Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of June 8, 2015

OTTAWA, Monday, June 8, 2015
(40)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Claudette Tardif, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Fortin-Duplessis, Maltais, McInnis, McIntyre, Seidman and Tardif (7).

In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Francine Pressault, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 12, 2014, the committee continued its study of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act (communications with and services to the public). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

WITNESSES:

Via Rail Canada:

Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer;

Laurent F. Caron, Chief Human Resources Officer and Official Languages Co-Champion;

Ève-Danièle Veilleux, Advisor, Governmental Relations, and Official Languages Co-Champion;

Diane Desaulniers, Advisor, Official Languages.

Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano made an opening statement and, along with Mr. Caron, answered questions.

At 5:54 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 21, 2013, the committee continued its study of best practices for language policies and second-language learning in a context of linguistic duality or plurality. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

The committee considered a draft report.

It was agreed:

That the report, as amended, be concurred in; and

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to approve the final version of the report, taking into account the discussions held this day, with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes.

At 6:28 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee