Official Languages Committee on March 18th, 2024

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

Do they take only take courses from you, or can they also take them outside the public service?

[Wendy Bullion-Winters]

When it comes to senior officials, second language acquisition is a responsibility that lies with their own department.

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

I see.

Mr. Chair, before we go any further, I would ask that you stop the clock, as I have motions to move.

You know that April 1st is not only April Fools’ Day. Unfortunately, a new carbon tax will be imposed on that day.

I believe you received notices of motions in a timely fashion and in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, which allows us to move them here this afternoon.

I think it’s important to represent all groups in Canada with concerns about the French language and a sense of belonging to the francophone community. So, I’m going to propose motions that concern official language minority communities, Acadians in New Brunswick, Acadians in Nova Scotia, Acadians in Prince Edward Island, Acadians in Newfoundland and Labrador, Franco-Ontarians—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment, Mr. Godin.

First, I’d like to inform you that I stopped the clock and you had one minute left.

I’d then like to point out that you should present one motion at a time.

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

I haven’t moved any motion yet. I’m still speaking to the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

So this is your introduction.

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

Exactly.

What I was going to say is that we’re going to cover all the official language minority communities in Canada. In my list, I had gotten to Franco-Ontarians. We’re also going to represent Franco-Albertans and Fransaskois.

It’s important to be concerned about these people, who will be affected by a 23% increase in the carbon tax as of April 1st.

I’d like to begin by proposing my first motion, for which I filed notice on Friday, March 15. It reads as follows:

Whereas, according to Statistics Canada data, official language minority communities are predominantly located in rural and remote areas; Whereas the carbon tax has a greater impact on Canada’s rural and remote communities; Whereas a 23% increase in the carbon tax is scheduled for April 1, 2024; Whereas 70% of Canadians oppose this increase; Whereas seven provincial Premiers have also opposed this increase; Be it resolved that the Committee calls on the government to immediately reverse its decision to increase the carbon tax on April 1st.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, I read each of your eight motions carefully, and, for obvious reasons, I declare them out of order.

We can start with the first, if you don’t mind. Pursuant to Standing Order 108, I’m of the opinion that these matters exceed our committee’s mandate.

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

Actually, Mr. Chair, I think this is where we can defend the interests of official language minority communities.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, I understand your thinking, but I declare the motion out of order. We must follow procedure.

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

In that case, Mr. Chair, I appeal your ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That is precisely what I was going to ask you.

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

That’s what you were expecting, isn’t it? I didn’t think I would have to go down this road, but I appeal your ruling, because, in my opinion, it’s important to defend official language minority communities—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That’s fine.

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

Let me finish, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No, Mr. Godin. The motion is out of order. You were going to speak to me about the motion—

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

Then I appeal your ruling.

I was going to present arguments to persuade you to change your ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No. My ruling is obvious. As vice-chair of the committee, I thought you knew that—

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

When it comes to being obvious, Mr. Chair, it’s obvious that—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I was going to say that as vice-chair of this committee, you know as well as I do what Rule 108 stipulates and the scope of this committee’s role.

Since you are appealing the chair’s ruling, we will happily follow procedure and vote on it.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 7; nays 4.)

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I will try again by moving a second motion. I appeal to my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Official Languages for their understanding and open minds.

Here is the second motion:

Whereas, according to Statistics Canada data, Acadians in Newfoundland and Labrador are predominantly located in rural areas; Whereas the carbon tax has a greater impact on rural and remote communities; Whereas a 23% increase in the carbon tax is scheduled for April 1, 2024; Whereas 70% of Canadians oppose this increase; Whereas the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador opposes this increase; Be it resolved that the Committee calls on the government to immediately reverse its decision to increase the carbon tax on April 1.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

For the same reasons, Mr. Godin, this motion is out of order.

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

For the same reasons, Mr. Chair, I’m appealing your ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That’s the beauty of democracy.

We’ll proceed to the vote.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 7; nays 4.)