Evidence of meeting #20 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was saskatchewan.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Yvan Lebel  President, Conseil scolaire fransaskois
Bernard Roy  Director, Conseil des écoles fransaskoises
Jean Fahmy  Past President, Table de concertation du livre franco-ontarien
Yves Turbide  Secretary General, Table de concertation du livre franco-ontarien

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

Welcome to the 20th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Today is Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Our meeting is being televised. The first thing we are going to do is deal with committee business so we can adopt the committee budget for witnesses.

Mr. Lauzon.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON

I would like to move a motion. I think we need to include money in our budget for the witnesses.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

You have the floor.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON

I don't think the amount is adequate to continue our study. Perhaps the clerks know the amounts we need. I am moving the following motion:

That, as part of the study on the evaluation of the Roadmap: improving programs and service delivery, a budget of $36,700 be adopted.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

Actually, it's $36,900.

Mr. Godin.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Is the amount $36,700?

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

No, it is $36,900.

8:45 a.m.

An hon. member

Perhaps the clerk could clarify things: there are two different amounts.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

Bernard Trottier Conservative Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Okay.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

The total amount requested is $36,900.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I have a second question, Mr. Chair. Is it for future business or is it for work we have already done?

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

It's for work we've already done.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

You're saying that this was not in the budget, meaning that the witnesses haven't been paid yet?

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

Exactly.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I'd like to say, Mr. Chair, and I want this to be on record, that it isn't good for the witnesses not to be paid. In the future, we should have a budget in advance to make sure the witnesses will be paid.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

We have already paid the witnesses.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Some have not been paid.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

This isn't the same budget, but another operational budget.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I have another question, Mr. Chair.

The representatives from the Conseil Scolaire fransaskois were already here. We could have had them here during a free meeting, we asked them to come, but we cancelled that. Were they paid?

8:45 a.m.

An hon. member

We could ask them.

8:45 a.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

They didn't ask to be paid because they were also there for something else.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I don't know if Mr. Bélanger can speak for them, but we could ask them the question, since they are here now. I would like to know if they were paid. I think we should compensate them.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

We did not pay the witnesses.

8:45 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

They weren't paid at all.

8:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Michael Chong

You're right. This is our first budget. We haven't adopted a budget for this study. So we need to adopt this budget to pay the witnesses who are here to testify.

Are there any other questions?