Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of November 7, 2013
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 7, 2013
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 9 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-13.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Fortin-Duplessis, McIntyre, Poirier and Tardif (7).
In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Brigitte Lemay, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the Honourable Senator Tardif do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:02 a.m., the Honourable Senator Tardif took the chair.
The Chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Poirier moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Charette-Poulin moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That, pursuant to rule 12-17, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Poirier moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Charette-Poulin moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on ``official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Poirier moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of their development and implementation; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
After debate, it was agreed that the committee would meet on Mondays at 5 p.m.
After debate, it was agreed that the next committee meeting would be on November 18, 2013.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the senators' staff be allowed to stay in the meeting room when the committee sits in camera, unless the members of the committee decide otherwise.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:28 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee proceeded in camera to discuss its draft agenda.
It was agreed that the chair seek the 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 application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act;
That the committee also be authorized to study the reports and documents published by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board, and the Commissioner of Official Languages, and any other subject concerning official languages;
That the documents received, evidence heard and business accomplished on this subject by the committee since the beginning of the First Session of the Forty-First Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee report from time to time to the Senate but no later than June 30, 2015, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 90 days after the tabling of the final report.
At 9:38 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk of the Committee