Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 17 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 18, 2013

OTTAWA, Monday, March 18, 2013
(43)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:33 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, McIntyre, Mockler, Poirier, Robichaud, P.C., and Tardif (7).

In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 17, 2011, the committee continued its study on CBC/Radio-Canada's obligations under the Official Languages Act and some aspects of the Broadcasting Act. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

WITNESSES:

Conseil jeunesse provincial (Manitoba):

Gabriel Tougas, Delegate and Chair of the Parlement jeunesse pancanadien.

Fédération des jeunes francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick:

Sébastien Lord, Chair.

Mr. Tougas and Mr. Lord made statements and answered questions.

At 6 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee resumed in camera.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, the committee continued its study on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed to adopt terms of reference for studies, with the comments of committee members to follow, as appropriate. It was also agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to approve the final versions of the terms of reference in cases where changes are made.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine and report on best practices for language policies and second-language learning in a context of linguistic duality or plurality; and

That the committee report from time to time to the Senate but no later than December 31, 2014, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until March 31, 2015.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to study and to report on the impacts of recent changes to the immigration system on official language minority communities; and

That the committee report from time to time to the Senate but no later than March 31, 2014, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until June 30, 2014.

At 6:15 p.m., the committee resumed in camera.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 17, 2011, the committee continued its study on CBC/Radio-Canada's obligations under the Official Languages Act and some aspects of the Broadcasting Act. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).

At 6:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Danielle Labonté

Clerk of the Committee