THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 18, 2020
(1)
[English]
Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 17, 2020, the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day by videoconference at 7:07 p.m. [ET] for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-13. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.
Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Bovey, Cormier, Dagenais, Gagné, Jaffer, Mockler, Moncion and Smith (8).
Participating in the meeting: Daniel Charbonneau, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Laura Blackmore and Marie-Ève Hudon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Síofra McAllister, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Moncion moved that the Honourable Senator Cormier do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited the Honourable Senator Cormier to take the chair.
The chair made a statement.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chairs.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved that the Honourable Senator Smith be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved that the Honourable Senator Dagenais be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chairs 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 Moncion moved that the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dagenais moved that the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dagenais moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
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 Smith moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, 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 chairs.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Jaffer 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 Senator Gagné 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 Moncion moved that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Bovey moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officers assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work; 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 proceedings, at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved that each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dagenais moved:
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 Department of Canadian Heritage, the Treasury Board of Canada, and the Office of 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-second Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 17, 2021, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Gagné moved that the motion be amended by replacing the second paragraph with the following:
That the committee also be authorized to study the reports and documents published by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board and the Commissioner of Official Languages, and any other subject concerning official languages;
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, as amended, it was adopted.
At 7:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Stéphanie van Beek
Clerk of the Committee