I move that Bill C‑13, in Clause 22, under “Consultation and information to public”, be amended in point (a) by replacing line 5 on page 15 with the following:
sure public consultation and separate consultations with the provincial and territorial governments in the development of policies
In point (b), by replacing line 9 on page 15 with the following:
public and the provincial and territorial governments relating to those policies and programs
This last substitution is at the very end of the paragraph, which would then read as follows:
The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall take such measures as that Minister considers appropriate to ensure public consultation in the development of policies and review of programs relating to the advancement and the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society and shall provide information to the public and the provincial and territorial governments relating to those policies and programs.
I believe it is important to consult the provincial governments and the Government of Quebec rather than ignoring them and encroaching upon provincial jurisdictions. In my opinion, that in no way respects the provinces and the territorial governments.