LANG Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 34

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The Standing Committee on Official Languages met at 8:03 a.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Guy Lauzon, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Vivian Barbot, Sylvie Boucher, Paule Brunelle, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Yvon Godin, Guy Lauzon, Pierre Lemieux, Brian Murphy, Daniel Petit, Pablo Rodriguez and Hon. Raymond Simard.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Analyst . House of Commons: Samy Agha, Committee Clerk.

Witnesses: Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada: Marielle Beaulieu, Executive Director. Fédération culturelle canadienne-française: Pierre Bourbeau, Director General. Centre culturel de Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas et Glengarry: Francine Brisebois. Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario: Mariette Carrier-Fraser, President; Jean Comtois, Vice-President. Fédération canadienne pour l'alphabétisation en français: Gaétan Cousineau, Director General. Commission nationale des parents francophones: Murielle Gagné-Ouellette, Director General.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on September 26, 2006, the Committee resumed its study of The Vitality of Official Language Minority Communities.

Marielle Beaulieu, Gaétan Cousineau and Murielle Gagné-Ouellette made statements and answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

It was agreed that the Comittee cancel its meeting December 14th and that the witnesses scheduled for that date, be heard when the Committee returns after the holiday adjournment.

It was agreed, - That, the evidence received during the Committee's Study on Health and on Immigration in Official Languages Minority Communities, be adduced as supplementary evidence for the Study on the Vitality of Official Languages Minority Communities.

At 9:20 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:26 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Mariette Carrier-Fraser, Francine Brisebois and Pierre Bourbeau made statements and, with the other witness, answered questions.

At 10:35 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:38 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Notice having been given pursuant to the Order of the Committee of May 9th, 2006, Jean-Claude D'Amours moved - That the Standing Committee on Official Languages recommends that the government maintains the funding provided by the Canada Post Corporation for the Publication Assistance Program for official language communities.

Raymond Simard moved that the words : “for publications serving official language minority communities and that the Chair of the Committee report the adoption of this motion to the House of Commons as soon as possible”, be added after the words “Publication Assistance Program.”

After debate the question being put on the motion it was adopted.

Notice having been given pursuant to the Order of the Committee of May 9, 2006, Vivian Barbot moved - That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Official Languages recommend that the government increase the Official Languages Support Fund from $24 million annually to $42 million annually and ensure stable funding for organizations affected by this funding in order to support the vitality of francophone communities outside Quebec in the short-, medium- and long-term and that the Chair of the Committee report the adoption of this motion to the House of Commons as soon as possible.

Vivian Barbot moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “ increase the Official Languages Fund from $24 million annually to $42 million annually ” with the words “ following its obligations to support the development of Official Languages Communities, the government increase its overall funding to the Cooperation with the Community Sector component of the Official Languages Support Programs ”.

Debate arose thereon.

The Chair ruled that the amendment amounts to a new motion therefore, the 48 hours notice is required.

At 11:02 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:04 a.m., the Committee resumed sitting in camera to give directions to the researcher for the drafting of a report on the Vitality of Official Languages Minority Community.

It was agreed that the researcher draft the report in accordance with option B.

At 11:15 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee

2006/12/14 9:18 a.m.