Official Languages Committee on Feb. 15th, 2024

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

Mr. Chair, we don't want to play politics; it's important we make that clear.

The committee sent a letter, a request to the minister, who declined the invitation—and I hope she knows it. In my opinion, it wouldn't be a good idea to extend a second invitation. The way I see it, the government wants to play politics so that the minister doesn't end up in hot water. It's important to mention that detail.

I don't want to spar over who is playing politics. These are the facts: An invitation was sent to the minister, whose responsibilities include the positive provisions in the Official Languages Act, and she declined the invitation. As a committee, do we need to send another letter asking the minister to reconsider our request and wait for her response? No, we are a parliamentary committee; we have to respect the institutions here in Parliament.

I think we owe it to ourselves to proceed in the manner set out in my motion. I'm not comfortable with my colleague Mr. Serré's proposed amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Before giving the floor to Mr. Beaulieu, I'd like to clarify something. The committee did ask witnesses, including the minister, to come and testify, but it was not the Chair who did so, because it is never the Chair who writes. It was the committee that made the request.

For the benefit of the public following our work, I'd like to remind you that all ministers and leaders of our political parties have the right under parliamentary rules to decline an offer to come and testify before a committee, without any justification.

Let's go back to Mr. Godin's motion, to which Mr. Serré subsequently moved an amendment. The floor is open for debate.

Mr. Beaulieu, the floor is yours.

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

I don't want to prolong the debate too much, but based on what you've told us and the impression we have, she refused to appear. She just doesn't want to come. We're not going to start going back and forth, sending her another letter and having her say no again. I think we should express our disappointment.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for Part VII of the Official Languages Act, with respect to all positive provisions. She plays a central role in the administration of the act. So I don't understand why the minister refuses to appear before the committee; it doesn't make sense.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Regarding something you said at the outset, Mr. Beaulieu. I have the minister's answer here. For the information of those around the table, the Minister is declining the invitation to appear before our committee on the grounds—and committee members already know this—that the official languages responsibilities have been decreed to the Minister of Official Languages, who will therefore be in a better position to answer their questions.

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

Does that mean that—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Nothing more, nothing less.

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

—Canadian Heritage no longer administers Part VII of the Official Languages Act?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I can't say anything more than the answer we received.

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

As far as I'm concerned, that's a cop-out. It makes no sense.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Beaulieu, do you have any other comments before I give the floor to Mr. Serré?

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

No, that's all.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Serré, go ahead.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Other notices of motions have been put forward to call other ministers, including the Minister of Canadian Heritage. We can't have the same minister appear every two weeks. Other motions have already been submitted to the committee to call the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Official Languages to appear before our committee. I think this is the third time Mr. Godin has moved a motion of this kind.

I therefore propose that we send a letter to the minister to express our disappointment.

We have witnesses here right now, and we should hear from them. I would suggest that we not discuss these motions in front of the witnesses, because we're wasting their time. The witnesses took time from their day to appear before our committee. We have a witness on videoconference from Alberta who woke up at six o'clock in the morning to talk to us. In the second hour of the meeting, people from Northern Ontario will be appearing and they have important things to tell us as well. If we continue in this manner, we'll be wasting our time again. It's important that we talk to the witnesses and ask them questions.

I therefore move that we adjourn debate on the motions so we can put our questions to the witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

It's a proper motion to adjourn. According to the rules of procedure that apply here, this motion is not debatable, so we will vote on adjourning the debate.

I don't see unanimous consent. So we will—

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

Excuse me, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

May I make a comment?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We can't debate this and it has to go to a vote.

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

We can't debate it.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

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

I also have a point of order.

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

When we call for a vote, we are not required to vote. However, when we ask for the debate to be adjourned, we must vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Yes, Mr. Godin.