Evidence of meeting #51 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
February 17th, 2023 / 9:10 a.m.
Liberal
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
You work at the Department of Justice, Mr. Newman, so the definition is perfectly clear in your head, with no room for interpretation.
What the Canadian Heritage officials are saying is quite different, though. As far as I can tell, the two departments have two different views on the matter.
From where you're standing, it's clear and well-defined, and there isn't room for interpretation.
Do I have that right?
Senior General Counsel, Constitutional, Administrative and International Law Section, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I wouldn't say that we have two different views on the matter. Rather, I would say that the use of the terms in the 1988 version of the act was deliberate, keeping in mind that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms already referred to the English or French linguistic minority population of a province.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Does section 23 use a criterion? It seems to me that the section refers to the mother tongue.
Senior General Counsel, Constitutional, Administrative and International Law Section, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
Yes, it uses a number of criteria. Paragraph 23(1)(a) refers to the mother tongue or first language. That isn't in force in Quebec, as you know. That applies to rights under section 23, minority language educational rights.
The concept of English and French linguistic minority communities was used to add something that wasn't in the 1969 version of the Official Languages Act, so the first version. It referred only to English and French, not to linguistic minority communities.
In this case, the legislative drafters used the terminology to take into account the principle of protecting minorities.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I'm not opposed to the honourable member's subamendment, but I think it's repetitive, since it appears elsewhere in the act.
As a Quebecker and a defender of the French language in Quebec and across Canada, I will support Mr. Beaulieu's subamendment, out of solidarity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Do we have any other comments on Mr. Beaulieu's subamendment to CPC‑21?
Seeing none, I will call the vote on the subamendment.
(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
We are back on the main amendment, CPC‑21.
Are there any other comments on the amendment?
Seeing none, I will call the vote on CPC‑21.
(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
Liberal
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I won't be moving BQ‑25 or BQ‑26 either, in order to move things along more quickly.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
I will repeat that for the benefit of those following the proceedings.
BQ‑24, BQ‑25 and BQ‑26 are not being moved.
That brings us to CPC‑22, being moved by Mr. Godin. It's on page 67 of the amendments package.
Go ahead, Mr. Godin.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I'd like to finish updating my pile of documents, if I may, Mr. Chair.
The purpose of CPC‑22 is grammatical. It seeks to strengthen proposed subsection 41(2). As per your instructions, Mr. Chair, I will read it clearly.
I am proposing that Bill C-13, in clause 21, be amended by replacing line 11 on page 11 with the following:
(2) The Government of Canada, recognizing and taking into account that French.
The point of this addition is just to give the provision more teeth, but not baby teeth, as I've said in the past. I want to make sure that the provision is effective. All that's being added is “and taking into account”.
Baby teeth are not forever teeth.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
Your metaphor is quite clear.
Are there any other comments on CPC‑22?
Seeing none, I will now call the vote on CPC‑22.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
That brings us to BQ‑27, being moved by Mr. Beaulieu.
Over to you, Mr. Beaulieu.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal René Arseneault
BQ‑27, BQ‑28 and BQ‑29 in the amendments package are not being moved.
That brings us to NDP‑5, which Ms. Ashton is moving. It's on page 72.
The floor is yours, Ms. Ashton.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am moving that Bill C-13, in clause 21, be amended by replacing line 16 on page 11 with the following:ing formal, non-formal and informal opportunities for members of English and French lin‐
I want to begin by thanking the Réseau pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences, or RESDAC, and its president, Mona Audet, for the organization's participation in the committee's study.
RESDAC clearly showed the importance of two things: recognizing the education continuum, from early childhood to high school, and the availability of this education in French in official language minority communities.
Beyond formal learning, we need to make room for continuing education and literacy. We need to make room for education that doesn't always lead to a diploma or certification but is nonetheless crucial to the fabric of our society.
As we prepare to enshrine a robust francophone immigration program in law, I think we need to ensure that the federal government supports programs, learning and organizations that promote cross-cultural sharing between newcomers and those who are already here.
Even today, we face significant challenges. More than half the francophone population has trouble communicating and understanding what it's reading. It suffers from linguistic insecurity. Someone who struggles to communicate in their language will have an incredibly difficult time contributing to the vitality of their community and could end up becoming yet another francophone who has been assimilated. I would add to that the postpandemic landscape, the labour shortage, the looming threat of recession and the impact of technology.
Francophones in minority communities also need skills tailored to their circumstances, so they can face this postpandemic reality. The proposed amendment to clause 21 is especially relevant because adding the language “formal, non-formal and informal” would open the door to a much more holistic approach to learning. It would help establish a new paradigm, a new way for formal educational institutions and players in the non-formal and informal learning world to work together more effectively.
Once again, I want to thank Ms. Audet from RESDAC and all those working in the informal learning sector for their hard work. They showed us clearly that this is the way forward.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I completely agree with Ms. Ashton, and I support the NDP's amendment.
The committee heard the excellent arguments put forward by RESDAC. I think it is incumbent upon us to incorporate this aspect into the act, so it is stronger going forward.