Official Languages Committee on March 10th, 2023

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any other questions about amendment NDP‑9?

Ms. Lattanzio, you have the floor.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I'm going to continue in the same vein.

Can Ms. Ashton give us examples of how to evaluate these positive or negative impacts? How do you determine the extent to which positive measures have failed?

It looks to me like the wording is discretionary. I'd like some clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

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

The francophone communities outside Quebec that we heard from at the beginning of the study of Bill C‑13 emphasized the importance of this point. The goal is to try and avoid negative impacts and to protect the rights of these communities, while strengthening support for them.

I want to underscore the fact that this question was raised several times by the communities.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Do you have another question after having heard this answer, Ms. Lattanzio?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I'm trying to understand how a positive measure could have a negative impact. That's my question, it seems contradictory to me.

Perhaps Ms. Boyer could expand upon this point.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Ms. Boyer.

[Julie Boyer]

I could cite the example of Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique v Canada (Employment and Social Development). In its decision, rendered in January 2022, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the federal government had failed in its obligation to take positive measures to offset the negative impact of one of its decisions pertaining to the francophone community of British Columbia. It ruled that federal institutions must factor in the repercussions of their decisions on minority language communities, and that they must attenuate any negative impact.

I think that this amendment codifies the second part of the two-part analysis that was applied in this January 2022 decision.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you. That's clear to me.

Would you like to add anything else, Ms. Ashton?

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

I just wanted to point out to Ms. Lattanzio that it is already referred to in Bill C‑13, making it a matter of strengthening this and ensuring that the bill doesn't have a negative impact on the community. So it's rather a clarification and a reinforcement of what's already in the bill.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

Over to you, Mr. Godin.

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

Could we vote, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Since no one wishes to comment, we'll do a voice vote.

(The amendment is carried: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

So that eliminates amendment BQ‑35. I believe Mr. Beaulieu had indicated that he would not be presenting it.

We are now moving on to amendment BQ‑36, on page 96.

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

I'm continuing in the same vein. I'm proposing that in the case of Quebec, it be done in consultation with the Government of Quebec.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any other questions or comments?

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

I'd like to propose a subamendment to Mr. Beaulieu's amendment.

I invite my colleagues, the clerks and law clerks, to follow along. I would simply like to remove "in the case of Quebec, on consultation with the Government of Quebec" and replace it with "in consultation with the provinces and territories".

I don't think I need to add any comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I believe that's clear.

As there are no questions about Mr. Godin's subamendment, I'd like to call a voice vote.

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

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That brings us to amendment BQ‑36.

As there are no comments, I will call for a voice vote.

(The amendment is defeated: nays 10; yeas 1 [See Minutes of proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Serré, you have the floor.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I'd like to introduce amendment LIB‑18.1.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That comes right after amendment BQ‑37. It's very close by.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, the floor is yours for amendment BQ‑37.