Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, March 31, 2008
(11)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:11 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, Poulin and Tardif (4).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
In accordance with rule 92(2)(e) of the Senate, the committee met in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 5:26 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:27 p.m., the committee resumed in public.
It was agreed that the following budget request relating to the special study on the application of the Official Languages Act for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 be adopted and presented to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
| Professional and other services | $ 27,400 |
| Transportation and communications | $ 80,894 |
| Miscellaneous | $ 13,500 |
| TOTAL | $ 121,794 |
At 5:31 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:32 p.m., the committee resumed.
In accordance with rule 92(2)(e) of the Senate, the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 5:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, April 7, 2008
(12)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:02 p.m. in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C. Chaput, Kinsella, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C., Poulin, Ringuette and Tardif (8).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
In accordance with the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee resumed its study of 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. 1.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Peter Mackay, P.C., M.P., Minister of National Defence
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Bernard Lord, Author of the Report on the Government of Canada's Consultations on Linguistic Duality and Official Languages.
Department of National Defence:
Major-General Walter Semianiw, Chief of Military Personnel, Official Languages Champion;
Col. Louis Meloche, Director of Official Languages.
Mr. Lord made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Minister MacKay made a statement and, along with MGen. Semianiw and Colonel Meloche, answered questions.
At 6:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, April 14, 2008
(13)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:03 p.m. in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, De Bané, P.C., Goldstein, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C. and Tardif (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Jaffer (1).
Also present: Tanya Dupuis and Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
In accordance with the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its study of 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 proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1).
APPEARING:
The Honourable Josée Verner, P.C., M.P., Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages;
The Honourable David Emerson, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.
WITNESSES:
Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique:
Stéphane Audet, Director General.
Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures:
Marc Arnal, President.
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:
John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer;
Francine Bolduc, Director, Workforce and Official Languages.
Heritage Canada:
Judith A. LaRocque, Deputy Minister.
Mr. Audet, Mr. Arnal and Mr. Furlong made statements and, along with Ms. Bolduc, answered questions.
At 5:25 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:30 p.m., the committee resumed.
Minister Verner and Minister Emerson made statements and, along with Ms. LaRocque, answered questions.
At 6:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Eric Jacques
Clerk of the Committee