Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue No. 22 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of March 19, 2018

OTTAWA, Monday, March 19, 2018
(51)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:01 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable René Cormier, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, McIntyre, Mégie, Mockler Poirier and Smith (6).

In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Joëlle Nadeau, Acting Committee Clerk, Senate Committees 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 to examine and report 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:

Association de la presse francophone:

Francis Sonier, President;

Linda Lauzon, Executive Director.

As an individual:

Marie-Hélène Eddie, Doctoral student in sociology, University of Ottawa.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Sonier and Ms. Eddie each made statements and, together with Ms. Lauzon, answered questions.

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

At 6:34 p.m., the committee resumed in camera.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

At 6:49 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:50 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

The committee reviewed a draft budget for a special study.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Poirier:

That the budget application for the special study on Canadians' views about modernizing the Official Languages Act for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration;

ACTIVITY 1: Study — Outaouais and Eastern Townships	$ 40,900
TOTAL	$ 40,900

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

At 6:53 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

François Michaud
Clerk of the Committee