Official Languages Committee on Feb. 16th, 2012

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We'll go in camera.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chair, I prefer to remain in public.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I think I have the consent to do it.

The chair is going to ask the clerk to go in camera.

While we're going in camera, I just want to tell members what the chair's view is of going in camera. My view is that we do it for two occasions: when we're talking about potential witnesses, because those witnesses don't have a chance to defend themselves if members are critiquing them and making comments as to why they should not appear, and secondly, for discussion of draft reports of committee. That's the way I've always interpreted the rules and run committees during the time that I've been here. But at the end of the day, it's up to the committee to decide, so that's why I defer to you.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

On the flip side, we shouldn't be boosters of individuals either.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I just want to be consistent about the rules. It makes my job easier when there's consistency.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[Public proceedings resume]

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We're now in public session.

I'm going to pass the floor to Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to point out to you that, when we sit in public, the letters are in red. I find that interesting.

I would like to thank our analyst, Ms. Lecomte, for the two documents she provided to us yesterday.

The one I asked for, the summary of Roadmap expenses, is very well done. It really gives us a pretty accurate idea of the status of each department in terms of expenses. You can see that, for the most part, everything seems to be going well. But, for some, like the economic agencies, things are not going as well. I am very pleased to see that we are going to be meeting with them. We needed that information. I am grateful to our analyst for providing it.

The other document, which I have not had the chance to read, also seems to be very substantial. That is the analysis of the Canada-Saskatchewan agreement on second language instruction.

I would like to publicly express my thanks to our analyst for the work she has done.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I'd like to second that.

The analyst does a lot of very good work. If you get a chance to read these documents—they're actually quite important—you'll find the summary of expenditures for the road map is not readily available. It's very difficult reading the estimates and departmental summaries to actually figure out where the spending is taking place. Madame Lecomte has done a great job of amalgamating all that information into this document. We should keep this handy, because it's actually quite useful.

On the issue of the Canada-Saskatchewan bilateral agreement, it touches many constitutional issues and is quite fundamental to official languages in Canada. It's a good summary of the constitutional setting.

Thank you very much for doing the work. We very much appreciate that.

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I want to join the number of those thanking Ms. Lecomte for the work she has done. These documents are important for our work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

Without further ado, this meeting is adjourned.