Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question. I would like to clarify one thing. There were no French-language school boards in Ontario prior to 1998. The Education Act only provided for French-language sections within English school boards. It is important to remember as well that all of this occurred only 10 years ago.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question. You have touched on a couple of points that are, in fact, part of the solution. First of all, the funding model for course offerings at the secondary level in Ontario is based on the number of students enrolled. At the high school level, we have to find specialized teachers.

Official Languages committee  I agree with you that it is stating the obvious. For us, daycare services are key, because that is where pre-schoolers have an opportunity to master the language, if necessary, before starting school. The fact that programs have been transferred to the parents has affected us. Some of this funding could have trickled down to the institutions, so that they could get together and develop this service.

Official Languages committee  I would just like to point out that the recommendations in questions are in Appendix B of our brief. We submitted these recommendations to the Minister of Education. In fact, the Association presents an annual brief to the Minister of Education to make her aware of funding gaps affecting French-language Catholic schools.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  If I understand your question, you are asking whether the governance structure in Ontario is adequate to meet that demand, if all the children of rights holders were to attend our schools. The answer is no. The current structure and the jurisdiction of our French-language school boards would have to be reviewed.

Official Languages committee  In terms of the diversity of course options, the French-speaking schools offer about half the courses that are available in English schools. Dorothée also mentioned the fact that the schools tend to be far away. Our elementary schools already serve large areas, but when they reach the secondary level, students may have to spend an hour getting to school and another hour going back home.