Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, February 14, 2005
(9)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 9:35 a.m., in room 256-S, Centre Block, the Chairman, the Honourable Eymard G. Corbin, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buchanan, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Corbin, Jaffer, Léger, Losier-Cool and Murray, P.C. (8).

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Andrée Tremblay and Wade Raaflaub, Analysts.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2004, the committee proceeded to study and report from time to time on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act. (See Issue No. 3, Monday, November 15, 2004, for the full text of the Order of Reference.)

WITNESSES:

University of Moncton:

Pierre Foucher, Full Professor, Faculty of Law.

Canadian Teachers' Federation:

Terry Price, President;

Liliane Vincent, Director, Services to Francophones;

Gilberte Michaud, Chair of the Advisory Board on French, First Language;

Paul Taillefer, Member of the Advisory Board on French, First Language;

Anne Gilbert, Director of Research, Francophonie and Minorities, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minority Studies, University of Ottawa.

Institut canadien de recherche sur les minorités linguistiques:

Rodrigue Landry, Director General.

Commission nationale des parents francophones:

Ghislaine Pilon, President;

Murielle Gagné-Ouellette, Director General.

Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones:

Madeleine Chevalier, President;

Paul Charbonneau, Director General.

Professor Foucher made a presentation and answered questions.

At 10:30 a.m., Senator Buchanan took the Chair.

At 10:34 a.m., Senator Corbin took the Chair.

At 10:56 a.m., the committee suspended its meeting.

At 11:00 a.m., the committee resumed its meeting.

Ms. Terry Price made a statement; Ms. Liliane Vincent made a statement and then with Ms. Gilberte Michaud, Ms. Anne Gilbert and Mr. Paul Taillefer, witnesses answered questions.

At 12:10 p.m., Senator Buchanan took the Chair.

At 12:14 p.m., Senator Corbin took the Chair.

At 12:35 p.m., the committee suspended its meeting.

At 1:18 p.m., the committee resumed its meeting.

Mr. Rodrigue Landry made a presentation and answered questions.

At 2:33 p.m., the committee suspended its meeting.

At 2:40 p.m., the committee resumed its meeting.

Ms. Ghislaine Pilon made a statement, and then, with Ms. Murielle Gagné-Ouellette, answered questions.

At 3:40 p.m., the committee suspended its meeting.

At 3:45 p.m., the committee resumed its meeting.

Ms. Madeleine Chevalier made a statement, and then, with Mr. Paul Charbonneau, answered questions.

At 4:41 p.m., the committee suspended its meeting.

At 4:45 p.m., the committee resumed its meeting, then proceeded in camera in accordance with rule 92(2)(f) to study a draft report.

It was agreed that the report be adopted.

It was agreed that the Chair present the report to the Senate.

At 5:01 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee