Official Languages Committee on March 10th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will now resume the discussions concerning clause 21 of Bill C‑13.

We have got to the new version of amendment BQ‑32.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

The new wording of amendment BQ‑32 consists of, first, amending clause 21 by adding the following, regarding positive measures:

(a.1) shall be taken in consultation with the Government of Quebec when they relate to the Province of Quebec;

This is really the least one can ask. We want Quebec to be consulted, at the very least. As for positive measures, we shall see how things go. In any event, since its earliest days, the only effect of the Official Languages Act has been to strengthen English in Quebec, when it is French that is threatened. At present, the decline of French is accelerating. The least that can be done is to consult the Government of Quebec regarding the next positive measures.

Second, the amendment refers to subparagraph 41(6)(b)(ii) as proposed in the bill, where it refers to "the necessity of considering the specific needs of each of the two official language communities of Canada". We want to replace the wording after that with "taking into account the minority status of the French language throughout Canada".

The concept of equality that has been applied up to now involved treating anglophones in Quebec in the same way as francophones outside Quebec. The needs are very different, however. As I said earlier, in Quebec, we consider French to be threatened. We therefore have to take the minority nature of French everywhere in Canada into account.

Third, the amendment seeks to add subparagraph 41(6)(b)(iii), which refers to the jurisdictions and powers of the provinces and territories, including the Charter of the French Language.

The government says it wants to protect French in Quebec. If it really wants to be consistent, it has to respect the jurisdictions of all of the provinces, including Quebec's. That includes everything that the Charter of the French Language implies in areas under Quebec's jurisdiction.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

Are there any comments?

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

I would add that this is also part of the right of the Quebec people to self-determination.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you for that addition.

Are there any comments?

Since no one wishes to speak, we will proceed with the vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays: 10; yeas: 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That brings us to amendment CPC‑29.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Obviously, we have introduced amendment CPC‑29 with the intention of representing the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada well.

Do I read the amendment, Mr. Chair? It's long.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Before you read it, I would like to remind committee members that if amendment CPC‑29 is adopted, amendments BQ‑33, NDP‑7, NDP‑8 and BQ‑35 cannot be moved because of a line conflict, in English or French.

I will let you read your amendment, Mr. Godin.

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

In fact, I would say these are adjustments, but they are important.

In point (a), the amendment proposes to amend clause 21 of the bill by replacing line 14 on page 12 with the following:

(c) shall include measures, among others, to

In point b), the amendment proposes to amend clause 21 by replacing line 25 on page 12 with the following:

if those measures are consistent with the mandate of the federal institution in question, and

In point (c), the amendment proposes to amend clause 21 by replacing line 32 on page 12 with the following:

strong institutions serving those communities, if those measures are consistent with the mandate of the federal institution in question.

In point (d), the amendment proposes to amend clause 21 by replacing lines 34 and 35 on page 12 with the following:

shall, on the basis of analyses,

Last, in point (e), the amendment proposes to amend clause 21 by replacing line 41 on page 12 with the following:

the possibilities for avoiding or, at least, mitigating those negative impacts.

I think these adjustments will simply strengthen Bill C‑13 and give it more teeth.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any comments on amendment CPC‑29?

I don't see anyone wishing to speak.

So we will proceed with the vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays: 7; yeas: 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will now move on to amendment BQ‑33.

Mr. Beaulieu, before you go ahead, I would like to say that if amendment BQ‑33 is adopted, amendments NDP‑7 and BA‑34 cannot be moved because of a line conflict.

You have the floor, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

We are moving this amendment for the same reasons as our previous amendment. It is to reflect the positions of the Government of Quebec.

First, the amendment seeks to add "while taking into account the specific need to protect the French language in Quebec."

The second part of the amendment refers to line 21 on page 12 of the bill. After the passage that says "induce and assist organizations and institutions to project and promote the bilingual character of Canada in their activities in Canada or elsewhere," we are proposing to add "of Canada and the French-speaking character of Quebec in their activities in Canada or elsewhere".

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

Are there any questions or comments about Mr. Beaulieu's amendment?

Since there are none, we will proceed with the vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays: 10; yeas: 1)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That brings us to amendment NDP‑7.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

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

I am not going to present this amendment, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton.

Amendment NDP‑7 will therefore not be presented.

We are now at amendment BQ‑34.

You have the floor, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Mr. Chair, I am not going to present this amendment, to save us time.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Right, thank you.

Amendment BQ‑34 will therefore not be presented.

That brings us to amendment LIB‑16, which is on page 88 of the bundle of amendments.

Are you moving this amendment, Ms. Kayabaga?

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Yes, I am moving amendment LIB‑16.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Right.

You have the floor, Ms. Kayabaga.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Amendment LIB‑16 proposes that Bill C‑13, in clause 21, be amended by adding after line 21 on page 12 the following:

(iii.1) foster the re‑establishment and growth of the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities,

As with the other amendment I recently proposed, the reason behind this one is that we need to continue to foster the growth of francophone minority communities in Canada. We can rely on immigration or use any other method to see the francophone community outside Quebec expand.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Before hearing comments, I want to clarify a point about the English version of the proposed amendment. Again, it is a matter of consistency. We have discussed this at earlier meetings.

In amendment LIB-16, the word "re‑establishment" is used. For continuity and consistency, the word used should actually be "restoration". However, it amounts to the same thing, because it's a synonym.

Are there any comments?

You have the floor, Mr. Godin.

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

I have a question on your comment, Mr. Chair: why does the word need to be changed?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

This is what we had agreed to do at a previous meeting. I think it was at the second or third meeting on the bill.

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

Is the word "re‑establishment" being replaced by "restoration" everywhere in the bill?