Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Everyone seems to have a lot of topics to suggest. To follow up on what Mr. Samson was saying, I would add that we have to lay some groundwork, so that we can have a good understanding of the issues we will be dealing with.
Also, I think that the government is going to want to specify, through its minister, what directions it intends to give to the Standing Committee on Official Languages, or, in fact, what work it might like it to do. I think it would be appropriate to consider that and to move a motion inviting the minister to appear.
I understand the feeling of urgency that has been expressed about the Translation Bureau. This is an important issue. Given this implementation date of April 1, certain steps could be taken. However, the government could change this orientation subsequently. As the expression has it, “we should not put the cart before the horse”.
It is important that the minister come and meet the committee quickly. If we begin various studies now, we run the risk of not being able to meet the minister before June. You are all going to realize that time flies by very quickly in Ottawa. In addition, committees do not necessarily sit every week. In the month of March, we will not be meeting often.
It has already been mentioned, but I move that we meet with the minister, Ms. Mélanie Joly, as quickly as possible.