Official Languages Committee on May 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's good, Ms. Goodridge.

Was that the point of your intervention?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Yes, I wanted to point out that I had some serious technical issues this morning.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Goodridge.

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), we're asking that a meeting be convened to invite the Minister of Official Languages to appear before the committee as part of the study on federal funding for minority-language post-secondary institutions and to respond to the actions of the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell and any other related issues.

In short, we want to invite the minister to appear before the committee once again without delay.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right, Mr. Beaulieu, but—

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

We have to introduce a new motion to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

All right, Mr. Beaulieu. There is no motion at this point.

I give the floor to Mr. Drouin first. Then it will be Mr. Serré's turn.

Go ahead, Mr. Drouin.

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

I understand that a letter has been sent out inviting us to a meeting pursuant to Standing Order 106(4) and that you've convened that meeting.

We are here, but we haven't received a motion. Do you have the written text of the motion?

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

Yes.

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

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Go ahead, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, all we know is what's been said. We haven't received the written text of the motion. We would like to know what matter we're going to address today. A specific motion stating that has to be introduced.

I travelled from my riding Monday evening so I could get to the meeting here on time. I want to be sure that we'll be able to discuss a specific subject. We have a lot of work to do on the decline of French across Quebec and Canada. The committee has a lot of work to do to examine all the issues pertaining to French-language services.

Having said that, I hope we can have a constructive debate today.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Serré.

We will continue with Mr. Généreux, who will be followed by Ms. Goodridge.

Go ahead, Mr. Généreux.

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

I yield the floor to my colleague Mr. Godin, who has just arrived. He wants to table a notice of motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

First, we will give Ms. Goodridge the floor.

Go ahead.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I know that people have travelled to get here today. I tried to get to the airport yesterday, but I couldn't do it. As some of you may know, part of the community of Fort McMurray was evacuated yesterday, including a francophone school, École Boréale. There were some issues, so I was a bit muddled.

I believe my colleague Mr. Godin is now in the room to present the motion that we've tabled. I thank him for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Ms. Goodridge.

Mr. Godin was the next one on the list since he raised his hand.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We understand that the situation is exceptional and that everyone is busy.

I'd like to tell my colleague Mr. Serré that every effort was made to get here on time but that we unfortunately aren't immune from Air Canada's transportation issues.

Having said that, I'm here and very pleased to be because I think it's important for the Quebec and Canadian francophonie.

I would like to table a notice of motion, which I will send to Madam Clerk in both official languages. I am reading it to you on this Wednesday, May 15, 2024:

That the committee invite, as soon as possible, the Minister for Official Languages to appear for no less than two hours as part of the study on federal funding of minority-language postsecondary educational institutions and any other matter related to his duties as Minister of Official Languages; and that the appearance take place within two weeks of this motion being adopted.

Mr. Chair, I think it's important that the minister be present as we conclude our study on federal funding of post-secondary educational institutions. That was the last phase.

We unfortunately won't repeat the unacceptable words that were spoken in committee, and we won't discuss the procedure or slow pace of the process of apology and redemption of my colleague from Glengarry—Prescott—Russell.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

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

I think it's important—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I must interrupt you, Mr. Godin. There's a point of order.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We haven't received the motion in writing. Would it be possible to have it in English and French so we can study it?

May we suspend—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment; I have to interrupt everyone.

Mr. Godin, before you arrived, I said we needed to stop talking over one another. I would like this to be the last time I mention it to the committee. I've been saying it for more than three meetings. It injures our interpreters' hearing.

I can see all the raised hands around the table and all the people on the screen before me. The clerk is here to help me. Raise your hand, and I will give you the floor.

Mute your microphones when you aren't speaking. That applies to everyone.

Please continue, Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I think it would be appropriate to suspend the meeting so we can examine the motion.