The committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Openness to the International Francophone Community: Optimizing Francophone Immigration to Canada".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, clerk and analyst be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That dissenting or supplementary opinions be in Calibri 12-point font, left aligned, single-spaced, and be submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the clerk of the committee, not later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024.

ORDERED, — That the clerk and analysts of the committee, in consultation with the Chair, prepare a news release for publication on the committee’s website and for distribution upon presentation of the report to the House.

ORDERED, — That the clerk of the committee make the necessary arrangements for a press conference to be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after the presentation of the committee's report to the House on Increased francophone immigration to Canada; and that the committee be represented by the Chair and a representative from each party.

The committee proceeded to give drafting instructions to the analyst for a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the deadline for the submission of briefs in relation to the study of economic development of official language minority communities be Friday, March 8, 2024, at 4 p.m.

At 9:16 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:21 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Raymond Théberge made a statement and answered questions.

Joël Godin moved, —

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee undertake a study on the continuum in education, from early childhood to post-secondary, in official language minority communities.

That, in the context of this study, the committee :

a) Study access to early learning and child care services in the minority language in Canada, including the quality of childcare services and their impact on the linguistic and social development of children ;

b) Examine the funding, including through the Official Languages in Education Program, for elementary and secondary schools in the minority language in Canada ;

c) Examine federal funding for post-secondary institutions serving official language minority communities in Canada ;

d) Assess the federal government's capacity to gather data on the continuum in education, including data on rights holders ;

e) Evaluate the impact of the continuum in education on the implementation of the right to education in the minority language enshrined in Article 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

That, in the context of this study, the committee invites, among others :

i) The Minister of Official Languages and the Minister of Canadian Heritage ;

ii) The Commissioner of Official Languages ;

iii) Officials from the Department of Canadian Heritage ;

iv) The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes, the Commission nationale des parents francophones, the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones, the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne and the Quebec Community Groups Network ;

v) Representatives from advocacy organizations in each province and territory where French is the official minority language ;

vi) Representatives from school boards or provincial education associations in each province and territory where French is the minority language ;

vii) Representatives from the ministries of Education in each province and territory where French is the minority language ;

viii) Representatives from post-secondary institutions serving official language minorities in each province and territory ;

ix) Experts from all areas of the continuum in education in the minority language.

At 10:17 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:20 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the members of the committee submit their prioritized witness list related to the study on language obligations related to the process of staffing or making appointments to key positions not later than Friday, March 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.