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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 292

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 20, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
The Speaker
  • Mar/20/24 3:23:47 p.m.
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The hon. member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier wishes to raise a question of privilege, but the House decided to proceed directly to the vote. After the vote, we will continue with questions of privilege.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
Mr. Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, CPC)
  • Mar/20/24 4:03:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to raise a question of privilege. On this International Day of La Francophonie, the fact that our institution behaved this way is a bit of an embarrassment. I rise today on a question of privilege concerning the Liberal government's chaotic attempt to amend the New Democratic Party's opposition motion, moved on Monday. On Monday evening, with one minute left to debate the NDP opposition motion, the Liberal government House leader proposed a long, complex and unilingual amendment. As we know, extensive procedural arguments followed. However, given that the amendment was available in English only, francophone members could not fully participate in the debate. Furthermore, translation delays prevented members from considering the amendment in French until immediately before the vote. In my opinion, the government's conduct obstructed the ability of francophone members to take part in House business. I consider this obstruction serious enough to constitute a breach of privilege. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states the following at page 111: A Member may also be obstructed or interfered with in the performance of his or her parliamentary functions by non-physical means. In ruling on such matters, the Speaker examines the effect the incident or event had on the Member's ability to fulfill his or her parliamentary responsibilities. If, in the Speaker's view, the Member was not obstructed in the performance of his or her parliamentary duties and functions, then a prima facie breach of privilege cannot be found. It is impossible to codify all incidents which might be interpreted as matters of obstruction, interference, molestation or intimidation and, as such, constitute prima facie cases of privilege. We have an absolute constitutional right to use either official language in parliamentary proceedings. However, the actions of the Liberal House leader—a member from Quebec no less—on Monday night diminished the ability of francophone members to participate in very important procedural deliberations in the House. The hon. member for Gatineau treated francophone members of this place like second-class members. I would also refer the Speaker to Standing Order 65, which reads as follows: All motions shall be in writing, and seconded, before being debated or put from the chair. When a motion is seconded, it shall be read in English and in French by the Speaker, if he or she be familiar with both languages; if not, the Speaker shall read the motion in one language and direct the clerk of the table to read it in the other, before debate. Unfortunately, neither the Speaker nor the clerk was able to read the amendment in French because it did not exist in French. It is shameful, it is shocking, and frankly, for an officially bilingual country, it is embarrassing. For those who do not know, the use of both official languages, French and English, in Canada and more specifically here in the House of Commons, has been required under the Constitution since Confederation. If the Chair agrees that there is a prima facie question of privilege, I am ready to move the appropriate motion. I thank the Chair for his attention.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
The Speaker
  • Mar/20/24 4:07:24 p.m.
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The parliamentary secretary on the same question of privilege.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Mar/20/24 4:07:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, given the nature of the privilege the member has raised, we will take it as notice and will provide comment in a relatively quick time span for you to make a decision.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
The Speaker
  • Mar/20/24 4:07:45 p.m.
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I recognize the hon. member for La Prairie, who wishes to speak on the same question of privilege.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
The Speaker
  • Mar/20/24 4:08:05 p.m.
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The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable on the same question of privilege.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)
  • Mar/20/24 4:10:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to add my comments and agree with the question of privilege that was raised. In general, what happened on Monday night was a gross and disgusting violation of the principle of the House being a deliberative assembly of members. The fact that the government put forward a last-minute, very substantive amendment, which was not at all debated in the House, is disgusting, and it would not be acceptable in any legislature around the world. It was particularly unfair, for the reasons my colleague explained, to our francophone colleagues because of the lack of translation available. In general, the timeline and the process presented by the government seemed to try to reduce Parliament to pageantry and theatre, rather than recognize our substantive role as the deliberative assembly of one nation in both official languages. This was wrong and unfair in general, but it was particularly unfair to our francophone colleagues. I hope you will find in favour of this question of privilege.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
Mr. Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West, CPC)
  • Mar/20/24 4:18:00 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure and honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, also known as the mighty OGGO, entitled “Question of Privilege Concerning the Refusal to Respond to Questions by Mr. Kristian Firth”.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux
  • Mar/20/24 6:52:16 p.m.
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On a point of order, I have two quick things. One is dealing with the question of privilege. The other is just ensuring that we get to the Questions on the Order Paper. I'd ask for leave to do so.
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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24
The Speaker
  • Mar/20/24 6:58:49 p.m.
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The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands is rising on the same question of privilege.
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