Official Languages Committee on Oct. 18th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Let me suggest to the committee, as Mr. Godin's amendment states, that we invite the commissioner to appear no later than November 8. The clerk is indicating that the commissioner would be available on that date. I also suggest we look at a later date for the minister to appear, depending on his availability.

Are all members in agreement?

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

You are giving us an option. That's fine.

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

I think it would have to be no later than December.

Do you think that would be too soon?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

My amendment was along those lines, but it still has to be scheduled. It has to be. It could be on January 15 if you wish, but it would have to be before the next elections.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

If this is not settled soon, we will vote on it.

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor.

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

In procedural terms, we are in talks.

It is still not clear since Mr. Beaulieu just asked for clarification as to whether it would be before December. That is why we would like to get it in writing. It is not clear to committee members.

Mr. Godin said he was not suggesting a date for the minister to appear, but now he is asking for one. I do not have any date to suggest. In principle, the amendment does not specify a date, but I am not sure of that because, from the way it is worded, it could be November 8, but perhaps not.

I suggest we delete part of Mr. Godin's amendment and vote to invite the commissioner to appear on November 8. If Mr. Godin feels strongly about the minister appearing, he could move another motion.

I would like to point out that, when the RCMP commissioner appears, Mr. Godin can present another motion related to this amendment. He would not have to give notice of a motion, since it pertains to the same subject. He may do so publicly when everyone at home is watching us on television, and we will be more popular than the program Tout le monde en parle. Right now, however, it is not clear to anyone.

So it really comes down to the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I will read out Mr. Godin's amendment as submitted. I will then give the floor to Ms. Ashton.

Mr. Godin, please listen and tell me if this is what you are thinking.

Mr. Beaulieu's amended motion would read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3), and taking into account the Radio-Canada reports last Tuesday, which revealed new violations of the Official Languages Act within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Committee hear from the RCMP Commissioner, Mike Duheme, no later than November 8, 2023, and also invite the Minister of Public Safety, to discuss the RCMP's plan to comply with the Official Languages Act and respect the French language.

That is exactly what Mr. Godin proposed.

I have given everyone the floor, but I want to hear from Ms. Ashton. If we are not in agreement then, we will vote, as Ms. Goodridge requested.

Ms. Ashton, I'm not sure if you have figured all this out, but please go ahead.

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

Can we vote on the subamendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

There is just an amendment, Mr. Godin's.

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

Okay.

I would also like to add a cut-off date so it is no later than December. I do not want it to be delayed until next year.

I am willing to propose that subamendment, but I would rather vote on the amendment to move things along.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right, but Ms. Goodridge requested a vote.

Since there is no agreement, we will vote, unless you tell me you are in agreement.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

In the end, we have all agreed. That is what I was suggesting.

So now we will return to Mr. Beaulieu's motion as amended.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

I am requesting a vote, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I was about to ask first whether there is unanimous consent on Mr. Beaulieu's motion.

Is anyone opposed?

No, so we have unanimous consent.

(Motion as amended agreed to)

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to request unanimous consent to spend another 10 to 15 minutes on Mr. Généreux's motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will consider it now.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Will there be a vote?

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

I have to leave now as well.

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

In any case, if they are both leaving, it is not necessary.

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

Everyone agrees, in any case. It is a formality.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Can we give Mr. Généreux two minutes to table his motion to see if we get unanimous consent?

Go ahead, Mr. Généreux.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to give notice of a motion, in English and French, regarding the CBC Podcasts saga:

That the Committee report to the House its deep condemnation of—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Excuse me, Mr. Généreux, as a formality, you have to say that you are moving your motion.

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

Okay. I move the following:

That the committee report to the House its deep condemnation of the CBC using a Paris-based audio studio to record a podcast, choosing it over a Quebecois-based recording studio to avoid the Quebec accent. Considering that this may have offended many Quebecers, the committee invite the following individuals to provide testimony on this matter: Catherine Tait, CEO of the CBC; Cesil Fernandes, Executive Producer of CBC Podcasts; Émilie Brazeau‑Béliveau, CBC/Radio-Canada's first Head of Advertising, Marketing, and Radio and Audio Public Relations; as well as the Minister of Official Languages.

Mr. Chair, I will be very brief. This situation is completely unacceptable. Canada has two official languages and we do not have to justify the place in the world of the Quebec accent, of Canadian French or of the francophonie in Canada. If we cannot be proud of our language in Canada, we have a serious problem.

This is obviously a very serious insult to Quebec, Canadian, francophone and francophile society. I could go on, but I will stop now since we do not have a lot of time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.