Official Languages Committee on March 31st, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any questions?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, we will proceed to the vote.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We're going back to amendment LIB‑27.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

May I move a second subamendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, you may, Mr. Généreux.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

The text of the subamendment is being distributed.

I move that amendment LIB‑27 to clause 25, on page 16 of Bill C‑13, be amended by replacing “subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1)” with the following:

and section 41

Mr. Godin is going to explain to you exactly what this means. He is the expert, and I am just his assistant.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, I therefore yield the floor to you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Mr. Généreux.

This subamendment is along the same lines as amendment CPC‑41. In terms of strength, the gradation would go something like this: we went from wisdom teeth to molars to baby teeth. That said, it may be better to have baby teeth than to have no teeth at all. That is more along the lines of what we are proposing with this subamendment.

Pretty soon we're going to have dentures, but I'll let other people around this table speak, with the co‑operation of the NDP.

Let's not go on and on. I think this is a great opportunity to square the circle and put additional tools in the act to make public servants even more effective.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are there any questions?

I am advised that those participating in the meeting virtually have not yet received the text of the subamendment amending LIB‑27.

The subamendment introduced by Mr. Généreux is almost the same as the previous one, but it refers to section 41 rather than part VII.

Mr. Godin, is there anything you would like to add?

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

Mr. Chair, I just want to bring to the attention of my colleagues that there have been improvements made to section 41 by Ms. Kayabaga and others. The Liberals have also proposed amendments to strengthen it. For our part, we have included economic development.

In my opinion, we need to be consistent. If we vote against this amendment, we show a lack of consistency. We need to see it through to the end. As I said before, if we are not able to pass an effective bill, unfortunately, it is the French language that will suffer. It is in danger, in decline. This is a great opportunity to give us tools to reverse that trend.

I expect all members of the committee to support this subamendment, since it is the most reasonable one.

I talked about the relative strength of the other three subamendments with a nice figure of speech involving teeth—the dentists are going to be happy that we are talking about them this morning.

I ask my colleagues to be reasonable and support this amendment. If they reject it, it will show that they are not consistent.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

Since no one else seems to want to speak, we are going to vote on the subamendment to LIB‑27.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

So we're back to amendment LIB‑27.

Again, since no one seems to want to speak, we'll move to a vote on unamended LIB‑27.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We now turn to LIB‑28.

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that Bill C‑13, in clause 25, be amended in item (a) by replacing lines 33 to 40 on page 16, with the following:

repealed.

I also move that this bill, in the same clause, be amended, in item (b), by replacing lines 3 to 8 on page 17 with the following:

(3) In carrying out its responsibilities [...]

You will have noticed that under the heading “Duties”, paragraph (4) says “In carrying out its responsibilities [...], the Treasury Board shall [...]. Since paragraph (3) has been eliminated, under the heading “For greater certainty”, the current paragraph (4) becomes paragraph (3).

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Drouin.

In passing, I would like to point out that if LIB‑28 carries, NDP‑12 and BQ‑50 cannot be introduced, due to a line conflict.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor on amendment LIB‑28.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We agree in principle. That said, in our view, amendment NDP‑12 is stronger. I will vote against LIB‑28, but I will vote in favour of NDP‑12.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's fine. Thank you.

Seeing no further comments, we will vote on LIB‑28.

(Amendment agreed to; yeas 6; nays 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

As I mentioned earlier, if LIB‑28 passes, NDP‑12 and BQ‑50 cannot be introduced.

So we now move to amendment LIB‑30.

Mr. Serré, you have the floor.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that Bill C‑13, in clause 25, be amended in item (a) by replacing line 16 on page 17 with the following:

subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1);

I also move that this bill, in the same clause, be amended, in item (b), by replacing line 31 on page 17 with the following:

grams that give effect to subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1).

Of course, there are other amendments that will follow to add to it, but this is the current wording of the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

Could the author of the motion explain it a bit more?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

We are talking about all the provisions that we mentioned earlier. We are just enriching and defining the roles. This is in line with a series of amendments that we talked about earlier, LIB‑27, LIB‑28, and LIB‑29, which aim to clarify the roles.

Ms. Boyer seems to have some clarifications to make.

[Julie Boyer]

It would be my pleasure, Mr. Chair.

Amendment LIB‑30 proposes that there be oversight or that the Governor in Council may issue instructions for the implementation of two provisions of part VII of the act. The first is to consider the inclusion of language clauses in federal, provincial and territorial agreements, and the second is the taking of positive measures.

This also requires Treasury Board to provide information and advice to employees on these provisions.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Boyer.

Does that suit you, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

Are the provincial governments, including the Quebec government, consulted, in the process? I don't think it affects them.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Ms. Terrien, you have the floor.