SJQS Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1997

The Special Joint Committee to amend Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning the Quebec school system met at 9:05 a.m., in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Honourable Lucie Pépin and Denis Paradis (Joint Chairs) presiding.

Representing the Senate: The Honourable Senators Gérald A. Beaudoin, Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, Thérèse Lavoie-Roux, John Lynch-Staunton, Lucie Pépin, Fernand Robichaux and Dalia Wood.

Other Senator present: The Honourable Marcel Prud'homme.

Representing the House of Commons: Mauril Bélanger, Robert Bertrand (for Nick Discepola) Paul DeVillers, Nick Discepola, Sheila Finestone, Christiane Gagnon, Yvon Godin, Peter Goldring, Marlene Jennings, Jason Kenney (for Rahim Jaffer) Réal Ménard, Val Meredith, Denis Paradis and David Price.

In attendance: Laura C. Snowball, Assistant to the Joint Chairs. From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Mollie Dunsmuir and Daniel Dupras, Research Officers.

Appearing: The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Witnesses: From the Office of the Privy Council:Yves de Montigny, Director, Constitutional Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs. From the Department of Justice: Mary Dawson, Q.C., Associate Deputy Minister, Public Law. From the University of Ottawa: Professor Daniel Proulx. From McGill University: William F. Foster and William J. Smith.

Pursuant to the Orders of Reference adopted by the Senate on October 9, 1997 and by the House of Commons on October 1, 1997, the Committee examined various aspects of the draft resolution concerning the proposed amendment to Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning the Quebec school system.

The Honourable Stéphane Dion made a statement and he and witnesses from the Office of the Privy Council and the Department of Justice answered questions.

Professors Proulx, Foster and Smith made statements and answered questions.

At 11:50 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Joint Chairs.

Joint Clerks of the Committee

Martine Bresson and Denis Robert