Finance committee  In terms of linguistic duality and the available services, the roadmap goes beyond investments. It provides funding for various sectors, and it really does a lot of good. We are talking about investments totalling over $1 billion. As for the showcase for cultural organizations, the roadmap contributes not only to culture, but also to the Canadian economy, and to our francophone artists.

Finance committee  Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada to participate in the pre-budget consultations. I am appearing before you today on behalf of 2.5 million French-speaking citizens and taxpayers living in nine provinces and three territories.

Official Languages committee  There was a very small amount of funding. One thing must be remembered. When initiatives are added, whether it is the Roadmap or something else, we receive money for a specific project, for example hiring a person to lead the project, but in terms of the whole administrative aspect, there is very little strengthening of our capacities.

Official Languages committee  We are called on more and more. Senator Comeau was discussing it with me this week. Organizations like the FANE, in Nova Scotia, are called on more and more by citizens who want services. We offer those services. Organizations don't necessarily have more employees. They may have received a little funding so a person can coordinate a project.

Official Languages committee  In our communities, there is the whole issue of passing on the language. There are many families with exogamous unions, where one parent is anglophone and the other is francophone. It is very difficult. There are some myths, but I have to tell you that in a number of our communities, there are awareness campaigns that promote education in French for rights-holders.

Official Languages committee  No. Many schools, just in eastern Ontario, would be closed today if it weren't for immigration.

Official Languages committee  I must tell you that this is very troubling. There are transfers for health, immigration or many other areas, but without any knowledge of what is set out in the provisions on language. When the government transfers funding, it also transfers responsibilities but it keeps some responsibility.

Official Languages committee  Destination Canada is the only way we have of recruiting and promoting francophone and Acadian communities. Many people think Destination Canada is limited to Paris and Brussels, but that is not the case. It also allows employers, provinces and communities to go to Tunisia, for example, to recruit workers such as welders.

Official Languages committee  I think that Mr. Burke said it earlier. We can certainly have priorities but we must not forget the rest. In my mind, true equality stems from all of these areas. Some priorities that are missing, namely young people, are extremely important.

Official Languages committee  Economic development—you talked about this—is extremely important. As is early childhood, obviously. There is also the whole issue of immigrant intake and settlement. I live in Saskatchewan, but the same phenomenon is happening in Alberta. Many people are leaving one province and coming to mine because we are in the midst of an economic boom.

Official Languages committee  I agree with both of my colleagues. What I would like to talk about is the question of fear. On the one hand, there is the fear of losing one's identity. That's why I talked a bit earlier about this dialogue we need to establish between all components of this society. Of course, I want to speak French and raise my kids in French, and I want everybody in this country to be bilingual.

Official Languages committee  Yes, but I dare say that it could hardly be considered a consultation. Consulting the FCFA is not enough to learn the opinion of all the members of the Leaders' Forum and the 43 organizations who came to meet with you.

Official Languages committee  Yes, there were online consultations and sectoral round tables, essentially, in which our federation was invited to participate.

Official Languages committee  On February 19, we learned that testimony here and your study would be used as consultations for the next Roadmap.

Official Languages committee  Yes, after our appearance.