THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, November 4, 2024
(56)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:11 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable René Cormier, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Aucoin, Cormier, Dalphond, Mégie and Moncion (5).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Youance (1).
Participating in the meeting: Marie‑Ève Hudon, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the committee began its study of the government response to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages’ second report entitled: “Francophone immigration to minority communities: towards a bold, strong and coordinated approach”, tabled in the Senate on March 30, 2023.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the committee continued its study on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act. (Topic: The impact of the study permit cap on French-language post-secondary institutions outside Quebec)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Marc Miller, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
WITNESSES:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:
Scott Harris, Associate Deputy Minister;
Catherine Scott, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement, Integration and Francophone Affairs Sector;
Julie Spattz, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives Division, International Students Branch.
The Honourable Marc Miller made a statement and, together with Scott Harris, Catherine Scott and Julie Spattz, answered questions.
At 6:03 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 9, 2023, the committee continued its study of matters relating to minority-language health services.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
WITNESSES:
Employment and Social Development Canada:
Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister;
Jacinthe Arsenault, Director General, Apprenticeship and Sectoral Initiatives Directorate.
Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas):
Valérie Lapointe-Gagnon, Chair, Pan-Canadian Committee on Research in French (by videoconference).
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault made a statement and, together with Jacinthe Arsenault and Paul Thompson, answered questions.
At 7:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:06 p.m., the committee resumed.
Valérie Lapointe-Gagnon made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:41 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Angus Wilson
Clerk of the Committee