Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages

Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, March 19, 2007
(24)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:02 p.m. in room 2 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Comeau, Jaffer, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C., and Tardif (6).

Also present: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marie-Ève Hudon and Élyse Hurtubise-Loranger.

In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 2, 2006, the committee proceeded to study and to report on the government's response, dated November 2006, to the sixth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages entitled: French-Language Education in a Minority Setting: A Continuum from Early Childhood to the Postsecondary Level, tabled in the Senate on June 14, 2005.

WITNESSES:

As a panel:

Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones:

Ernest Thibodeau, President;

Paul Charbonneau, Director General.

Commission nationale des parents francophones:

Ghislaine Pilon, President;

Jean-Pierre Dubé, Director, Liaison and Policy.

As a panel:

Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne:

Gilles Patry, Vice-President, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa;

Guy Gélineau, Vice-President and Director General.

Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada:

François Allard, President;

Réginald Lavertu, Executive Director;

Yvon St-Jules, Project Manager.

The Chair made an opening statement.

At 4:05 p.m., Mr. Thibodeau and Ms. Pilon made statements and, along with Mr. Charbonneau and Mr. Dubé, answered questions.

At 5 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 5:07 p.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. Patry and Mr. Allard made statements and, along with Mr. Gélineau, answered questions.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 6:05 p.m., the committee reconvened in camera.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2006, the committee continued to study, for the purpose of reporting 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. 2, Monday, May 15, 2006.)

It was agreed that a working group comprised of Senators Chaput, Comeau and Tardif consider measures for investigating and reporting back to the committee on the alleged leak, prior to its tabling in the Senate, of the committee's last report on the consideration of official languages in the organization of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, March 26, 2007
(25)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 4:01 p.m. in room 9 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Comeau, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C. and Tardif (5).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Downe (1).

Also present: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marie-Ève Hudon and Élyse Hurtubise-Loranger.

In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2006, the committee continued to study, for the purpose of reporting 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. 2, Monday, May 15, 2006.)

WITNESSES:

Veterans Affairs Canada:

Keith Hillier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services Branch, Charlottetown;

John Gowdy, Director, Executive Services Directorate.

As a panel:

Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise:

François Dornez, Community Deputy;

Marie-France Kenny, Former President.

Société Saint-Thomas d'Aquin:

Edmond Richard, President;

Lizanne Thorne, Director.

The Chair made an opening statement.

At 4:03 p.m., Mr. Hillier made a statement and, along with Mr. Gowdy, answered questions.

At 5 p.m., the committee recessed.

At 5:04 p.m., the committee reconvened.

Mr. Richard, Mr. Dornez and Ms. Kenny made statements and, along with Ms. Thorne, answered questions.

At 5:48 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee