Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Official Languages
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, November 19, 2007
(1)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:30 p.m. in room 505 of the Victoria Building for an organizational meeting, pursuant to rule 88 of the Senate.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, De Bané, P.C., Losier- Cool, Murray, P.C., Poulin and Tardif (7).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88 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 take the Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved — That the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., be the deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Poulin 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 resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved —
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved —
That pursuant to rule 89 of the Senate, the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and authorize the printing of 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 resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved —
That the committee adopt the draft first report on the expenses incurred by the committee during the last session, pursuant to rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., moved —
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
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 resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved —
That pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and 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; and
That pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., 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 resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., 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 resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved —
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The chair informed committee members that the time slot for regular meetings was Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved that the committee meet at 5:30 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.
A debate ensued, following which it was agreed that the Subcommittee would decide the time at which meetings would commence.
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved —
That senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room when the committee meets in camera.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
At 5:50 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:51 p.m., the committee reconvened in camera, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), to consider a draft agenda.
At 6 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, November 26, 2007
(2)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day in camera at 5:05 p.m. in room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Goldstein, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C. and Tardif (7).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
Agreed — That unless ordered otherwise, committee members' staff be permitted to attend in camera meetings.
Agreed — That the committee act in accordance with a single order of reference, namely that adopted on November 20, 2007.
At 5:43 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, December 3, 2007
(3)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:35 p.m. in room 9 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Goldstein, Losier-Cool, Murray, P.C., Poulin and Tardif (8).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee undertook its study of the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the act.
WITNESSES:
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages:
Graham Fraser, Commissioner of Official Languages;
Dominique Lemieux, Director General, Compliance Assurance Branch;
Catherine Scott, Director General, Policy and Communications Branch;
Johane Tremblay, Director, Legal Affairs Branch.
At 6:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:57 p.m., the committee resumed.
Agreed — That the following budget request for the special study on the application of the Official Languages Act for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 be approved and submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and other services | $ 20,000 |
| Transportation and communications | $ 111,220 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $ 9,500 |
| Total | $ 140,720 |
At 7 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, December 10, 2007
(4)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:05 p.m. in room 160-S of the Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Maria Chaput, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Goldstein, Murray, P.C., Poulin, Ringuette and Tardif (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Dallaire (1).
Also present: Élise Hurtubise-Loranger, Analyst, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its study of the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act.
WITNESS:
Statistics Canada:
Réjean Lachapelle, Director, Demolinguistics Studies Division.
At 6:15 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:20 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e) of the Senate, the committee reconvened in camera to consider a draft agenda.
Agreed — That the Steering Committee would consider the issue of bilingualism in the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence.
At 6:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Eric Jacques
Clerk of the Committee