Evidence of meeting #54 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was proposed.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Warren Newman  Senior General Counsel, Constitutional, Administrative and International Law Section, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
Julie Boyer  Assistant Deputy Minister, Official Languages, Heritage and Regions, Department of Canadian Heritage
Marcel Fallu  Manager, Modernization of the Official Languages Act, Department of Canadian Heritage
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Michelle Legault

4:10 p.m.

Bloc

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

No, it's okay.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

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.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

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?

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

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

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

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

4:10 p.m.

Bloc

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

Just cross out proposed paragraph (c).

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

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.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

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.

4:22 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Are you saying that it's been approved?

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

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

4:22 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

I tried, at least.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

The amendment is admissible.

Can we give it an ID number?

4:22 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Yes, it needs one.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

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?

4:22 p.m.

Conservative

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.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Are there any questions?

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

4:22 p.m.

Bloc

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.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

4:22 p.m.

Conservative

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.

4:22 p.m.

Liberal

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)

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Shall clause 21 as amended along the way carry?

4:25 p.m.

Bloc

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.