House of Commons Passes Bill C-13 Near-Unanimously
(Ottawa) Against all odds, Bill C-13, to modernize the Official Languages Act, passed third and final reading in the House of Commons almost unanimously on Monday afternoon. The vote was final: 300 MPs voted in favour, and only one MP opposed it.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Sticking to his guns, Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was the only elected official to vote against his own government's bill, while another Liberal MP from the Montreal area, Sherry Romanado, abstained from voting.
The two refractory MPs expressed their choice from a distance, as has been allowed for
the past three years by the rules of the House of Commons.
Mr. Housefather, a former leader of Alliance Quebec, had telegraphed his intention to vote against the bill because it contained references to Quebec's Charter of the French Language.
According to him, these references may represent a threat to the rights of Quebec's English-speaking minority.
Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was the only elected official to vote against his own government's bill.
During the study of the bill in committee, several elected Liberals representing ridings in the Montreal area had expressed similar fears, suggesting a possible revolt on their part if the government did not accept certain amendments. The slingshot did not materialize. In particular, Mr. Housefather tried to have any reference to the Charter of the French Language removed from Bill C-13, but without success.
Curbing the decline of French"Bill C-13 does not take away any rights from anglophones in Quebec. The priority of the bill is to halt the decline of French and support our minority communities," insisted Minister Petitpas Taylor, adding that MP Housefather voted according to his convictions, "and that's okay."
The Bloc Québécois voted in favour of the bill, saying it is a step in the right direction. "But it is still not enough to ensure that French is protected in Quebec," said House Leader Alain Therrien.
Bill C-13 grants a new right to work and be served in French in Quebec and in "regions with a strong francophone presence" in other provinces for private businesses that are under federal jurisdiction, such as banks, airlines or railways.
Quebec in favourThe Legault government supports Bill C-13 in its current form and demands its adoption before the end of parliamentary proceedings.
In the spring, Quebec and Ottawa agreed on the content of certain amendments to Bill C-13.
Quebec wanted the Charter of French Law to apply to federally chartered companies located on its territory. Instead, Ottawa proposed to include in its bill certain elements of the Charter affecting these same companies not only in Quebec, but also in regions with a strong francophone presence in other provinces.
The bill also gives the Commissioner of Official Languages the power to compel federal institutions to meet their obligations under the Official Languages Act by, among other things, creating a sanctions regime. It also requires the Department of Justice to appoint Supreme Court of Canada judges who are proficient in both official languages.
In refining Bill C-13, the Trudeau government also decided to confirm the essential role played by CBC/Radio-Canada in protecting and promoting Canada's two official languages in section 42.1. According to analysts, this clause has quasi-constitutional value and could be a major legal obstacle for any government that wishes to slash the budget of the public broadcaster.
Recall that the leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, who voted in favour of Bill C-13, promised to cut funding to CBC/Radio-Canada by $1 billion if he takes power in the next election. If he forms the next government, Mr. Poilievre could at least violate the spirit of the new Official Languages Act by carrying out this threat.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Bill C-13 seeks to modernize the Official Languages Act.
- The Senate must now study the bill.
- The Quebec government is calling for the adoption of this reform before the end of parliamentary proceedings in June.
Sticking to his guns, Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was the only elected official to vote against his own government's bill, while another Liberal MP from the Montreal area, Sherry Romanado, abstained from voting.
The two refractory MPs expressed their choice from a distance, as has been allowed for
the past three years by the rules of the House of Commons.
Mr. Housefather, a former leader of Alliance Quebec, had telegraphed his intention to vote against the bill because it contained references to Quebec's Charter of the French Language.
According to him, these references may represent a threat to the rights of Quebec's English-speaking minority.
Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was the only elected official to vote against his own government's bill.
During the study of the bill in committee, several elected Liberals representing ridings in the Montreal area had expressed similar fears, suggesting a possible revolt on their part if the government did not accept certain amendments. The slingshot did not materialize. In particular, Mr. Housefather tried to have any reference to the Charter of the French Language removed from Bill C-13, but without success.
Curbing the decline of French"Bill C-13 does not take away any rights from anglophones in Quebec. The priority of the bill is to halt the decline of French and support our minority communities," insisted Minister Petitpas Taylor, adding that MP Housefather voted according to his convictions, "and that's okay."
The Bloc Québécois voted in favour of the bill, saying it is a step in the right direction. "But it is still not enough to ensure that French is protected in Quebec," said House Leader Alain Therrien.
Bill C-13 grants a new right to work and be served in French in Quebec and in "regions with a strong francophone presence" in other provinces for private businesses that are under federal jurisdiction, such as banks, airlines or railways.
Quebec in favourThe Legault government supports Bill C-13 in its current form and demands its adoption before the end of parliamentary proceedings.
In the spring, Quebec and Ottawa agreed on the content of certain amendments to Bill C-13.
Quebec wanted the Charter of French Law to apply to federally chartered companies located on its territory. Instead, Ottawa proposed to include in its bill certain elements of the Charter affecting these same companies not only in Quebec, but also in regions with a strong francophone presence in other provinces.
The bill also gives the Commissioner of Official Languages the power to compel federal institutions to meet their obligations under the Official Languages Act by, among other things, creating a sanctions regime. It also requires the Department of Justice to appoint Supreme Court of Canada judges who are proficient in both official languages.
In refining Bill C-13, the Trudeau government also decided to confirm the essential role played by CBC/Radio-Canada in protecting and promoting Canada's two official languages in section 42.1. According to analysts, this clause has quasi-constitutional value and could be a major legal obstacle for any government that wishes to slash the budget of the public broadcaster.
Recall that the leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, who voted in favour of Bill C-13, promised to cut funding to CBC/Radio-Canada by $1 billion if he takes power in the next election. If he forms the next government, Mr. Poilievre could at least violate the spirit of the new Official Languages Act by carrying out this threat.