THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, June 5, 2023
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable René Cormier, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Clement, Cormier, Dagenais, Gold, P.C., Mégie, Mockler and Moncion (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Gerba and Seidman (2).
Participating in the meeting: Marie-Ève Hudon, analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 1, 2023, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P., Minister of Official Languages;
The Honourable Mona Fortier, P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board.
WITNESSES:
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:
Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages;
Isabelle Gervais, Assistant Commissioner, Compliance Assurance Branch;
Pierre Leduc, Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Communications Branch;
Pascale Giguère, General Counsel.
Quebec Community Groups Network:
Eva Ludvig, President;
The Honourable Joan Fraser, Board Member and former senator;
Marion Sandilands, Counsel.
Canadian Heritage:
Isabelle Mondou, Deputy Minister;
Julie Boyer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Official Languages, Heritage and Regions;
Sarah Boily, Director General, Official Languages.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Carsten Quell, Executive Director, Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer;
Karim Adam, Director, Oversight and Compliance, Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer.
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada:
Liane Roy, President;
Alain Dupuis, General Manager.
At 4:02 p.m., the Honourable Senator Moncion took the chair.
Raymond Théberge made a statement and, together with Isabelle Gervais, Pierre Leduc and Pascale Giguère, answered questions.
At 4:45 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:49 p.m., the committee resumed.
Eva Ludvig and the Honourable Joan Fraser made a statement together and, with Marion Sandilands, answered questions.
At 5:44 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:53 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Minister of Official Languages and the President of the Treasury Board each made a statement and, together with Karim Adam, Sarah Boily, Julie Boyer, Isabelle Mondou and Carsten Quell, answered questions.
At 6:44 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:48 p.m., the committee resumed.
At 6:59 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee resumed.
Liane Roy made a statement and, together with Alain Dupuis, answered questions.
At 7:54 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Angus Wilson
Clerk of the Committee