Official Languages Committee on Oct. 18th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Généreux.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

I support the motion. In view of the time, among other things, I would like to request a vote.

Do we have the right to request a vote?

[A voice]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Serré, you have the floor, followed by Ms. Ashton.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I want to thank Mr. Généreux for his motion. We agree entirely and we can adopt the motion quickly. I am not sure however that you read the last line. The only issue I have is at the end of the last sentence, which suggests that the Minister of Official Languages be invited as well. He will be appearing next week, as it happens. We will also welcome the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the President of the Treasury Board and will have the opportunity to ask them questions at that time.

Otherwise, we agree with the motion. We will invite CBC/Radio‑Canada officials to explain their decision. Once again, it is not necessary to invite the ministers in every motion, especially since they are already scheduled to appear before the committee. If Mr. Généreux would accordingly delete “as well as the Minister of Official Languages” from the motion, we will approve it right away.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Are you proposing an amendment?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes, I request that “as well as the Minister of Official Languages” be deleted from the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You want to delete that part because he will already be appearing, as you said?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes, because he will already be appearing.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

An amendment has been put forward.

Some members have to leave, and Ms. Ashton, Mr. Godin, Mr. Drouin and Mr. Samson wish to speak.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

We are agreeable to deleting “as well as the Minister of Official Languages”. We would approve that amendment.

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

It's fine if the minister's name is not included in the motion since he will be here next week. We could however vote on a supplementary resolution to invite the minister for two hours to discuss this matter, after the witnesses have been heard.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Okay.

I will now go through the list of speakers, but please speak only about Mr. Serré's amendment.

Ms. Ashton, you have the floor.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

I support the motion as worded. Coming from a region where Franco-Manitobans have their own accent, I am stunned by what the CBC/Radio‑Canada did. I have to wonder how this happened. I think we need to hear from the Minister of Official Languages on this matter. He will indeed be appearing, but on another matter. I support the original motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I would like you to speak to the amendment.

I want to hear from the members to see if we have a consensus.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, we are being criticized for wanting to invite ministers in every motion. But it is our job to ask questions. Ministers represent the government. Unfortunately, our parliamentary system is designed that way. At the same time, I do not see why they do not want the Minister of Official Languages to appear before the committee.

I think it is important for us to ask the minister about this, since he is the official who has to uphold the act, whether or not that is through the responsible minister, the Minister of Canadian Heritage; that is his decision.

If the government wishes to alter the schedule to increase the likelihood of the minister appearing, I would say that has already been planned, but not on that matter.

I do not want us, as parliamentarians, to be deprived of our time to ask questions. If the minister appears for an hour, you know, Mr. Chair, the opposition will have 12 minutes and the second and third parties in opposition will have six or seven minutes. I think that is irresponsible in general. We would not be able to do our work rigorously and responsibly.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right.

We will continue discussing Mr. Serré's amendment with Mr. Drouin, and then with Mr. Samson.

Go ahead, Mr. Drouin.

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

The minister will be here next week, so I do not see why opposition members would not ask their questions then.

I would also remind them that there is a daily question period. They could talk to their leaders and remind them that it is important to speak to the minister. They could rise in the House of Commons every day to ask the minister—

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

A point of order, Mr. Chair. We are talking—

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

I also want to point out that the Minister of Official Languages—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

One moment, Mr. Drouin. Mr. Godin is speaking.

What is your point of order?

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

My colleague is talking about a procedure that does not apply to us. I think we need to stick to the procedure at committees.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a minute, Mr. Godin.

Mr. Drouin might have cast a wide net, but he clearly referred to the amendment first, and we heard him clearly. His point was that we should take the opportunity while the minister is here.

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

He should not talk about the procedure in the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I cannot tell you in advance what Mr. Drouin will say, but he was speaking about the amendment.

Mr. Drouin, please continue.