Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 1 - Evidence - Meeting of October 20, 2004

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 20, 2004

The Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:39 p.m., for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-3, an Act to amend the Official Languages Act (promotion of English and French).

The Hon. Eymard G. Corbin (Chairman) presiding.

[Translation]

The Chair: The senator from the official opposition is in attendance. I believe we are complying with the rule we have adopted. I would like to start by telling you what has happened since the last meeting.

As you will recall, we were informed that two ministers wished to appear before the committee for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-3. Since then, they have decided against it, and I cannot tell you for what reason.

However, shortly before the beginning of our meeting today, I received a letter from Ms. Liza Frulla, minister of Canadian Heritage and minister responsible for the status of women. This letter is addressed to me as chair of the committee. It is in French only. Therefore, I do not think I should have it circulated, unless you give me permission to do so.

I am now prepared to read it to you and you will have access to simultaneous interpretation. Following this, we will proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, as set in our agenda.

Mr. Chairman,

In the context of your committee study of Bill S-3, an Act to amend the Official Languages Act (promotion of English and French), I wish to reiterate the importance that the Government of Canada places on the commitments set out in part VII of the Official Languages Act (OLA).

Significant progress has been made in a number of areas within federal institutions and Canadian society with respect to the status and use of our two official languages. For example, thousand of young people in official language minority communities in all provinces and territories now have access to education in their language.

Please allow me at this time to praise the work accomplished by Senator Gauthier, as well as his vision, which contributed to the advancement of Canada's official languages. He dedicated countless efforts on the defense of the rights of francophones outside Quebec, particularly in Ontario, where he was notably the honourary president of the funding campaign to save the Montfort Hospital.

The recent Speech from the Throne also clearly illustrates the government's desire to act in this area. The government is committed to ``implementing the Official Languages Action Plan and will continue to promote the vitality of official language minority communities.'' In March 2003, in accordance with its commitment as set out in section 41 of the OLA, the government launched an extensive Action Plan, to strengthen Canada's linguistic duality and its official languages communities. Major investments have been made toward its implementation.

Of course, I recognize that much work remains to be done to fully implement the commitments set out in part VII. The government intends to continue its efforts to ensure the accountability of all federal institutions with respect to the development of minority communities and the promotion of our official languages.

I would appreciate it if you could pass my best wishes on to Senator Gauthier on his retirement.

Liza Frulla, PC., MP

I will not distribute this letter, because it is not translated — unless you decide otherwise.

Senator Comeau: I think it is important for us to have this letter in both official languages, given the fact that this is the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages.

Moreover, in this letter there is one thing missing regarding Senator Gauthier. The letter mentions countless efforts Senator Gauthier made for the defense of francophone rights outside of Quebec and in particular in Ontario. In my opinion, Senator Gauthier's efforts extend far beyond francophones outside of Quebec. They have affected francophones and anglophones equally in Quebec. Senator Gauthier has been a role model for several of us in the field of official languages, but also for francophones in Quebec and in Canada as a whole.

By looking a bit further, Honourable Minister Frulla's staff would have soon discovered that Senator Gauthier supported the cause of both official languages, English as well as French.

The Chair: These comments are quite accurate.

Honourable senators, we will now proceed to the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-3. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, that the committee proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-3?