LANG Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Official Languages met at 9:10 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Pierre Lemieux, it was agreed, — That Guy Lauzon be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Raymond Simard, it was agreed, — That Raymonde Folco be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Brian Murphy, it was agreed, — That Yvon Godin be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed with the study of Routine Motions.

On motion of Luc Harvey, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one analyst from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Yvon Godin, it was agreed, — 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 two (2) members of the opposition.

On motion of Jean-Claude D'Amours, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnessses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Raymonde Folco, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorised to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages and that no document provided by a witness be distributed without the Clerk's authorization.

On motion of Sylvie Boucher, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee.

On motion of Yvon Godin, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.

On motion of Raymonde Folco, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Vivian Barbot, it was agreed, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the susbstantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

On motion of Yvon Godin, it was agreed, — That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that during the questioning on witnesses, there be allocated for the first round seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party, Government; for the second round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner from each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Government, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party; for the third round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Bloc Québécois, Government, New Democratic Party; for the fourth round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Government, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party.

Notice of motion given by Pierre Lemieux: “That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible.”

Notice of motion given by Pierre Lemieux: “That whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible.”

At 9:39 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.