Official Languages committee  My first recommendation is that it is absolutely essential that the federal government continue to provide official languages funding to the provinces to ensure that they can offer quality immersion programs and core programs throughout the country.

Official Languages committee  That's right. I want to clearly distinguish between the role of the provinces and that of the federal government. The federal government could initiate the dialogue to determine an action plan that could be used throughout the country. Following that, the provinces could decide if they want to implement it at the end of grade 12 or not.

Official Languages committee  My third recommendation is that we must go forward with the process with the help of a study. I understand what my colleague was saying when questioning the usefulness of doing one study after another. However, I think it would be a positive thing to open up a national dialogue with the participants from all provinces to discuss what we want the programs to accomplish.

Official Languages committee  Exactly; a national dialogue.

Official Languages committee  No, my mother is anglophone as well. I have no French background. My family name is Adams, and I come from Thunder Bay. I began core French in grade 5, twice a week, I think.

Official Languages committee  It's a good question. What I will do is leave copies of the three studies we've done with the committee. They're very comprehensive studies. I would argue that they're probably the most conclusive studies that—

Official Languages committee  No, I'm going to give you the answer. We have a certain attrition rate at the end of each of the years. When we look at the overall numbers.... Because we have it starting right from kindergarten, there's a certain percentage that do move into different programs, whether it's an English program or one of our alternative or special education programs.

Official Languages committee  Actually, I would like to answer that question. According to what our program reviews and assessments indicate, even before knowing what students will do after high school, they have to be motivated to continue studying French until the end of their studies. In addition, we have to ensure that the quality of the teaching is high enough so that, when the students graduate from high school, they can enter the workplace or universities and colleges with a level that is advanced enough to allow them to access these programs and positions.

Official Languages committee  That's why I included my first two recommendations, knowing that the provinces and the federal government both have a role to play. The immersion and core language programs in the provinces would be impossible without the funding provided by the federal government to the provinces.

Official Languages committee  Good afternoon to all of you. I am happy to be here with you. I am originally from Thunder Bay. With a family name like Adams, I never thought the day would come when I would have an opportunity to be making a presentation in front of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.