Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, March 7, 2005
(10)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 9:33 a.m. in room 256-S of the 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 and Murray, P.C. (7).

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

In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday November 3, 2004, the committee proceeded to study, and to 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. (For the full text of the Order of Reference, see Issue No. 3, Monday November 15, 2004.)

WITNESSES:

Fédération culturelle canadienne-française:

Paulette Gagnon, President;

Pierre Bourbeau, General Director;

Marc Haentjens, General Director of the Regroupement des éditeurs canadiens-français;

Benoit Henry, General Director of the Alliance nationale de l'industrie musicale.

Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada:

François Allard, President;

Linda Savard, Director General;

Yvon Saint-Jules, Project Manager.

Ms. Paulette Gagnon made an opening statement; Mr. Pierre Bourbeau made a presentation and, along with Mr. Marc Haentjens and Mr. Benoit Henry, answered questions.

At 11:05 a.m., the committee recessed.

At 11:13 a.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. François Allard made a statement and, along with Mr. Yvon Saint-Jules and Ms. Linda Savard, answered questions.

At 12:25 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 12:30 p.m., the committee reconvened in camera, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e) to consider a draft agenda.

The committee discussed future business and a draft agenda.

At 12:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, March 7, 2005
(11)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 1:30 p.m. in room 256-S of the 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 and Murray, P.C. (7).

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

In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday November 3, 2004, the committee proceeded to study and to 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. (For the full text of the Order of Reference, see Issue No. 3, Monday November 15, 2004.)

WITNESSES:

Alliance des responsables, des enseignantes et des enseignants en français langue maternelle:

Denise Moulun-Pasek, President;

Lise Charland, General Director.

Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche sur la citoyenneté et les minorités:

Joseph-Yvon Thériault, Director;

Anne Gilbert, Director of Research;

Sophie LeTouzé, Researcher.

Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada:

Jean-Guy Rioux, Vice-President;

Marielle Beaulieu, Director General.

It was agreed that the following budget request in respect of the special study on the application of the Official Languages Act for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 be approved and submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

At 1:35 p.m., Ms. Denise Moulun-Pasek made a presentation and, along with Ms. Lise Charland, answered questions.

At 2:37 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 2:43 p.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. Joseph-Yvon Thériault made a presentation; Ms. Anne Gilbert made a presentation and, along with Ms. Sophie LeTouzé, answered questions.

The Honourable Senator Comeau moved:

That the following documents tabled as reference material by Ms. LeTouzé be submitted to the Clerk as exhibits:

Document entitled L'apprentissage du français en milieu minoritaire, June 2002, CIRCEM (Exhibit 5900-1.38/01-SS- 2, 6 `4');

Document entitled La gestion de l'éducation en langue française enjeux et défis, July 2003, CIRCEM (Exhibit 5900- 1.38/01-SS-2, 6 `5');

Document entitled La gestion des conseils scolaires de langue française vue de l'intérieur, October 2003, CIRCEM (Exhibit 5900-1.38/01-SS-2, 6 `6');

Document entitled La gestion des conseils scolaires de langue française, propositions, March 2004, (Exhibit 5900-1.38/ 01-SS-2, 6 `7');

Document entitled Le personnel enseignant face aux défis de l'enseignement en milieu minoritaire francophone, September 2004, prepared for the Canadian Teachers' Federation (Exhibit 5900-1.38/01-SS-2, 6 `8');

Article entitled Vers l'institutionnalisation des services à la petite enfance francophone: entre judiciarisation et compromis politique, published in the Revue de l'Université de Moncton, Vol. 35, No. 2, 2004 (Exhibit 5900-1.38/01- SS-2, 6 `9');

Document entitled La petite enfance: Porte d'entrée à l'école de langue française, Une vision nationale, March 2003, CIRCEM (Exhibit 5900-1.38/01-SS-2, 6 `10').

The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.

At 3:51 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 3:57 p.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. Jean-Guy Rioux made a presentation and, along with Ms. Marielle Beaulieu, answered questions.

At 4:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee