THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, April 13, 2026
(16)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Allister Surette, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Aucoin, Cormier, Gerba, Moncion and Surette (5).
Participating in the meeting: Marie-Ève Hudon, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the committee continued its study on the regulatory framework of Part VII of the Official Languages Act.
WITNESSES:
Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité du Canada:
Yan Plante, President-Chief Executive;
Jean-François Parent, Associate Director, Public Affairs and Research.
Société Santé en français:
Antoine Désilets, Executive Director.
Canadian Parents for French:
Derrek Bentley, Network Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference);
Ahdithya Rajan P. Visweswaran, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy.
Regional Development Network:
Brigitte Wellens, President;
Rachel Hunting, Senior Manager of Regional Development.
Yan Plante and Antoine Désilets made a statement and, together with Jean-François Parent, answered questions.
At 6:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Derrek Bentley, Brigitte Wellens and Rachel Hunting made a statement and, together with Ahdithya Rajan P. Visweswaran, answered questions.
At 7:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:07 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 the committee allow the audio recording and/or the transcription of the in camera portion of today’s 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 and/or the transcription 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.
At 7:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Katy Quinn
Clerk of the Committee