THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, January 30, 2023
(23)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:01 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable René Cormier, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, Dalphond, Gagné, Martin, Mégie and Moncion (6).

Participating in the meeting: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the committee continued its study of Francophone immigration to minority communities.

WITNESSES:

Quebec Community Groups Network:

Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General (by videoconference);

Stephen Thompson, Director of Government Relations, Policy and Research (by videoconference).

Association for Canadian Studies:

Jack Jedwab, President and Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Chedly Belkhodja, Full Professor at the School of Community Public Affairs and Director of the Centre for Policy and Immigration Studies, Concordia University (by videoconference);

Richard Bourhis, Emeritus Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal (by videoconference).

Sylvia Martin-Laforge and Stephen Thompson made a statement together and answered questions.

At 5:57 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

Chedly Belkhodja, Richard Bourhis and Jack Jedwab each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:03 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that senators’ staff be permitted to remain in the room during the in camera portion of the meeting.

At 7:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Angus Wilson

Clerk of the Committee