Official Languages

The committee met to discuss and adopt its subcommittee report on the fall agenda. The report proposed completing a study on the education continuum, hearing from the Minister of Official Languages and the President of the Treasury Board, and conducting studies on digital transformation and on measures to protect and promote French.

Mario Beaulieu moved two amendments. The first sought to prioritize a study on measures to protect and promote French in Quebec, arguing that French is in decline and that federal programs have focused on English in Quebec. Other members argued for completing the education continuum study first, noting that French is in decline across Canada and that the proposed study had been given a Canada-wide scope. Beaulieu eventually withdrew his amendment after proposing to study the Quebec issue after the education continuum study.

The second amendment concerned a meeting on the renewal of the interpreters’ contract. Beaulieu proposed that the meeting be held no later than October 7. After discussion, the committee agreed to hold the meeting no later than October 21.

Joël Godin introduced a motion to hold meetings on Cogeco’s request to reduce quotas for French-language music. The committee amended the motion to include online broadcasters with French-language content and broadcasters from the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada, and to hold at least two meetings. The motion was adopted.