Evidence of meeting #35 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 regions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
It is no to the request to change the media release.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
You said no to the request to change it, right?
In that case, we could send a note of our own.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, could we clarify this? It is not clear to me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Okay, I will start my question again from the beginning.
I have a media release. In all honesty, a media release is normally not something that all committee members have to approve. It's something that the chair can do. However, as we recently did in connection with another study, I wanted to inform you that I was going to send the media release when I go to table our report on part VII of the Official Languages Act. So I wanted to check whether you agree and that there are no concerns as to the text.
Mr. Beaulieu proposed including a reference to the Bloc Québécois' dissenting opinion, which he has sent to the clerk. I therefore asked the members of the committee whether they agreed to mention it in the release, as Mr. Beaulieu had asked. However, unless I am mistaken, I understood that the majority said no.
Go ahead, Mr. Godin.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Yes, Mr. Chair, I do want to give you my opinion.
In my experience, all previous media releases prepared by committees have been discussed around the table so that we can agree on the content. Sometimes, we decide not to have them. Sometimes, we hold a press conference. You say that it's up to you to approve a media release, but, in practice, it's a shared process the result of which reflects what is said around the table.
As I understand it, my colleague Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault is opposed to having a media release in which we would mention that the Bloc Québécois provided a dissenting opinion.
If you can confirm that such is indeed the case, I will ask us to vote.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I am asking that we vote on the request to change the release to mention that the Bloc Québécois provided a dissenting opinion.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I would like to make a comment.
Mr. Chair, if you feel that you have no need for the committee's approval, just send the release. It's your call. If you are asking us to decide, we will tell you what we think.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Give me a moment, I will speak to the clerk.
Okay, after my discussion with the clerk, I have two things to explain.
First, in my experience, approving the content of a media release is normally left to the discretion of the chair. I know that it's not the case in all committees, but it is my experience.
Second, in terms of how to proceed, to have a vote as you asked for, Mr. Godin, there has to be an official motion. After the motion has been debated, we can have a vote.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yvan Baker
Does anyone still want to discuss Mr. Beaulieu's request, which was to include in the media release a reference to the fact that the Bloc Québécois provided a dissenting opinion?
Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, go ahead.
Liberal
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I just want to make one thing clear.
I feel that the committee has succeeded in reaching a satisfactory report with everyone on board. So we have a concern about including that reference in the media release. The report contains a dissenting opinion, but it is not a substantial one. It does not express fundamental dissent with most of the recommendations. Instead, as I understand it, we wanted to draw attention to the fact that the report reflects consensus around the table, despite some points on which the Bloc Québécois provided a dissenting opinion. That is why I said no to the request to include it in the media release.
Furthermore, the practice is that decisions on releases are usually the prerogative of the chair.
So basically, it's not a major problem. It's just that, in terms of the work we all did, I found it somewhat of a pity to highlight the dissent rather than the content of the report.
The Bloc Québécois is always able to rise in the House to explain the points of dissent in the place where the report will be tabled.
That's my opinion. I just wanted to make it clear.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I will see. If we are made aware of the precise time when it will be introduced in the House, we may be able to do that. We could also issue a release of our own.
I certainly recognize the efforts that were made. My dissent is not to everything, just to one specific point.
So we will see.
I am not blaming the chair for involving the committee on this. But you reacted, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, and we have our opinion too.
Liberal
Madeleine Chenette Liberal Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
In order for our first reaction not to be taken the wrong way, I would just like to repeat that we worked together so well. We all agree that the regulations pertaining to part VII of the Official Languages Act have to be worked on. We totally respect the fact that you have a dissenting opinion, Mr. Beaulieu, but we want the journalists reading the release to see that we are all working together to apply that pressure. But if we state that there was dissent in the media release, they will all jump on that and not look at the rest.
That was the constructive spirit in which we reacted. I said to myself that you are going to make your position known anyway. Personally, I say that we can put the reference in the release. But I urge you to consider the fact that it will not have the effect we wanted to create from the start, which is to urge Treasury Board to really work on it. So it's better to send the message that we are all together on this, despite a few little hiccups. That's the key message.
So if you want to indicate your dissent, we can indicate it. But that's the spirit in which we reacted. I really wanted to explain that so that our intention is not taken the wrong way.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I understand my colleague's comment and I thank her for it.
But I feel that it is of prime importance for each party to be responsible for communicating what it wants to communicate.
Additionally, the release already states that the committee dissents. It states that, after hearing from many witnesses, the committee feels that Treasury Board must revise the draft regulations. I don't have the wording of the release in my hands, but I feel that that is what it states. I see that the analyst is checking right now.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Doesn't it say something about a majority of witnesses?
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
No, what I am saying is that, in my opinion, the release already indicates unanimous dissent from the committee. We dissent in that the committee is asking Treasury Board to do its job better. That's the request we heard.
Now, it's up to Mr. Beaulieu to express disagreement. As a parliamentarian, I will always defend the right of parliamentarians of any party, ours or any other, to express their views. So if we do not indicate in a media release that there was a dissenting opinion, I feel that we are trying to have it both ways. That scares me. Mr. Beaulieu is accepting the consequences of the position he is taking. That may be positive for his party, but it may also be negative because there is dissent already. But it's his choice.
That's the basis on which I do not understand the objection that my colleague Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault raised. I feel that the reference to a dissenting opinion should be mentioned in the release.
Having said that, I am not going to tear my hair out over this. I have said my piece.