Skip to content

Opens in a new window Parliament of Canada

Visit Parliament

Visit

Français

Senators

Senators

Canada’s 105 senators give regions and underrepresented groups a strong voice in Parliament.

Go to Senators

List of Senators

Contact Information

Standings

Parliamentary Diplomacy

The Speaker

Biography

Role of the Speaker

Rulings and Statements

News & Events

Contact

Chamber

Chamber

Read or watch the latest Senate debates and see how senators represent you in Parliament.

Go to Chamber

Order Paper and Notice Paper

Journals of the Senate

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

Votes

LEGISinfo

Watch & Listen

Calendar

Procedural References

Rules of the Senate

Companion to the Rules of the Senate

Procedural Notes

Speaker's Rulings

Senate Procedure in Practice

Committees

Committees

Senate committees perform in-depth studies of bills and investigate issues that matter to you.

Go to Committees

Business

Schedule of All Meetings

Studies & Bills

Reports

Members of Subcommittees on Agenda and Procedure

Get Involved

For Witnesses

Media Centre

Committee Alerts

eNewsletter

Resources

About Committees

Watch & Listen

LEGISinfo

Procedural References

News

News

Stay up to date with Senate activities and find articles about the Senate’s people, history and procedure.

Go to News

News Releases

Media Advisories

Media Centre

SenCA+

People

News

Opinion

How & Why

About

About

Find procedural references, financial reports and information about the rehabilitation of Parliament Hill.

Go to About

The Senate Explained

Art & Architecture

Artwork & Heritage

Online Collection

Architecture & Rehabilitation

Transparency & Accountability

Financial Reports

Senators' Attendance

Administration & Support

Accessibility

Visit

Virtual tours

Careers

Page Program

Student Employment Program

Resources

Publications

Photo Gallery

Procedural References

Publications

Participate

Participate

Find out how you can visit the Senate, engage with its work and follow Senate proceedings.

Go to Participate

SENgage

Model Senate

Visit

Virtual tours

Watch & Listen

LEGISinfo

Committee Witnesses

Committee Alerts

eNewsletter

Contact Us

Search

OLLO - Standing Committee

Official Languages

Menu - OLLO

Home

About

Membership

Meetings

Business

Business

Studies & Bills

Briefs & other documents

Reports

Search transcripts

Witnesses

News

Past Session:

44-1

44 th Parliament, 1 st Session

(November 22, 2021 - January 6, 2025)

Select a different session

45 th Parliament

1 st Session

(May 26, 2025 - Present)

44 th Parliament

1 st Session

(November 22, 2021 - January 6, 2025)

43 rd Parliament

2 nd Session

(September 23, 2020 - August 15, 2021)

1 st Session

(December 5, 2019 - August 18, 2020)

42 nd Parliament

1 st Session

(December 3, 2015 - September 11, 2019)

41 st Parliament

2 nd Session

(October 16, 2013 - August 2, 2015)

1 st Session

(June 2, 2011 - September 13, 2013)

40 th Parliament

3 rd Session

(March 3, 2010 - March 26, 2011)

2 nd Session

(January 26, 2009 - December 30, 2009)

1 st Session

(November 18, 2008 - December 4, 2008)

39 th Parliament

2 nd Session

(October 16, 2007 - September 7, 2008)

1 st Session

(April 3, 2006 - September 14, 2007)

38 th Parliament

1 st Session

(October 4, 2004 - November 28, 2005)

37 th Parliament

3 rd Session

(February 2, 2004 - May 23, 2004)

2 nd Session

(September 30, 2002 - November 12, 2003)

1 st Session

(January 29, 2001 - September 16, 2002)

36 th Parliament

2 nd Session

(October 12, 1999 - October 22, 2000)

1 st Session

(September 22, 1997 - September 18, 1999)

35 th Parliament

2 nd Session

(February 27, 1996 - April 27, 1997)

1 st Session

(January 17, 1994 - February 2, 1996)

Download as PDF

THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, March 18, 2024

(44) [ English ]

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages met this day at 5:01 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable René Cormier, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Clement, Cormier, Dalphond, Mégie, Moncion and Poirier (6).

Participating in the meeting: Catlin Seibel-Kamél, Legislative Clerk, Committees Directorate; Marie Ève Hudon, Analyst, Library of Parliament; Jérémie Spadafora, Communications Officer, Communications, Broadcasting and Publications Directorate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 9, 2023, the committee continued its study of matters relating to minority-language health services.

WITNESSES:

Government of Nova Scotia:

Kim Barro, Chief, Performance and Partnership, Department of Health and Wellness ( by videoconference ).

Government of Alberta:

Kim Simmonds, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Planning and Performance, Alberta Health ( by videoconference ).

Kim Barro and Kim Simmonds each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:56 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:57 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that senators’ staff be permitted to remain in the room during the in camera portion of the meeting.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:06 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the committee continued its study on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act.

WITNESSES:

Shaila Anwar, Clerk Assistant, Committees Directorate;

Maxime Fortin, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate.

Public Services and Procurement Canada:

Jean-François Lymburner, Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau;

Matthew Ball, Vice-President, Services to Parliament and

Interpretation, Translation Bureau;

Annie Trépanier, Vice-President, Policy and Corporate Services, Translation Bureau.

Shaila Anwar and Maxime Fortin made a statement together and answered questions.

Jean-François Lymburner made a statement and, together with Matthew Ball and Annie Trépanier, answered questions.

At 7 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:06 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 9, 2023, the committee continued its study of matters relating to minority-language health services.

WITNESSES:

Government of the Northwest Territories:

Jo-Anne Cecchetto, Deputy Minister, Department of Health and Social Services ( by videoconference ).

Government of Nunavut:

The Honourable John Main, MLA, Minister of Health.

Government of Yukon:

The Honourable John Streicker, MLA, Minister responsible for the French Language Services Directorate ( by videoconference ).

John Main, John Streicker and Jo-Anne Cecchetto each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:01 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Karine Déquier

Clerk of the Committee

Back to top