Evidence of meeting #13 for Official Languages in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was it’s.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Mr. Godin, I give you the floor. Then, I will have a few things to say.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
To answer Ms. Chenette’s question, the ministers should have come earlier to discuss the mandate letters. This is the second‑to‑last meeting dedicated to the study on the use of French. After that, we’ll receive the Commissioner to conclude the necessary testimony for this report. I think this topic should be treated as a priority because it’s part of a report.
As for the ministers’ visit to discuss the mandate letters, unfortunately, I would postpone it to February, because we will progress in a more chronological manner for the preparation of our reports. We will come back to the issue of mandate letters.
I understand that we should have analyzed their mandates before the rest, but they decided not to come earlier. It’s not up to them to decide what they come to talk about here. That’s up to the committee.
As such, what I’m saying is that we should ask them right away to find a time by May 2026 to come and answer questions concerning the mandate letters. They’re the ones who put themselves in this situation. It wasn’t us.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
It is 1:00 p.m. I know that all this takes time.
Madam Clerk, could you summarize what we heard?
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I’d like to make a comment that could help you for meeting 15. Personally, I wouldn’t mix the two topics.
I don’t know if there could be some flexibility, but I wouldn’t mix the two topics.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve heard, the first hour of meeting 14 would be with the representative from Cogeco and Ms. Alexis Normand, as planned. We would finish the study on the quota of French-language music. During the second hour, we would give our analyst the instructions for the preparation of the report on the education continuum.
For meeting 15, which will take place on December 4, we will welcome the Minister responsible for Official Languages and the President of the Treasury Board. I think the committee could make a decision to clarify this issue, but I understood that I would need to reach out to the ministers to see if they would be willing to testify on only one of the two studies, namely on the study of the use of French in government communications, rather than on their mandate letters. I could inform them of the committee’s intention and get their response.
Meeting 16 would take place on December 9. We would potentially start the study of the regulations that were tabled yesterday. This would be the first meeting on this topic, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be others. If it is the committee’s wish, we should think about witnesses right away. If you send me a list next week, at the end of the day on Tuesday or something like that, it would give us enough time to invite them.
Finally, meeting 17 would be our last meeting before the Christmas break, and the first hour would be dedicated to the testimony of the Commissioner of Official Languages on the use of French in government communications. I understand that we would like the Commissioner to stay for the second hour to discuss the regulations. I contacted his office this morning, and his colleagues told me that he would have enough time to prepare to appear on this matter.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I still raise my reservation about meeting 16. I don't want to move forward without having confirmed this with my party.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
I just want to clarify the situation, Mr. Godin.
You prefer not to plan the content of the meeting.
Is that correct?
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
No, I’m saying that we can plan this, but it’s possible that I might oppose it later. However, the odds are slim.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Since we are in agreement, I move to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.