Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, October 2, 2006
(7)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:05 p.m. in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Jaffer, Robichaud, P.C. and Tardif (6).

Also present: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marie-Ève Hudon and Élise Hurtubise- Loranger.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2006, the committee proceeded to study, for the purpose of reporting from time to time on, the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the act. (For the full text of the Order of Reference, see Issue No. 2, Monday, May 15, 2006).

It was agreed that the following budget request for the special study on the application of the Official Languages Act for the fiscal year ending March 2007 be adopted and presented to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

Professional and other services	$ 29,100
Transportation and Communications	100,025
Miscellaneous expenses	3,400
Total	$ 132,525

It was agreed that Senators' staff as well as the communications officers assigned to the committee be permitted to remain in the room while the committee meets in camera.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee continued in camera to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee adopt the draft report entitled Understanding the reality and meeting the challenges of living in French in Nova Scotia;

That the Chair and Deputy Chair be authorized to make the changes discussed and approved by members as well as any minor typographical and grammatical errors deemed necessary, without, however, altering the scope of the report;

That the Chair present the report to the Senate, requesting that it be adopted and that the government, specifically the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Official Languages in this instance, provide a complete, detailed response, as required in accordance with rule 131(2) of the Senate.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the members considered a draft agenda.

It was agreed that the draft work plan for committee meetings scheduled until the probable adjournment of the Senate in December be approved.

It was agreed that the draft "Mandate to study the move of federal agency head offices and the impact on the application of the Official Languages Act" prepared by the committee analyst be approved and released as deemed appropriate.

It was agreed that the draft "Mandate to study the consideration of the official languages in the organization of the 2010 Olympic Games" prepared by the committee analyst be approved and released, as deemed appropriate.

At 5:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, October 16, 2006
(8)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:04 p.m. in camera in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Jaffer, Losier- Cool, Murray, P.C., Ringuette and Robichaud, P.C. (8).

Also present: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marie-Ève Hudon and Élise Hurtubise-Loranger.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2006, the committee proceeded to study, for the purpose of reporting from time to time on, the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act. (For the full text of the Order of Reference, see Issue No. 2, Monday, May 15, 2006).

It was agreed that senators' staff as well as the communications officer assigned to the committee be permitted to remain in the room while the committee meets in camera.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), committee members considered a draft agenda.

At 4:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, October 23, 2006
(9)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4 p.m. in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Jaffer, Losier- Cool, Murray, P.C., Robichaud, P.C. and Tardif (8).

Also present: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marie-Ève Hudon and Élise Hurtubise-Loranger.

In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

WITNESSES:

As an individual:

Lise Bissonnette, Grand Témoin de la Francophonie for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games, Chief Executive Officer, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

Canadian Olympic Committee:

Michael Chambers, President;

Caroline Assalian, Executive Director, Olympic Preparation and Games.

The chair made a preliminary statement.

Ms. Bissonnette made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:12 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 5:20 p.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. Chambers and Ms. Assalian each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages