Official Languages Committee on March 31st, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We'll now go to clause 56.

Mr. Beaulieu, do you want to present amendment BQ‑82?

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

Yes, I will present it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have the floor.

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

That Bill C‑13, in Clause 56, be amended by replacing lines 30 to 34 on page 57 with the following:

7 (1) Consumers in a region with a strong francophone presence have the right to communicate in French with and obtain available services in French from a federally regulated private business that carries on business in that region.

The wording of subclause 7(1) as amended is therefore:

7 (1) Consumers in a region with a strong francophone presence have the right to communicate in French with and obtain available services in French from a federally regulated private business that carries on business in that region.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, amendment BQ‑82 is inadmissible, and I'll explain why.

Bill C‑13 enacts the Use of French in the Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, which contains provisions that apply initially to federally regulated private businesses in Quebec, and which, two years after the initial amendments come into force, will be extended to include private businesses under federal authority located in regions where there is a strong francophone presence.

The purpose of the amendment is to remove from the new act its application to federally regulated private businesses in Quebec, which is in conflict with the underlying principle of the act.

Do you agree with this line of reasoning?

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

We received the amendments yesterday evening. We're trying to avoid counteracting…

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I understand, and I'm not holding it against you.

Am I correct in saying that you are not challenging the chair's decision?

Is that right?

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

Yes, that's right.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Great. Thank you.

(Clause 56 agreed to)

(Clause 57)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We'll now go to clause 57.

That brings us to amendment LIB‑43.3.

Mr. Serré, would you like to move amendment LIB‑43.3?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes, I'll move amendment LIB‑43.3.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Is there unanimous agreement for the adoption of amendment LIB‑43.3?

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We'll go now to amendment BQ‑83.

Do you want to move it, Mr. Beaulieu?

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

It looks the same to me. So I won't move it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right.

(Clause 57 as amended is adopted)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We are now moving to amendment LIB‑43.4, which proposes a new clause, clause 57.1.

Mr. Serré, would you like to move this amendment?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I move amendment LIB‑43.4.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right.

Is there unanimous consent to adopt amendment LIB‑43.4?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 58)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We are now at clause 58

We are now at amendment LIB‑43.5.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I move amendment LIB‑43.5.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Serré.

Is there unanimous consent to adopt amendment LIB‑43.5?

Excuse me. I'd like to backtrack a bit because Mr. Godin would like to comment.

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

I'd like to go back to clause 57.1

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Let's call it the new clause 57.

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

So it's not clause 57.1, but rather clause 57, isn't it?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

It is indeed the new clause 57.