Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 25 - Minutes

OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 20, 2002
(42)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 16:05 p.m., this day, in room 257-East Block, the Honourable Senator Milne, Chair, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bryden, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Moore, Pearson, and Rivest (10).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Gauthier (1).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Nancy Holmes, Researcher, Law and Government Division.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2001, the committee proceeded to study Bill S-32, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act (fostering of English and French). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 23, February 6, 2002)

WITNESSES:

As a panel:

From the Fédération nationale des conseillères et conseillers scolaires francophones:

Marc Boily, President;

Paul Charbonneau, General Director.

From the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada:

Georges Arès, President;

François Boileau, Legal Counsel.

From the Fédération des associations de juristes d'expression française de common law:

Tory Colvin, President;

Gérard Lévesque, Assistant Executive Director.

Mr. Boily made an opening statement. Mr. Colvin made a statement. Mr. Arès made a statement.

As a panel, together the witnesses answered questions.

At 5:46 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Josée Thérien

Clerk of the Committee