Official Languages Committee on May 9th, 2024

[The Clerk]

Actually, the debate is continuing because Mr. Serré wants to speak to the amendment. We cannot vote.

Mr. Godin had his turn, but Mr. Serré wishes to speak as well. He raised a point of order, but it should have been his turn after Mr. Godin to propose a subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'm sorry. The chair is mistaken this morning.

Mr. Godin, we cannot request a vote right away. Debate is still open for proposed amendments or subamendments.

We have voted on the subamendment. Let us now return to the amendment.

Mr. Serré, you have—

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

[Inaudible]

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Now, Mr. Serré has—

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

You just said that you had made a mistake, Mr. Chair, so I hope I can talk to you. I am asking you: When I can request a vote?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

A vote cannot be requested as long as there are still amendments or subamendments.

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

Mr. Chair, if I request a vote, we should vote. Then we can move on to other subamendments.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

As long as people want to speak to the amendment, we have to listen to them. Now, it was Mr. Serré's turn.

I'm sorry, I have caused some confusion. I am entirely to blame.

Mr. Serré, you have the floor.

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

You apologized quickly, Mr. Chair.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to propose a subamendment. In addition, we will circulate the French version and the English version. The opposition does not do that, but we will. The subamendment is as follows:

i) And further, that the committee call on the Leader of the Opposition to apologize to the House for his use of unparliamentary language directed at other members and for his disrespect for the authority of the Speaker on April 30, 2024.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Where would you like to insert this?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

We have Mr. Généreux's amendment, and then Mr. Beaulieu's subamendment. Mine could be between the two.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

It says “and further”, so it could be at the end of all of that.

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

That's right.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin has the floor, followed by Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Mr. Chair, I think this subamendment is inadmissible. I would ask you to rule on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Serré, I would say it is inadmissible because it is out of context of the events last Monday. That would really be stretching it. The chair finds this subamendment inadmissible in relation to this motion.

Do you have something to add, Mr. Serré?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Chair, we asked an MP to apologize, so we are asking the Leader of the Opposition to apologize as well. If we can ask one of them, we can ask the other one. Moreover, the Liberal MP has already apologized four times.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Serré. I understand—

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

The Leader of the Opposition did not even—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you. I understand.

I will give Mr. Beaulieu the floor, but first let me say that the motion under consideration relates to something that happened here, at the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Mr. Beaulieu, please go ahead.

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

I agree with you that it is inadmissible.

Moreover, the MP did not apologize four times. They were halfhearted apologies; he apologized and then insulted people.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

That's not true, Mr. Beaulieu.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Be careful, please, for the sake of the interpreters. You received a notice two weeks ago about microphones being used at the same time. Auditory injuries are caused by the microphones used in committee and not the Zoom application. Only one microphone may be used at a time. You have to wait for me to give you the floor. I think everyone is used to that.

Mr. Godin, you may speak to the amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, you have made your decision and ruled that Mr. Serré's subamendment is inadmissible.

So I would like to request a vote on Mr. Généreux's amendment.