THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, September 22, 2025
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[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met in camera this day at 5 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Allister W. Surette, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, Gerba, Ince, Moncion, Patterson, Poirier and Surette (7).

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

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee discussed in camera a draft agenda (future business).

It is agreed that, for the duration of the session, members’ staff be allowed to attend in camera meetings, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee.

Is it agreed that the committee allow the audio recording of today’s in camera meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or their staff, and that the audio recording be destroyed by the clerk of the committee when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, in accordance with rule 12-7(5), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to official languages generally; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than October 15, 2029, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine and report on minority-language health services, including matters related to the following:

(a) the inclusion of language clauses in federal health transfers;

(b) population aging, including the ability to obtain health care, long-term care and home care in one’s own language, which encompasses linguistic resources to support caregivers, the quality of life of seniors and disease prevention;

(c) access to minority-language health services for vulnerable communities;

(d) the shortage of health professionals in public and private facilities serving official language minority communities and the language skills of health care personnel in these facilities;

(e) the needs of francophone post-secondary institutions outside Quebec and anglophone post-secondary institutions in Quebec respecting recruitment, training and support for future graduates in health-related fields;

(f) telemedicine and the use of new technologies in the health sector, including the associated language challenges; and

(g) the needs for research, evidence and solutions to foster access to health care in the language of one’s choice;

That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages on this subject during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament be referred to the committee; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than March 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

At 6:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Catherine Cuerrier

Clerk of the Committee