Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 29 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday March 13, 2002
(46)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 3:44 p.m. this day, in room 257-East Block, the Honourable Senator Beaudoin, Deputy Chair, presiding.

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

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Gauthier and Grafstein (2).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Nancy Holmes and Molly Dunsmuir, Researchers, 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:

As individuals:

Mr. Joseph Magnet, Professor, Law Faculty, University of Ottawa;

Mr. Julius Grey, Associate Professor, Mc Gill University;

Mr. André Braën, Professor, Law Faculty, University of Ottawa;

Ms Ruth Sullivan, Professor, Law Faculty, University of Ottawa;

Mr. Roger Lepage, Lawyer, Balfour Moss.

Mr. Magnet, Mr. Grey, Mr. Braën, Ms. Sullivan, and Mr. Lepage each made an opening statement. Together, as a panel, the witnesses answered questions.

At 5:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Josée Thérien

Clerk of the Committee