By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That Bernard Généreux's motion be withdrawn.

Darrell Samson moved, — Whereas Air Canada has been subject to the full Official Languages Act for close to 50 years;

Whereas serious concerns have been raised by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in its special report on Air Canada published in June 2016;

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada evaluate the feasibility and desirability of implementing the four (4) solutions proposed in the special report by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:

a) That the government strengthen the enforcement regime applicable to Air Canada and expand the powers of the Official Languages Commissioner, in particular to enter into compliance agreements;

b) That the government amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act to give the Federal Court the power to award damages for violations of certain provisions of the Official Languages Act without the claimant having to prove an actual loss stemming from the violation. The Federal Court could assess damages based on a number of explicit factors to be taken into consideration;

c) That the government introduce provisions for fines to be imposed by the courts for certain regulatory violations of the Official Languages Act ;

d) That the government provide for administrative monetary penalties that can be issued in response to non-compliance with the legislation.

That the Committee continue to study at a later date, the Commissioner's report on Air Canada, and present its conclusions and recommendations to the House of Commons.

On motion of François Choquette, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “implementing” the following: “one or many of”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

Whereas Air Canada has been subject to the full Official Languages Act for close to 50 years;

Whereas serious concerns have been raised by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in its special report on Air Canada published in June 2016;

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada evaluate the feasibility and desirability of implementing one or many of the four (4) solutions proposed in the special report by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:

a) That the government strengthen the enforcement regime applicable to Air Canada and expand the powers of the Official Languages Commissioner, in particular to enter into compliance agreements;

b) That the government amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act to give the Federal Court the power to award damages for violations of certain provisions of the Official Languages Act without the claimant having to prove an actual loss stemming from the violation. The Federal Court could assess damages based on a number of explicit factors to be taken into consideration;

c) That the government introduce provisions for fines to be imposed by the courts for certain regulatory violations of the Official Languages Act;

d) That the government provide for administrative monetary penalties that can be issued in response to non-compliance with the legislation.

That the Committee continue to study at a later date, the Commissioner's report on Air Canada, and present its conclusions and recommendations to the House of Commons.

It was agreed, — With regard to the study of the Roadmap and immigration in francophone minority communities, the meetings with witnesses will be organized as follows:

A statement of ten (10) minutes from each witness concerning the Roadmap and a question period of twenty (20) minutes from members; followed by

A statement of ten (10) minutes from each witness concerning immigration in francophone minority communities and a question period of twenty (20) minutes from members.

At 10:11 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:18 a.m., the sitting resumed.

David Manicom made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.