Gatineau to host the first public hearing of the Bouchard-Taylor Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices

Following hearings will be held in September in Rouyn-Noranda, Sept-Îles, Saguenay, Saint-Jérôme and Joliette

Montréal, Thursday, June 28, 2007 –The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences will hold its first public hearing in Gatineau on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. Subsequent hearings will be held in Rouyn-Noranda on Thursday, September 13, in Sept-Îles on Tuesday, September 18, in Saguenay on Thursday, September 20, in Saint-Jérôme on Tuesday, September 25, and in Joliette on Wednesday, September 26.

This press release is intended to give individuals, groups and associations in the Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, Laurentides and Lanaudière administrative regions sufficient time to prepare briefs. The deadline for submitting such briefs at the public hearings is September 6 (Outaouais region), September 7 (Abitibi-Témiscamingue region), September 9 (Côte-Nord region), September 12 (Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region), September 15 (Laurentides region) and September 16 (Lanaudière region). The Consultation Commission requests that briefs not be submitted before the second half of August since it will issue instructions on August 14 concerning the presentation of briefs.

Further information to be released in mid-August

The location and times of public hearings will be announced in mid-August along with the locations and dates of the public hearings to be held until December throughout Québec. The Consultation Commission will specify the rules governing and organization of the hearings and will make public a consultation document and its Website.

The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences, co-chaired by sociologist and historian Gérard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor, has been assigned the task of taking stock of accommodation practices, analysing the issues, and conducting a public consultation throughout Québec. The Consultation Commission will submit its report and recommendations to the Québec Premier on March 31, 2008.

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