Publication Search

I would just like to apologize for the tone I took last Thursday. I think the substance was fine, but the tone was perhaps not acceptable. I would especially like to apologize to the interpreters, who may have had a more difficult situation or period. So I apologize to the interpreters and to my colleagues.

René Arseneault - 11:30

René Arseneault - 11:35

CPC (QC)

Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

2022-12-13 11:35

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We hope to follow the set procedures. I think you know I have tremendous respect for the institution. If I make any mistakes, I'm sure that my colleagues and yourself will be able to set me straight.

I think this first amendment is important, in light of Quebec's special status.

Because the amendment is short, I will read it out loud. The amendment proposes that Bill C‑13, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 1 to line 16 on page 2 with the following:

ted to respecting Quebec's language planning choices, as set out in the Charter of the French language;

You have to understand that Quebec is home to a small group of francophones who are surrounded by a sea of North American anglophones. I think that this amendment should be made to the bill.

That is all I have to say right now.

C-13, An Act to amend the Official Langu ...Clause-by-clause study Government bills Official languages policy

René Arseneault - 11:36

René Arseneault - 11:44

CPC (QC)

Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

2022-12-13 11:44

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I heard my two Liberal colleagues saying that there was no need to include the charter in Bill C‑13.

I simply want to remind them that Quebec enjoys a unique status, that it is surrounded by a sea of anglophones and that the aim of the amendment is to protect a linguistic minority in Canada.

I'm not doing this because I am opposed to the other official language. I have tremendous respect for both official languages. However, given Quebec's minority status, I think that we should seek to reinforce protective measures to avoid French being wiped out in Quebec.

C-13, An Act to amend the Official Langu ...

René Arseneault - 11:45

René Arseneault - 12:01

CPC (QC)

Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

2022-12-13 12:01

I've done the math, and I fully understand that the Liberals and the NDP will vote against my amendment and, as Ms. Ashton mentioned earlier, we're going to speed up the processing of this bill.

I can see where this is going, so I'm asking for unanimous consent for this amendment.

René Arseneault - 12:02

Mario Beaulieu - 12:03

CPC (QC)

Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

2022-12-13 12:03

Mr. Chair, could you ask Mr. Beaulieu again whether or not he agrees to unanimous consent? I'm not sure if he actually heard the procedure because of the technical problems.

René Arseneault - 12:03

Brad Vis - 12:06

CPC (QC)

Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

2022-12-13 12:07