Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, December 2, 2002
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:07 p.m., in room 256-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Comeau, Corbin, Gauthier, Keon, Léger, Losier-Cool and Maheu (8).
WITNESSES:
From the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:
Ms. Dyane Adam, Commissioner;
Ms. Johane Tremblay, General Counsel and Director, Legal Services Branch;
Mr. Michel Robichaud, Director General, Investigations Branch;
Mr. Gérard Finn, Special Advisor;
Mr. Guy Renaud, Director General, Policy and Communications.
The Chair began the meeting by proposing a revised motion for an Order of Reference for the Committee. Following debate, it was agreed that the revised motion be further amended and re-submitted to members at the end of the meeting.
Beginning at 4:22 p.m., Ms. Adam made a presentation and, together with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 6:40 p.m., the Chair submitted to members the amended revised motion for an Order of Reference. After further debate, it was moved by the Honourable Senator Corbin — That the Chair be authorised to seek from the Senate the following revised Order of Reference:
That the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages be authorised to study and report from time to time upon the operation of the Official Languages Act, and of regulations and directives made thereunder, within those institutions subject to the act, as well as upon the reports of the Commissioner of Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, with Senator Comeau requesting that the record note his objection to a perceived shortcoming in the proposed Order of Reference, namely that it does not allow the Committee to study organisations not subject to the Official Languages Act, such as new foundations created by the federal government.
At 6:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, December 9, 2002
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:07 p.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Comeau, Corbin, Gauthier, Keon, Léger and Losier-Cool (7).
The committee discussed its future business.
It was agreed — That the committee begin its work in 2003 by focusing on the topic of access by francophone minorities to health care services in French.
It was agreed — That the committee ask the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration for an initial budget of $5,000 until March 31st, 2003.
At 5:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Richard Maurel
Clerk of the Committee