Evidence of meeting #15 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 president.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
It’s your turn, Mr. Deschênes-Thériault. Your name was already on the list.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Perfect.
Given that it is 1:00 p.m. and I don’t believe we’ll reach a consensus today, I move to adjourn the debate.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
This is a dilatory motion, so we must proceed immediately to a recorded vote.
(Motion negatived: yeas 4; nays 5)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
According to my list, it’s Mr. Deschênes-Thériault’s turn. Next, it will be your turn, Mr. Beaulieu.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to propose an amendment to my colleague Mr. Godin’s motion.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, does he have the right to propose an amendment when he has already proposed a subamendment to the same motion?
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Actually, no, I apologize. It’s true, I’m the one who cannot propose an amendment to my motion.
Liberal
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
However, I am next on the list, as I raised my hand earlier.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
So, my amendment seeks first to replace the first paragraph with the following:
That, in relation to the ongoing study on the use of French in Government Communications and Federal Institutions, the committee urges the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Official Languages, to testify regarding his position on the decline of French in Canada no later than February 12, 2026;
The second paragraph would be kept exactly as it is.
We would then remove the third paragraph.
The fourth paragraph would also be kept as is.
I have sent the text of the proposed amendment to the clerk.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I would have preferred the wording to say, “in Canada and Quebec”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
We are therefore seized with another amendment, which has just been moved by Mr. Deschênes-Thériault.
Do the committee members need a written version of the amendment distributed to them before debating it?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Okay.
The debate is therefore about the amendment.
Mr. Godin, you have the floor.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I thank all the members around the table for their openness but, to my understanding, we had agreed to add wording requesting that the committee report to the House if the minister does not appear before February 12, 2026, or something along those lines. However, I didn’t hear that in Mr. Deschênes-Thériault’s amendment.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
If you have a subamendment to suggest, Mr. Godin, it could be welcome.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I will therefore make it a subamendment. Allow me a few seconds to write my wording.
In fact, at this point, could the clerk send us the wording of my colleague’s amendment? Otherwise, we need to edit the text.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Deschênes-Thériault, for my part, I would like the text to say, “in Canada and in Quebec”.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
If the wording said “in Canada, including Quebec, by February 12 at the latest”, would that work for you, Mr. Beaulieu?
Bloc
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
You don’t want it to say, “including Quebec”? Because it includes Quebec.