Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue No. 3 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of April 18, 2016

OTTAWA, Monday, April 18, 2016
(7)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day in camera at 5:19 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Claudette Tardif, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais, Fraser, McIntyre, Poirier, Rivard and Tardif (6).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Gagné (1).

In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).

At 5:21 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:22 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

The Honourable Senator Fraser moved:

That the chair be authorized to seek an order of reference for the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages to examine and report on the challenges associated with access to French-language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia;

That the papers and evidence received and taken, and work accomplished by the committee on its study of best practices for language policies and second-language learning in a context of linguistic duality or plurality during the Second Session of the Forty-first Parliament be referred to the committee; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 15, 2016, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Rivard moved:

That the following budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, in relation to a special study on access to French-language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

SUMMARY OF BUDGET

ACTIVITY 1: Public Hearing and
Fact-Finding Mission in
British Columbia $ 123,328

TOTAL $ 123,328

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 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. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P., Minister of Canadian Heritage.

WITNESSES:

Quebec Community Groups Network:

Dan Lamoureux, President;

Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General.

Canadian Heritage:

Hubert Lussier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizenship, Heritage and Regions;

Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Director General, Official Languages Branch, Citizenship, Heritage and Regions.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Lamoureux and Ms. Martin-Laforge made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

The chair made a statement.

It was agreed; that coverage by electronic and photographic media of the committee's public proceedings this evening, during the first few minutes of Minister Joly's statement, be allowed with the least possible disruption of its hearings.

Minister Joly made a statement and, together with Mr. Lussier, answered questions.

At 7:33 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxwell Hollins

Clerk of the Committee