Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, May 5, 2003
(9)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:05 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Chaput, Comeau, Gauthier, Léger, Losier-Cool and Maheu (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Corbin (1).
In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Research Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The sitting was suspended at 4:10 p.m. and resumed at 4:26 p.m.
The Committee resumed consideration of its Order of Reference pertaining to its study of the operation of the Official Languages Act and of regulations and directives made thereunder, (See Committee Proceedings of February 10, 2003, Issue No. 3.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board of Canada.
WITNESSES:
From the Treasury Board of Canada:
Ms. Diana Monnet, Assistant Secretary, Official Languages Branch;
Mr. James Lahey, Associate Secretary, Human Resources Reform.
The Honourable Lucienne Robillard made a presentation and, together with Ms. Monnet and Mr. Lahey, answered questions.
The sitting was suspended at 6:00 p.m. and resumed at 6:13 p.m.
The committee considered the expenditures set out in Privy Council Vote 25 of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004. (See Committee Proceedings of May 5, 2003.)
WITNESSES:
From the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:
Ms. Dyane Adam, Commissioner;
Ms. Louise Guertin, Director General, Corporate Services Branch;
Mr. Guy Renaud, Director General, Policy and Communications Branch;
Mr. Michel Robichaud, Director General, Investigations Branch;
Ms. Johane Tremblay, General Counsel and Director, Legal Services Branch.
Ms. Adam made a presentation and answered questions.
The sitting was suspended at 7:30 p.m. and resumed in camera at 7:40 p.m.
The committee resumed consideration of its Order of Reference pertaining to its study of the report entitled Environmental Scan: Access to Justice in Both Official Languages. (See Issue No. 5 of the Committee Proceedings).
The committee considered a draft report.
The committee agreed:
That members' research staff could remain in the room during the in camera discussion;
That changes are required to the draft report as proposed;
That a new draft should be discussed at the June 9, 2003, meeting of the committee; and
That the Chair of the committee seek permission from the Senate to postpone the reporting date stated in the Order of Reference from May 31, 2003 to a later date in the fall of 2003.
At 8:16 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Richard Maurel
Clerk of the Committee