Official Languages Committee on March 10th, 2023

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

No, not at all. It's about consultation and working together with the stakeholders. That's the objective.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

I don't see any hands raised on the screen or around the table. Are there any other comments?

If not, we'll call the vote on amendment CPC‑30.

Madam Clerk, you can call the vote now.

(The amendment is defeated: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That brings us to the new amendment LIB‑18.1, reference number 12268948.

Mr. Serré, you have the floor.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Amendment LIB‑18.1 Was distributed to all members. I think I have already introduced it, and so there's no need to do it again. I have no further comments.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any questions about amendment LIB‑18.1?

Mr. Godin, the floor is yours.

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

To speed things up, Mr. Chair, I have no comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Nor does anyone on screen either. We will now call the vote on amendment LIB‑18.1.

Please go ahead, Madam Clerk.

(The amendment is carried: yeas 6; nays 5. [See Minutes of proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I would now like to make sure that amendment CPC‑31 has in fact been withdrawn.

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

I had in fact intended to withdraw it. Can I propose it?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's up to you, Mr. Godin.

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

That Bill C‑13, in clause 21, be amended by replacing line 15 on page 13 with the following:

the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the provincial and territorial governments make regulations in

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any comments?

Yes Mr. Beaulieu, go ahead.

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

I think that it would be very important to support this amendment. It would be essential to consult the provincial governments, and the government of Quebec on critical matters. I'm saying this because, given what I've seen, positive measures will continue to have a negative impact on Quebec and will continue to support only English.

At the very least, I think it's important for consultations to be held to cause as little harm as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

I don't see any hands up.

We will now vote on amendment CPC‑31.

(The amendment is defeated: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Rayes voluntarily withdrew amendment IND‑1. From the procedural standpoint, it was therefore never introduced and it's as if it didn't exist.

That brings us to amendment LIB‑19.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

LIB‑19 will not be introduced. We're now at amendment LIB‑20.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Okay.

We are therefore proceeding with amendment LIB‑20.

You have the floor, Mr. Samson.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's truly a pleasure to be here with you today to discuss another area of extreme importance across Canada.

We are talking about school boards. The most recent census raised some key issues pertaining to paragraph 23(1)(b) and subsection 23(2) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Over 600,000 potential students in Canadian schools were identified. That's all very well, but in some provinces, people had to wait more than 20 years to get land on which they could build the schools to which they were entitled. They have a right to a school and to education. They are entitled to land, but there is none. It's therefore crucial for the federal government and the Official Languages Act to support minorities in this regard. That's why I am introducing an amendment today, so that Bill C‑13, in clause 21, be amended by adding after line 26 on page 13, the following:

41.1 (1) In developing a disposal strategy for a surplus federal real property or a federal immovable, every department and supporting federal institution shall take into account the needs and priorities of the English or French linguistic minority communities of the province or territory where the federal real property or federal immovable is located. (2) In taking account of the needs and priorities under subsection (1), departments may consult English or French linguistic minority communities and other stakeholders, including school boards or commissions.

Although I use the word "may" in the second paragraph, I'm convinced that if the federal government were to consider the needs and priorities of the school boards and organizations, it would consult them. I can't imagine that they wouldn't do so. If the federal government takes their needs and priorities into account, I'm convinced it would consult the communities in question.

I should also tell you that my intent, through this amendment, is to make sure that federal institutions like the Canada Lands Company, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and the Department of National Defence are required to give the school boards—and I'm not talking about a gift here—the opportunity to purchase the land in question at current prices so that rights like the right to education, schools and land are complied with.

We all know just how important section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was in 1982. Yet it's even more important today, given what is being experienced on the ground.

As I also previously mentioned, the census carried out in that year confirmed, by means of the short survey—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We're talking about the 2021 short form.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

The questions in the short form were specific. This meant that the courts could not say that they were not really aware of just what they could do because they didn't have any data other than Statistics Canada's, which did not address Part II and Part III of the act. Now, these 600,000 students are a fact, based on data. It's not simply a matter of potential; it has been proved, and it's tangible, which is why we're ready to take action. My intent is to make it possible for us to address these problems.

Ms. Boyer, do you believe the wording includes the Canada Lands Company, a federal institution that supports the departments?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

Ms. Boyer, you have the floor.

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you very much.

According to this amendment, it's clear that the departments have to consult minorities and other stakeholders. The departments are responsible for the disposal of property. The Canada Lands Company handles sales on behalf of the departments. The amendment specifies "every department and supporting federal institution".

My team has confirmed to me that the Canada Lands Company is indeed covered by this amendment.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I've always admired your work, but I like you even more because of the answer you've just given.

Thank you, Ms. Boyer.

[Julie Boyer]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm now giving the floor to Ms. Lattanzio.

After that, it will be Mr. Godin's turn.