Official Languages Committee on March 31st, 2023

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

All right, Mr. Chair.

Thank you.

I just wanted to provide some context before I moved a subamendment to give the commissioner more tools. My colleague has also tabled an amendment to that effect.

Mr. Chair, I will read the subamendment while the text is being distributed.

I move that item (a) of amendment NDP‑13, calling for changes to clause 36 on page 22 of Bill C‑13 be amended by replacing lines 33 to 41 on page 22 in the passage “under part IV or part V” with the following:

under part IV, V or VII

I also move that item (b) of that amendment be amended by replacing, in the passage “under part IV or V or subsection 41(7) or (10)”, with the following:

under part IV, V, or VII

That is along the same lines as what my colleague presented to give the commissioner more tools.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Continue, Mr. Godin, the text of the subamendment is being circulated.

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

I was done, Mr. Chair.

I made a nice introduction, so I can wrap it up right now.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The document is being circulated, but I don't know if the people who are attending the meeting virtually have received it.

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

In summary, Mr. Chair, we would be adding part VII.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That is what I understood. You are adding part VII to the other two parts in the amendment.

Are there any questions or comments?

So we'll move to a vote on Mr. Godin's proposed subamendment to amendment NDP‑13.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

So we're back to amendment NDP‑13.

Are there any comments?

I see no hands raised, so we will proceed to the vote.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

The adoption of amendment NDP‑13 annuls amendments CPC‑44, LIB‑33, LIB‑45, LIB‑34.

Shall clause 36 as amended carry?

(Clause 36 as amended agreed to)

(Clause 37)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We now go to amendment CPC‑46 on clause 37.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

Will someone move amendment CPC‑46?

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

Yes.

Mr. Chair, once again, to broaden the scope, amendment CPC‑46 proposes that Bill C‑13, in clause 37, be amended by replacing line 26 on page 24 with the following:

designated body means a federal institution referred to in

The amendment concerns the definitions.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Very well, Mr. Godin.

I remember what you said to me earlier about an amendment proposed by the Bloc Québécois.

Bill C‑13 amends the Official Languages Act by establishing an administrative monetary penalty regime that may apply to a designated organization, which is defined as a Crown corporation or a corporation subject to the Official Languages Act pursuant to another Act of Parliament.

CPC‑46 is an amendment to expand the definition of “designated body” to include federal institutions.

The third edition of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice, on page 770, states that:

An amendment to a bill that was referred to a committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill.

The chair believes that expanding the definition of “designated body” to include federal institutions is beyond the scope of the bill as passed on second reading by the House.

Therefore, I rule this amendment out of order.

You have the right to challenge the ruling of the chair, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, time is not on our side. I won't challenge the ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you.

We will now move on to amendment CPC‑47.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

I will move the amendment. Afterwards, I will put a question to Ms. Boyer or to other officials.

I move that Bill C‑13, in clause 37, be amended by replacing line 30 on page 24 to line 4 on page 25 with the following:

65.2 Sections 65.3 through 65.95 apply to federal institutions that have duties under Part IV or V.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Before you ask your questions, Mr. Godin, I would like to make a comment.

You have moved and explained amendment CPC‑47. So I should tell you that it is the view of the chair that Bill C‑13 amends the Official Languages Act by establishing an administrative monetary penalty regime that may apply to a designated agency. These are almost the same arguments—

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

Mr. Chair, no need to go through the whole argument.

I'll say it again. Time is against us—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Your amendment is therefore out of order.

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

Very well.

If it's out of order, let's move on.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right, thank you.

You understand that your amendment needs to be moved, otherwise it's like it doesn't exist. We need to examine the content of the amendment before I can decide whether it is in order or not.

We now turn to amendment CPC‑48.

Do you want to move amendment CPC‑48?

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

Of course, Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Do you want us to save time?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

Does that mean that it is also out of order?

I will read it quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Amendment CPC‑48. I move that Bill C‑13, in clause 37, be amended by replacing line 6 on page 25 with the following:

with Parts IV and V and not to punish.