Official Languages Committee on May 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's good. The motion is being circulated. So we will suspend for a brief moment to consider it.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We will resume.

I apologize to Ms. Goodridge, Mr. Lehoux and Ms. Ashton, who are attending the meeting by video conference, because the screen switched off when I suspended the meeting, and I couldn't see you.

Everyone has read the motion.

Mr. Godin, go ahead since you had your hand raised.

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

Mr. Chair, as I mentioned, I think it's important to re-invite the minister because some incidents that have occurred were exceptional, or rather particular; the word “exceptional” has a more positive connotation and “particular” a more negative one. We've lost an hour with the minister because the Liberal members were filibustering.

Then we invoked Standing Order 106(4), as a result of which we are here today.

The important thing is to get back to the main subject matter, which is our study on funding of post-secondary institutions. The minister's appearance was to round out the information-gathering component, enabling us to prepare a compelling and productive report. I think it's important that the minister come back to the committee so we can then draft the report.

We've chosen to use this process because the Liberals filibustered. Our meeting was suspended, but we had to continue it. We know perfectly well what the Liberals will be doing for who knows how long. I don't know why they pull out the heavy artillery to defend the indefensible. I personally think it's important—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

Mr. Chair, would you please ask my colleagues to be silent? As you mentioned earlier, when many people speak at the same time, that can cause injuries to the interpreters.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I actually said that many microphones can't be unmuted at the same time.

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

Does that mean we can speak if our microphones are muted?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

No, Mr. Godin.

What I said earlier I've said during the past three meetings: No more than one microphone can be unmuted at a time. When the chair gives someone the floor, that person then unmutes his or her microphone.

Go ahead, Mr. Godin.

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

I'm going to go back over what you just said.

Do you tolerate someone making comments if that person's microphone is muted?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin, I've been sitting on the Standing Committee on Official Languages for nine years. It's true that someone on the other side made a comment, but it was said quietly and did not interrupt you.

You've been here a long time as well, and you know that loud comments have been made. In this instance, I think it's a minor problem. However, it's true that the ideal thing is that everyone listens when someone speaks.

Go ahead; continue.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I mentioned, I think it's important to hear from the minister. I won't waste any more time. I just want to work and attack the issues concerning the Quebec and Canadian francophonie.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

Mr. Serré, the floor is yours, followed by Ms. Lalonde.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First, I would like to thank Mr. Godin for tabling this motion. We discussed this kind of motion on Monday, and we can debate it today.

However, I obviously don't share the opposition opinion on the exceptional circumstances mentioned in the letter of Friday, May 10. I think the motion is clear, even though I'll have an amendment to table.

However, since this is a matter of urgency and exceptional circumstances, I'd like to say, as Mr. Godin mentioned earlier, that we have reinforcements today because the Hon. Mona Fortier and Marie‑France Lalonde, two major defenders of the Canadian francophonie, are here. We obviously have my colleagues Francis Drouin and Darrell Sampson here as well. They are passionate supporters of the French language, as I know are the opposition members who are here today.

I also know that it's important to continue monitoring the linguistic vitality of this country. I thought a motion would be tabled today to discuss the decline of French in Quebec and Canada or to continue our study on the underfunding of French-language post-secondary institutions, which are facing numerous challenges. I thought we might discuss francophone immigration and its importance for post-secondary institutions. I thought we would discuss the education continuum, particularly primary and secondary education. I thought we would talk about the Official Languages Act and the two regulations that will be coming into force. And I obviously thought we would also discuss CBC/Radio-Canada and how important Radio-Canada is for the official language minority communities. As for the CBC, the Conservatives want to cut off its funding—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Just a moment, Mr. Serré.

Mr. Godin, do you want to add something?

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

Mr. Chair, I think the debate should focus on the content of the letter regarding Standing Order 106(4). All comments should relate to that.

I would like Mr. Serré to withdraw his remarks and for his arguments to pertain to the content of the letter in question.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

Mr. Serré referred to the study on post-secondary funding and the possibility of examining the education continuum. He also mentioned the CBC and the well-known fact that the official opposition wants to shut it down. He was unable to complete his sentence, but that's what he was saying in the context of the study on post-secondary funding. I'm waiting to see whether we'll stray from the topic in question. If I don't let Mr. Serré finish his sentence, I can't know.

Mr. Serré, the floor is yours again.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

These are obviously extremely important questions for organizations such as CBC/Radio-Canada and individual francophones across the country. This is a significant element of the motion.

I'm sitting temporarily on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, where we're examining Bill C-316, which concerns the court challenges program, a truly important program that the Conservatives oppose. They've previously abolished it twice.

I was thinking we would discuss those issues today, but, no, they've come back here with a motion.

I'm going to remind the committee of the meeting last Thursday. It was on May 9, at 8:15 a.m., which is a bit early, but we meet every Thursday morning at 8:15.

The notice of meeting stated that the purpose of the meeting was to study federal funding for minority-language post-secondary institutions. The Hon. Randy Boissonnault was here. He was in attendance at 8:15. He made a five-minute speech, as witnesses normally do. All that was directly related to the motion that Mr. Godin is tabling today. I'm going to try to use positive words and say that my interpretation of last Thursday's meeting is different from that of Mr. Godin.

I hope Canadians are watching us today. In our meetings, witnesses have five minutes to make a presentation, then the official opposition party asks its questions first. That's the way it always is in practice. The Conservatives go first and then it's the Liberals' turn.

The first speaker was Mr. Godin, and he spoke directly about Mr. Boissonnault's remarks. We had the study—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Mr. Godin has a point of order.

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

My colleague is relating facts, but he has forgotten his colleague's apology that was made on—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's not a point of order, Mr. Godin.

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

Mr. Chair, I'd like to go back to the motion—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I ask you to mute your microphone, Mr. Godin. That's not a point of order; you know as well as I do. Thank you.

Mr. Serré, go ahead.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

It's very relevant, Mr. Chair, because when Mr. Godin, the first Conservative member to speak, asked the minister his first question, it wasn't even about the study we were conducting. We were talking about post-secondary institutions on Thursday. We had got to the last witness who had come to the committee to speak on this topic, and Mr. Godin didn't ask a single question about the subject under discussion. What I'm saying is relevant because the first thing Mr. Godin asked the minister about was his position on Mr. Drouin's comments.

The May 10 letter refers to exceptional circumstances and requests that the minister appear urgently. The committee members travelled from all over the country, at enormous cost, to attend a meeting requested pursuant to Standing Order 106(4). The letter refers to official languages and to Standing Order 106(4). I'm going to quote from it—

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

One moment, Mr. Serré. Mr. Beaulieu has a point of order.

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

I don' t understand the connection between Mr. Serré's comments and the motion.

Does he agree that the minister should be invited, or is he against it? That's the point of the motion.