MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 2

Monday, November 25, 2002

The Standing Committee on Official Languages met at 3:36 p.m., this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Mauril Bélanger, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Eugène Bellemare, Gérard Binet, Jeannot Castonguay, Yvon Godin, Scott Reid, Benoît Sauvageau, Raymond Simard and Yolande Thibeault.

In attendance:  From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament:  Marion Ménard, Analyst.

Routine Motions

Yvon Godin moved, -- That the Committee retain the services of one or more researchers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Yvon Godin moved, -- That the Clerk be authorized to distribute only documents available in both official languages.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 1.

Benoît Sauvageau moved, -- That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least four (4) members are present, including a member of the opposition.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Yolande Thibault moved, -- That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement and that, during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated be as follows:

1. Seven (7) minutes for each questioner of the first round in the following order: the Canadian Alliance, the Liberal Party, the Bloc Québécois, the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party;

2. Five (5) minutes for each questioner of the second round, alternating between Government and Opposition parties;

3. Five (5) minutes for each questioner of the third and subsequent rounds, in the order in which they are recognized and at the discretion of the Chair.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Yvon Godin moved, -- That, if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation and living expenses, be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization, at the discretion of the Chair and as per the regulations established by the Board of Internal Economy.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Benoît Sauvageau moved, -- That the Committee authorize the Chair, from time to time, as the need arises, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee, to take the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-Committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches be charged to the budget of the Committee.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Gérard Binet moved, -- That one (1) copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Benoît Sauvageau moved, -- That each Committee member be allowed to have a staff person present during in camera meetings unless the Committee decides otherwise.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Yolande Thibault moved, -- That the Commissioner of Official Languages, or anyone whom she may delegate, be present at the Committee’s meetings in order to answer questions from Committee members when a witness appears.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Yvon Godin moved, -- That, unless there is unanimous consent, forty-eight (48) hours' notice must be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

The Committee resumed consideration of matters related to Committee business.

It was agreed, -- That the next witnesses to be invited to appear before the Committee are as follows:

- Some Commissioners from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on November 27, 2002.

- The Solicitor General of Canada on December 2, 2002.

- Mrs. Debra Ward, Independent Transition Observer on Airline Restructuring for Transport Canada, on December 4, 2002.

- Mrs. Dyane Adam, Commissioner of Official Languages, on December 9, 2002.

At 4:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Marc-Olivier Girard

Clerk of the Committee