Senator Cormier: Would Senator Loffreda take a question?

Senator Cormier: Senator Loffreda, thank you for speaking about the concerns expressed by the anglophone community in Quebec, particularly regarding the inclusion of references to the Charter of the French Language in Bill C-13. My question is fairly simple. Did I understand correctly from your speech that you’re suggesting that the Chair of the Official Languages Committee invite legal experts to clarify concerns regarding the inclusion of the Charter of the French Language in Bill C-13?

At the same time, did I also understand correctly that you’re suggesting that the committee chair, who is also the bill’s sponsor, vacate his seat, which he intends to do, to ensure that there is no appearance of conflict of interest?

Senator Cormier: It’s a short one. Érik Labelle Eastaugh, François Larocque, Michel Bastarache, Benoît Pelletier, Robert Leckey, Michel Doucet, David Robitaille and Mark Power are all experts who have testified before the Official Languages Committee during its pre-study and provided evidence on legal and constitutional issues surrounding the bill.

Senator, with the expertise on that committee — you know the members of the committee — and considering its capacity to invite experts to look at the amended bill, don’t you now trust that the committee, with all that expertise — and some of the members of that committee being there for many years — is well equipped, better equipped and indeed the best equipped to exclusively examine this piece of legislation?

I recognize the expertise of Legal and Constitutional Affairs and the colleagues who are on that committee, but we have been working on this bill — this act — since 2017. We are well equipped to study it. Can you comment on this?

Senator Cormier: Thank you, Senator Seidman. First, I want to congratulate you and thank you for your dedication and commitment to official languages. You have been on the Official Languages Committee for years, and you have done a lot of work. You are dedicated to the anglophone community in Quebec.

Considering that the Official Languages Committee’s mandate is broad and allows it to examine any matter relating to official languages in general — which includes constitutional language rights guaranteed by the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — considering it is mandated to review the application of the Official Languages Act and the application of its regulations, and considering that the Official Languages Committee has paid particular attention to legal and constitutional questions during its pre-study of the bill, don’t you think that this committee is better equipped to exclusively examine this piece of legislation?

Hon. René Cormier: Colleagues, getting to know the Far North, the people who live there and the languages they speak has always been a dream of mine.

Knowing that we can’t understand our country without meeting the First Peoples who have inhabited these lands for millennia, and with that dream in mind, I embarked on a three-day trip to Nunavut, the land of the Inuit. It was a fascinating and transformative journey, made possible thanks to the support and help of our colleague Senator Dennis Patterson, whom I sincerely thank for his invaluable assistance.

[English]

Nunavut, Canada’s largest territory, is governed by a consensus-based legislative assembly, whose members are not attached to any political party — it’s a very inspiring mode of governance for an independent senator. Thank you, Speaker Tony Akoak and Pamela Hakongak Gross, Minister of Culture and Heritage, for your warm welcome to this chamber where respect prevails.

[Translation]

As I toured this land almost entirely made up of Arctic tundra, I was guided by Languages Commissioner Karliin Aariak, who works passionately and determinedly to ensure compliance with Nunavut’s Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act. This is a monumental task that the governments of Nunavut and Canada absolutely must support.

In the land of the Qimmiq, one of world’s oldest dog breeds, languages and cultures travel to and for. They coexist, enriching this majestic land with their extraordinary sounds. Inuktut in its many forms, French and English resonate throughout the territory, representing the diversity of our country and our ability to live together.

[English]

In the land of the qulliq, the traditional Inuit lamp, I met the inspiring Leena Evic, owner of the Pirurvik Centre, which is a language training company that offers Inuktut language learning through a process that is both spiritual and restorative. It is an eloquent example of the inseparable link between language, culture and identity.

In the small community of Apex, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson spoke to me about the future of the Inuktitut language which she imagines with optimism and kindness.

In the land of inukshuk, I also met young artists who use throat singing to express their love of the land.

[Translation]

I also met with members of the Francophonie in Nunavut, people from all over, from Acadia, Quebec, Cameroon and more, people who embrace this land with passion and devotion, a community with the wonderful Trois-Soleils school at its heart.

Esteemed colleagues, as you can tell, I fell in love with Nunavut and its people, who draw creative energy, strength and spirituality from the land to steward, heal, repair and build the future.

[English]

Today, I dream of flying away again on the wings of the great steel bird to meet up with these people and learn more because this trip was just the beginning — the beginning of a journey that will transform me forever.

Qujannamiik, Nunavut.

[Translation]

Hon. René Cormier: Would Senator Seidman accept a question?