LANG Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 56

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The Standing Committee on Official Languages met at 9:00 a.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Steven Blaney, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Steven Blaney, Sylvie Boucher, Hon. Michael D. Chong, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Raymonde Folco, Yvon Godin, Luc Harvey, Brian Murphy and Richard Nadeau.

Acting Members present: André Bellavance for Luc Malo, Jacques Gourde for Pierre Lemieux and Gary Merasty for Pablo Rodriguez.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Analyst.

Witnesses: Court Challenges Program of Canada: Guy Matte, President; Noël A.J. Badiou, Executive Director; Kathleen Tansey, Vice-President of the Board of Directors. As an individual: Gisèle Lalonde, former President of SOS Montfort. Montfort Hospital: Michel Gratton, Communications Consultant.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee commenced its study of the Court Challenges Program.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

It was agreed, — That the operational budget request of $14,000 for the study of the Court Challenges Program be approved.

Raymonde Folco moved, — Whereas on March 12, 2003, the former Liberal Government launched a five-year Action Plan for Official Languages, which comes to an end in the Spring 2008, I move, in accordance with Standing Order 108 (1 and f), that the Chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages invite the Honourable Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage, who has the coordinating mandate for the implementation by all federal institutions in their commitment to advance English and French, under the Action Plan for Official Languages and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister responsible for La Francophonie and Official Languages, to appear before the Standing Committee on Official Languages before the House rises in June 2007. The purpose would be to review, and report on what strategic plans are now being designed to continue and expand the Action Plan for Official Languages beyond the present five year period ending in the spring of 2008. If time does not permit, that the Ministers be asked to respond by letter to the Chair of the Committee before the expected resumption of Parliament on September 18, 2007 .

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That consideration of the motion be resumed at the next meeting of the Committee.

At 10:55, the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Graeme Truelove
Committee Clerk

2007-06-05 4:10