OGGO Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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Minutes of Proceedings
Conservative
Bloc Québécois
Emily Nicholson made a statement, and with the other witness, answered questions.
At 12:28 p.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 12:32 p.m., the meeting resumed.
Questioning of the witnesses resumed.
Julie Vignola moved, — Given that :
(a) the media reported on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, that the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, was still unable to converse in French during a visit to a community organization in Lévis, Quebec, and that she had to cancel certain planned activities during her stay in Quebec for this reason; (b) the Governor General had made a “firm” commitment to learn French by 2021, when she was appointed, and had again stated to Radio-Canada, in an interview in 2023, that she wished to be able to “speak to Francophones” by the end of 2024; the committee : (a) is concerned that the Governor General cannot adequately address Quebec francophones and francophones from francophone communities in other provinces in their mother tongue; (b) expresses its deep disappointment that after three years since her appointment, the Governor General of Canada is unable to sustain a basic level of conversation in French in the exercise of her title as representative of the Sovereign in Canada, and that she has spoken only in English when French is the only official language in the province of Quebec; and (c) requests the chair to report to the House as soon as possible.Debate arose thereon.
It was agreed, — That debate resume after the witnesses have answered questions.
Stephanie Kusie moved, — In regard to the committee's study of the purchase of the new official residence for the Consul General in New York, the committee invite to appear: Former Chief of Staff to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Wilkinson; Former Chief of Staff of Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Karolina Guay; Property Branch Assistant Deputy Minister, Robin Dubeau; and Director General of Policy and Planning, Frank Hounzangbé, as referred to by Emily Nicholson in her testimony today.
Irek Kusmierczyk moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “former Chief of Staff to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Wilkinson;”.
The question was put on the amendment of Irek Kusmierczyk and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Jenica Atwin, Parm Bains, Majid Jowhari, Irek Kusmierczyk, Charles Sousa, Julie Vignola — 6;
NAYS: Taylor Bachrach, Kelly Block, Larry Brock, Stephanie Kusie — 4.
In regard to the committee's study of the purchase of the new official residence for the Consul General in New York, the committee invite to appear: Former Chief of Staff of Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Karolina Guay; Property Branch Assistant Deputy Minister, Robin Dubeau; and Director General of Policy and Planning, Frank Hounzangbé, as referred to by Emily Nicholson in her testimony today.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on division.
Questioning of the witnesses resumed.
Taylor Bachrach moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.
The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Jenica Atwin, Taylor Bachrach, Parm Bains, Majid Jowhari, Irek Kusmierczyk, Charles Sousa — 6;
NAYS: Kelly Block, Larry Brock, Stephanie Kusie, Julie Vignola — 4.
At 1:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.