Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue No. 6 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of October 5, 2016

VANCOUVER, Wednesday, October 5, 2016
(16)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 1 p.m., in Salons 10-20, Morris J. Wosk Centre For Dialogue, the chair, the Honourable Claudette Tardif, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Gagné, Jaffer, Maltais, McIntyre and Tardif (5).

In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Mireille Sylvester, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, the committee continued its study on the challenges associated with access to French-language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

WITNESSES:

Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs, Simon Fraser University:

Claire Trépanier, Director.

Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University:

Diane Dagenais, Full Professor;

Cécile Sabatier, Associate Professor.

Collège Éducacentre:

Yvon Laberge, Executive Director.

University of British Columbia:

Francis R. Andrew, Program Director Emeritus, French Centre, Continuing Studies;

Monique Bournot-Trites, Associate Professor;

Wendy Carr, Associate Dean, Teacher Education, Faculty of Education;

Meike Wernicke, Coordinator, French Programs, Faculty of Education-Language & Literacy Education;

Kenneth Reeder, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education — Language & Literacy Education.

Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique:

Sophie Brassard, President;

Rémi Marien, Executive Director;

Noah Rondeau, Administrator — 19-25.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Laberge, Ms. Trépanier, Ms. Dagenais and Ms. Sabatier made statements and answered questions.

At 2:20 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Andrew, Ms. Bournot-Trites, Ms. Carr, Ms. Wernicke and Mr. Reeder made statements and answered questions.

At 3:44 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:59 p.m., the committee resumed.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Brassard, Mr. Marien and Mr. Rondeau made statements and answered questions.

At 4:57 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee