Official Languages Committee on Oct. 20th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number five of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. For those participating virtually, please click on the microphone icon to activate your mike, and please mute yourself when you aren't speaking.

I would like to remind participants of the following points.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking.

All comments should be addressed through the chair.

I would like to ask committee members to please raise their hands when they wish to speak.

For those participating in person and through Zoom, the committee clerk and I will maintain the speaking order as best as we can.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee is commencing consideration of a request by committee members to undertake a study of French in government communications.

Mr. Villeneuve, you have the floor.

[Louis Villeneuve, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I read the letter that was sent by my colleagues. First, I would like to table a notice of motion. I have to say that I'm a francophone. My accent shows that well. I'm proud to be a francophone, and I think it's important for French to be present at all levels of our government.

Mr. Chair, may I read the motion that I would like to move?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Yes, I'll allow it.

[Louis Villeneuve, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Perfect. Thank you.

Since this is my first time, I wanted to make sure I was doing things properly. Here's what I propose.

That, following the Radio-Canada article published on October 9th, concerning the use of French by the Prime Minister, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee undertake a study concerning the place of the French language in the public sphere and in government institutions; That the committee invite the Minister responsible for Official Languages, officials from the department of Canadian Heritage, and the Clerk of the Privy Council to appear on this important subject, and; That the committee allocate two meetings to this study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve.

Do you want to add anything to the motion before I give the floor to the next speaker?

[Louis Villeneuve, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

No, I have nothing to add. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

The motion has been circulated in both official languages. I see that everyone has received it.

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

I'd like to ask for the vote to be called on the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Okay.

I see that Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault has his hand up. If it's the will of the committee—

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

When my colleague asked for the vote, no one exercised their right to speak. If I'm remembering the procedure right, and correct me if I'm wrong, we have to go to a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Okay.

We'll suspend. I'll confer with the clerk.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I call the meeting back to order.

I've conferred with the clerk.

Mr. Godin, you're once again right.

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

Thank you for pointing that out, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

It may be the last time; who knows.

I've conferred with the clerk. It's true that, as soon as someone asks to call the vote, we have to go directly to a vote if I don't see any other hands up.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

My colleague has asked for the vote, but I'm wondering whether we have to consult the members to see if they're ready to vote.

I'm not sure of the procedure on the parliamentary side. However, according to the Morin Code on deliberative assemblies, two thirds of the members present have to agree to call the vote and confirm that there isn't any debate.

Is that the case when it comes to committees?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I'm suspending the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

I call the meeting back to order.

Colleagues, I'm going to read Standing Order 116(2)(a):

Unless a time limit has been adopted by the committee or by the House, the Chair of a standing, special or legislative committee may not bring a debate to an end while there are members present who still wish to participate. A decision of the Chair in this regard may not be subject to an appeal to the committee.

Here's what I think. Mr. Beaulieu has asked for the vote. It's true that I didn't have any other names on the list, but when I looked across, I saw that Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault wanted to speak.

I will therefore give the floor to Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

As you said, and as I understand it, when there's a debate, the chair can't interrupt it.

There was no debate in this case. Mr. Beaulieu asked for the vote, and my colleague opposite raised his hand to speak. You even said just now that you didn't have any names on your list.

I understand your interpretation of Standing Order 116(2)(a), but it doesn't apply in these circumstances. I'm appealing to your judgment, as usual.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault, do you want to speak to the point of order?

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I would like to mention the fact that we haven't had the opportunity to have a debate. When the chair mentioned Mr. Villeneuve's motion, he asked if people had anything to say. Mr. Beaulieu raised his hand. When Mr. Beaulieu took the floor, I raised my hand to speak, not knowing that Mr. Beaulieu wouldn't contribute to the debate. As a result, I didn't have the opportunity to express my desire to participate in the debate.

In itself, that happened within a few seconds, so I didn't necessarily have a real chance to raise my hand. I didn't think the debate was closed when Mr. Beaulieu asked for the vote. Our side didn't have the opportunity to express our desire to take part in the debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Beaulieu, you have the floor.

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

In my opinion, if the Standing Orders state that when no one has spoken and the vote is requested, we call the vote, then it's better to follow the Standing Orders.

If we start being flexible in interpreting the Standing Orders, that will become difficult at some point. I remember times when I was shocked by the chair's rulings here, but the Standing Orders prevail.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, I'll give you the facts. I understand the arguments of my colleague Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault very well. However, it's important to understand that there was a silence. As they say in hockey games, call Toronto to see what happened.

Let's examine the situation. Mr. Beaulieu took the floor to ask for the vote, there was silence, and then Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault raised his hand. In my opinion, Mr. Deschênes‑Thériault won't be able to speak.

Mr. Chair, I'm already letting you know that I'm going to challenge your decision if you go against my arguments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

We discussed a very important topic. Here's what I've ruled.

I'll start by reading again from the Standing Orders: “…the Chair of a standing, special or legislative committee may not bring a debate to an end while there are members present who still wish to participate.”

I heard Mr. Beaulieu's request for the vote. I looked to see if any committee members still wanted to participate in the debate. There was a member who had their hand up. The Standing Orders also state, “a decision of the Chair in this regard may not be subject to an appeal to the committee.”