Official Languages Committee on March 10th, 2023

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

I'm not going to introduce it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right, thank you.

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

It would be important, but it would be defeated.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you for that clarification, Mr. Beaulieu.

That brings us to amendment LIB‑18.1.

You have the floor, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The adoption of amendment NDP‑8 requires changes, and a new amendment is currently circulating.

I believe the clerk has sent everyone amendment LIB‑18.1.

[The Clerk]

Sorry. I was distracted, but I'm getting there.

Okay, there it goes.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you.

I'm going to read the new amendment. I propose that Bill C‑13, in clause 21, be amended by replacing line 9 on page 13.

I propose adding subclause 41(9.1). Thus in carrying out this objective, every federal institution shall (a) gather relevant information; (b) seek the opinions of English and French linguistic minority communities and other stakeholders about the positive measures that are the subject of the consultations; (c) provide the participants with relevant information on which those positive measures are based; (d) openly and meaningfully consider their opinions; and (e) be prepared to alter those positive measures.

I believe that everyone has now received it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

To be specific, we're talking about amendment LIB‑18.1, reference number 12273401.

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

That's not what I received, Mr. Chair.

I received reference number 12268948.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Hold on, while I check that I have the right copy.

The document you received is amendment LIB‑18.1 reference number 12268948.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Before moving on, Mr. Chair, I have a procedural question.

Why was Mr. Serré able to introduce his amendment when I have amendment CPC‑30 on the same subject? Does he come first because he presented his amendment from the floor?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Give me a moment while I consult the legislative clerks.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have no objection to Mr. Godin presenting his amendment. We're going to vote against it in any event.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The previous version of amendment LIB‑18.1 came before amendment CPC‑30 because it was replacing line 9 of the bill, whereas your amendment, Mr. Godin, was adding things after line 9. That's why it came before yours. I haven't received the virtual version you just received. Yours should in fact come first.

We will now consider amendment CPC‑30.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

I'm very disappointed to hear my colleague's comment, even before I presented my amendment, about how he was going to vote against it. That's how Liberals do things.

Mr. Chair, I simply want to introduce amendment CPC-30. I propose that Bill C‑13, in clause 21, be amended by adding after line 9 on page 13 the following:

“(9.1) When engaging in consultations, every federal institution shall: (a) gather information to test its positive measures; (b) propose positive measures that have not been finalized; (c) seek the opinions of English and French linguistic minority communities about the positive measures that are the subject of the consultations; (d) provide the participants with all relevant information on which those positive measures are based; (e) openly and meaningfully consider their opinions; (f) be prepared to alter those positive measures; and (g) provide them with feedback, both during the consultation process and after a decision has been made.

We are not making up this wording, Mr. Chair. It comes from another bill, Bill C‑11. Our experts are not just improvising. I think this aspect is important.

Pursuant to the Federal Court's 2021 decision in Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique v Canada (Employment and Social Development), there is an obligation to consult.

It's not an added burden for public servants, Mr. Chair. Minority communities will at least know where they stand. I think they deserve this respect, because minorities have to do battle on an everyday basis.

It's one more tool, and that's why I think it's important. Unfortunately, we just heard, right before I was introducing my amendment, that the Liberals are going to vote against it. I'm very disappointed with this attitude, but it's not the first time we've seen it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

Are there any comments around the table?

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

I'd like to know whether I'm correct in saying that this does not imply that the Government of Quebec will be consulted, or that it will prevent measures that are harmful to French. It doesn't, right?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

For whom is your question, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

The question is for Mr. Godin.

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

You're asking me…

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

Amendment CPC‑31 will come afterwards.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will then address amendment LIB‑18.1.

Right now, we're talking about amendment CPC-30.

The question for Mr. Godin was asking for clarification.

Over to you, Mr. Godin.

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

Could you repeat your question, Mr. Beaulieu?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Back to you, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

I've just noticed that amendment CPC‑31 proposes consulting the provinces and territories. But it has not yet been adopted. We'll see, but it doesn't prevent positive measures that could weaken French as a common language.