Official Languages

The committee met to consider a motion from Louis Villeneuve (Liberal) regarding a study on the use of French by the Prime Minister, following a Radio-Canada article. The motion proposed inviting the Minister responsible for Official Languages, officials from Canadian Heritage, and the Clerk of the Privy Council to appear over two meetings. Joël Godin (Conservative) introduced a substitute motion, amended by Mario Beaulieu (Bloc Québécois), that broadened the study to include the decline of French in Quebec and federal institutions in Quebec, and ordered the production of the Prime Minister’s calendar entries related to French activities, excluding national security matters.

After procedural debate, including points of order on extending the meeting beyond its scheduled hour, the committee reached a consensus. The motion was amended to add a 21-day timeline for appearances, a requirement to report findings to the House, and a request for a comprehensive government response. The committee agreed to the amended motion as a whole and voted to adjourn the meeting, with the understanding that the debate would resume at the next meeting.