I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 38 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, May 30, 2022, the committee is resuming consideration of Bill C‑13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of Thursday, June 23, 2022. Members may attend in person in the room or remotely using the Zoom application.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules for members and witnesses.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. Please mute your mike when you are not speaking.
For interpretation, those participating through Zoom have the choice, at the bottom of their screen, between three channels: floor, English or French. Members attending in person in the room can use their headset after selecting the channel desired.
A reminder that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.
Members in the room who would like the floor must raise their hands. Members participating via Zoom must use the “raise hand” feature. The clerk of the committee and I will do our best to maintain an order of speaking for all members. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.
Pursuant to our routine motion, I want to let the committee members know that all the witnesses went through the required connectivity tests before the meeting.
I would now like to welcome the witnesses.
We have with us today representatives of the Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l'Ontario, Denis Chartrand, president, and Isabelle Girard, executive director.
We also have Sophie Bouffard, president of the Université de Saint‑Boniface, who is participating by video conference.
Dear witnesses, welcome.
As is customary, each witness will have five minutes for their presentation. I am quite strict with my timekeeping in order to give all committee members the opportunity to ask their questions.
We will start with the Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l'Ontario. You have five minutes.