Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, March 15, 2010
(1)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:03 p.m., in room 505 of the Victoria Building, to hold its organization meeting pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Champagne, P.C., Chaput, De Bané, P.C., Fortin-Duplessis, Mockler, Seidman and Tardif (8).
In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Research Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament and Francine Pressault, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., moved:
That the Honourable Senator Chaput do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved:
That the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number of printed copies to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator De Bané, P.C., moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Boisvenu moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of their development and implementation; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the public proceedings of the committee with the least possible disruption of its hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the members of the committee that the time slot for the meetings is on Mondays, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., moved:
That the senators' staff be allowed to stay in the meeting room when the committee sits in camera, unless the members of the committee decide otherwise.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 5:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, March 22, 2010
(2)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day, in camera, at 5:03 p.m., in room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Champagne, P.C., Chaput, De Bané, P.C., Fortin-Duplessis, Losier-Cool, Mockler, Seidman and Tardif (9).
In attendance: Marie-Ève Hudon, Research Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament and Francine Pressault, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
It was agreed that the following order of reference be adopted:
That the Standing Committee on Official Languages be authorized to study and to report on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act;
That the committee be authorized to study the state of the implementation of Part VII of the Official Languages Act, particularly the action taken by federal institutions following the amendments to the Act in November 2005;
That the committee be authorized to study the extent to which the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and in particular the opening ceremony, reflected Canada's linguistic duality and to examine the report of the Commissioner of Official Languages on this matter;
That the committee be authorized to study the realities of English-speaking communities in Quebec, particularly the various aspects affecting their development and vitality (e.g., community development, education, youth, arts and culture, health);
That the committee also be authorized to study the reports and papers produced by the Minister of Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Commissioner of Official Languages, as well as any other material concerning official languages;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee report from time to time to the Senate but no later than December 31, 2010, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until June 30, 2011.
At 5:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Danielle Labonté
Clerk of the Committee