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CANADA

Standing Committee on Official Languages

NUMBER 038 
l
1st SESSION 
l
39th PARLIAMENT 

EVIDENCE

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

(0925)

[Translation]

    Ms. Folco.
Ms. Raymonde Folco (Laval—Les Îles, Lib.):
    With the consent of my colleagues, I would like to move the following motion: That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Standing Committee on Official Languages invite: (1) the Minister responsible for Official Languages, (2) the Minister of National Defence, (3) the Commissioner of Official Languages, and (4) other witnesses suggested by the Committee, to appear before the Committee as soon as possible to explain the new measure on Official Language policy for senior military officials of National Defence and, that pursuant to the Standing Orders, our report be immediately prepared and tabled in Parliament.
The Chair:
    I think that you have left out the officials, the witnesses.
Ms. Raymonde Folco:
    Then I would add: and other witnesses suggested by the committee.
Mr. Luc Harvey (Louis-Hébert, CPC):
    The problem is with the Canadian Forces, and not official languages. I would prefer to have Mr. O'Connor, the Minister of National Defence, appear first at least to explain—
The Chair:
    He will appear first.
Ms. Raymonde Folco:
    I asked for the minister responsible for official languages.
Mrs. Sylvie Boucher:
    That's fine.
Mr. Luc Harvey:
    I don't know. Logically—
Ms. Raymonde Folco:
    I don't know what comes first, the cart or the horse. Clearly, I don't know, but at any rate, I think that they will come very shortly. It seems to me that the minister responsible for official languages must first share her message, with the consent of the Minister of Defence.
Mr. Luc Harvey:
    Except that the request was made by the Department of Defence and that the problem is at the Department of Defence. If there is a lack of understanding of what is happening—
    It would be best if they both came at the same time.
Mrs. Sylvie Boucher:
    Yes, if they can come at the same time, we will accept that. That is what we are saying.
The Chair:
    One speaker at a time.
Ms. Raymonde Folco:
    That is how my motion reads. We can discuss the details later.
The Chair:
    About three meetings are taking place at the same time. I am trying to deal with this motion. Do you all have motions?
    Do we have a seconder for Ms. Folco's motion?
    Seconded by Mr. Godin.
    (Motion agreed to)
The Chair:
    The public sitting has been suspended.
    [Proceedings continue in camera]