Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue No. 14 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of September 22, 2017 (morning)
CHARLOTTETOWN, Friday, September 22, 2017
(34)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 8:17 a.m., in the Henry Johnson Room, Delta Prince Edward, the chair, the Honourable Claudette Tardif, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, Gagné, Maltais, Mégie, Moncion, Poirier and Tardif (7).
In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Josianne St-Amour, Graphic Designer, Senate Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 6, 2017, the committee continued its study on Canadians' views about modernizing the Official Languages Act. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 12.)
WITNESSES:
Société Nationale de l'Acadie:
Véronique Mallet, Executive Director;
Xavier Lord-Giroux, Acting President.
As individuals:
Marianne Cormier, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Moncton.
Éric Forgues, Executive Director, Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities, University of Moncton
Isabelle Violette, Assistant Professor, Department of French Studies, University of Moncton.
Mathieu Wade, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Acadian Studies, University of Moncton.
Madeleine Léger, Student, Mount Allison University.
Commission scolaire de langue française de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard:
Paul Cyr, Director of Instruction.
Prince Edward Island Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture:
René Hurtubise, Director of Innovation and French Programs and Services.
Fédération des parents de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard:
Anastasia DesRoches, Executive Director.
Canadian Parents for French:
Gail Lecky, Executive Director.
It was agreed that the Senate Communications Directorate staff be authorized to take pictures, to film excerpts during the meeting and to publish them.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Lord-Giroux made a statement and, with Ms. Mallet, answered questions.
At 9:06, the committee suspended.
At 9:12, the committee resumed.
Ms. Cormier, Ms. Violette and Ms. Léger, as well as Mr. Wade and Mr. Forgues, each made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:33, the committee suspended.
At 10:43, the committee resumed.
Ms. DesRoches and Ms. Lecky, as well as Mr. Hurtubise and Mr. Cyr, each made a declaration and answered questions.
At 12:07 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Maxime Fortin
Acting Clerk of the Committee