Official Languages Committee on March 21st, 2023

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

No, it's okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, if the government wants to lead by example, it has to put its money where its mouth is and make translation services available to all departments free of charge. Doing so would show the government's support for translation services. That doesn't mean that the translation bureau's staff would work for free. It would mean that the government would pay for those services out of its general budget. Departments wouldn't be billed for the services.

Keep in mind that departments can have very tight budgets, so they have to make decisions. Unfortunately, translation is usually what gets cut, and so translation and interpretation into French aren't available.

That's an important consideration.

I'd like to propose an amendment. I don't have it prepared. Basically, the amendment would repeat what was in the previous amendment, except for proposed paragraph (c).

I don't know how it should be numbered, so I will leave that to the legislative clerks.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Can Mr. Godin send out his amendment? There is a procedure, after all.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

According to Mr. Godin, his amendment would say exactly the same thing as BQ‑39.1—which was ruled inadmissible by the chair—but would not contain proposed paragraph (c).

Did I get that right, Mr. Godin?

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

Yes, that's exactly right.

If we want to suspend momentarily, I can have photocopies made and hand them out.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Practically speaking, we already have the content of the amendment in writing.

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

I agree, Mr. Chair, but I'm being asked for a copy of the amendment.

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

Just cross out proposed paragraph (c).

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will suspend for a few minutes, to check whether the amendment being proposed could affect upcoming amendments or whether there are any line conflicts, although I doubt it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We are back.

Mr. Godin's amendment is the last one pertaining to clause 21 of the bill, so there are no line conflicts. The amendment is admissible.

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

Are you saying that it's been approved?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No, that's not what I said. The committee has to vote first.

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

I tried, at least.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The amendment is admissible.

Can we give it an ID number?

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

Yes, it needs one.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm being told that we can call it CPC‑32.1.

Some people have BQ‑39.1 in front of them. The amendment being proposed is exactly the same, except without paragraph (c), in both English and French.

Did you have anything to add, Mr. Godin?

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

I don't think I need to say anything else, Mr. Chair. I already said what there was to say, and I hope the government will be receptive to the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any questions?

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

As we all know, translation is a big problem, and what's being proposed in CPC‑32.1 would go a long way to fixing that.

On the whole, it wouldn't cost the government any more money—quite the opposite, because it would mean a consistent approach.

The translation bureau is a driver of the language sector, so this would be a very good thing.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Quickly, I'd like to say one thing about the cost.

There is a cost to everything, of course. Translators and interpreters provide a tremendous service to us. This is a small investment to ensure that departments carry out their activities in both official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

Are there any other comments?

Since no one else has any comments, I will call the vote on CPC‑32.1.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Shall clause 21 as amended along the way carry?

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

I'm going to vote against the clause because positive measures play a huge role in people becoming anglicized in Quebec.