in the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities, including by fostering the re-establishment and growth of their demographic weight;

And whereas the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of francophone immigration in enhancing the vitality of French linguistic minority communities, including by fostering the re-establishment and growth of their demographic weight;

Mr. Chair, do you also want me to talk about the rationale for this amendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You may do so since you just proposed the amendment. Please go ahead.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Okay, thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I am proposing this amendment because I believe Canada is a linguistically diverse country, and the fact that French and English are its official languages has huge appeal to newcomers, both francophones and anglophones, who have a lot to contribute to our communities and our economy. It is important that we protect the vitality of French in communities outside Quebec and that our government take steps to do so.

Francophones outside Quebec make up about 3.3% of Canada's population, according to the census data published by Statistics Canada on August 17. According to the data from 2016, francophones outside Quebec made up 3.6% of Canada's population. So there has been a drop of 0.3%, meaning that we have a lot of work to do to remedy this situation.

Our government continues to take the necessary measures to address this decline, in spite of the difficulties we continue to see. In particular, we are trying to move the bill forward in this committee. Our communities expect us to take all the necessary measures to address this decline, especially Franco-Ontarians, but equally all the other French-Canadians outside Quebec.

Recently, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced that we had reached our goal of 4.4% francophone immigration outside Quebec. That is good news, but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure the vitality of our francophone communities outside Quebec, including day care facilities, educational institutions and all other essential services that require the use of the official languages.

As you know, I am also a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Recently, as part of a study we were conducting, we had the opportunity to speak with the leaders of various linguistic minority communities. I would like to mention something that the Haitian community leader said when we asked him about Haitian migration. The committee was interested to known why a significant number of Haitians come to Canada, even though the United States is closer. He said the main reason is that Canada gives them the opportunity to live in French, making it a prestigious country for communities that speak French.

Another person representing the Burundi community made the same point, saying that people from Burundi come to Canada rather than the United States because it gives them the opportunity to live in their first language, which is French.

That means that, if we continue to offer services to francophones in various parts of Canada, we will continue to see that growth.

The witnesses we heard also said that the newcomers from these countries include doctors, teachers and various people who now make a very positive contribution to our Canadian communities and to our economy.

Francophones outside Quebec make up 3.3% of the population, following a 0.3% decline. We have a lot of work to do to continue to help these communities grow. I am proposing this amendment today in order to increase francophone immigration.

During many studies of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, various witnesses have said that 60% of the world's francophones are in Africa. If we continue to create resources that help us attract those immigrants, we will be able to remedy the decline we have seen outside Quebec, especially in the Franco-Ontarian and Acadian communities.

I will stop there. Perhaps someone else would like to add something.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Kayabaga.

Ms. Ashton, you are up next.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Having heard Ms. Kayabaga's amendment, I would like to propose a subamendment. It is to replace a key word. We would like to replace “notamment en favorisant le rétablissement”, or “including by fostering the re-establishment” in English, by “notamment en assurant le rétablissement” or “including by restoring”. In other words, we would like to replace the word “favorisant”, or “fostering” in English, with ”assurant”, or “restoring”.

In our view, this subamendment would strengthen this amendment to the bill, which seeks to make an historic change. Further, it would set Canada on the right path for welcoming francophone immigrants.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Ashton has just proposed a subamendment. The wording of that subamendment has just been emailed to our respective P9 accounts.

Ms. Gladu, do you want to speak to the subamendment?

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Absolutely. I just wanted clarity on the subamendment.

I like the word “ensuring” better than “fostering”, but are you replacing it in both places?

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

Yes.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We'll replace it on the French side and on the English side.

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

It will be replaced in both paragraphs.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.