LANG Committee Meeting
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 1
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
The Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 362, East Block, for the purpose of electing two Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs pursuant to Rule 88 of the Senate and Standing Orders 106(1) and 106(2) of the House of Commons.
Member(s) of the Committee present:
From the Senate: The Hon. Gérald A. Beaudoin, The Hon. Joan Fraser, The Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, The Hon. Michael A. Meighen, The Hon. Jean-Claude Rivest, The Hon. Louis J. Robichaud.
From the House of Commons: Mauril Bélanger, Eugène Bellemare, Brenda Chamberlain, Raymonde Folco, Grant Hill, Ted McWhinney, Louis Plamondon, Benoît Serré.
In attendance: From the Senate: Luc Bégin, Co-Clerk of the Committee From the Library of Parliament: Françoise Coulombe, Researcher.
The Co-Clerk (Senate) of the Committee presided over the election of a Co-Chair (Senate).
Senator Louis J. Robichaud moved, and Senator Joan Fraser seconded, - That Senator Rose-Marie Losier-Cool do take the Chair of this Committee as Co-Chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Accordingly, Senator Rose-Marie Losier-Cool was declared duly elected Co-Chair (Senate) of the Committee and took the Chair.
The Co-Clerk (House of Commons) presided over the election of the Co-Chair (House of Commons).
Benoît Serré moved, and Mauril Bélanger seconded, - That Raymonde Folco do take the Chair of this Committee as Co-Chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Accordingly, Raymonde Folco was declared duly elected Co-Chair of the Committee and took the Chair.
Louis Plamondon, moved, - That Grant Hill be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Mauril Bélanger moved, - That Benoît Serré be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Senator Joan Fraser moved, - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Co-Chairs.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Louis Plamondon moved, - That the Co-Clerks be authorized to distribute only documents available in both official languages.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Senator Louis J. Robichaud moved, - That the Committee print 250 copies of its Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Louis Plamondon, moved, - That the quorum be fixed at seven (7) members provided that both Houses and the opposition are represented whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken.
And debate arising thereon.
Senator Beaudoin moved that the motion be amended as follows, - That the quorum be fixed at seven (7) members provided that both Houses are represented and one member of the opposition from each House is present whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken.
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to.
The question being put on the main motion, as amended, it was agreed to.
Senator Joan Fraser moved, - That the Co-Chairs be authorized to hold meetings in order to receive evidence and authorize printing thereof when a quorum is not present, provided that four (4) members are present and that both Houses are represented.
And debate arising thereon.
Louis Plamondon moved, - That the motion be amended as follows, - That the Co-Chairs be authorized to hold meetings so long as four (4) members are present provided that both Houses and one opposition member is present.
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to.
The question being put on the main motion, as amended, it was agreed to.
Senator Joan Fraser moved, - That the Committee authorize the Co-Chairs, from time to time, as the need arises, in conjuction with the Co-Clerks 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 Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Senator Gérald Beaudoin moved, - That, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questions and answers as follows: the Reform Party, the Bloc Québécois, the Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. For the second round, fice (5) minutes be allocated to a member of each party as follows: the Reform Party, the Bloc Québecois, the Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. For the third round and subsequent rounds, five (5) minutes be allocated to a member, in the order in which they are recognized, at the discretion of the Co-Chairs.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Eugène Bellemare moved, - That, at the discretion of the Co-Chairs, reasonable travelling expenses, as per the regulations established by the Board of Internal Economy of the Senate and the House of Commons, be paid to witnesses invited to appear before the Committee, and that payment of these expenses be limited to two (2) representatives per organization.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
Senator Louis J. Robichaud moved, - That, the evidence taken by the Joint Committee in relation to its study on Part VII of the Official Languages Act during the First Session of the present Parliament be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
It was agreed, that, the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of seven (7) members: the Co-Chairs, the Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary (Canadian Heritage) and a representative from the Bloc Québécois, and the Progressive Conservative party.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
ORDERED - That the Committee adopt its first report recommending to the Senate and the House of Commons that quorum be fixed at seven (7) members, provided that both Houses are represented and one member of the opposition from each House is present whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the Co-Chairs be authorized to hold meetings in order to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof when a quorum is not present, provided that four (4) members are present, and that both Houses are represented and one opposition member is present, and that the Co-Chairs be authorized to table this report in their respective Chambers.
At 4:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Luc Bégin
Co-Clerk of the Committee
Miriam Burke
Co-Clerk of the Committee