Official Languages committee  I couldn't agree more. I want to insist on a final point. It's very important that these teachers be trained in Canada, or that they be retrained with the Canadian context in mind.

Official Languages committee  I'll try to answer the question. In terms of immigration, the situation in Nova Scotia is quite interesting. Successive governments have made commitments in this area, and there have even been partnerships between the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse, the provincial department responsible for immigration, and other players in the immigration field to target francophone immigration development strategies that solve problems rather than create them.

Official Languages committee  I'm going to be very efficient: My answer is yes to everything you said. We know that there's a market in education. International students are being used as a marketable commodity, somewhat underhandedly, at some institutions in Canada. We've seen examples of that. However, that's not the case with Canada's French‑language universities and colleges.

Official Languages committee  Do you mind if I respond to that?

Official Languages committee  You're absolutely right. There are specific areas we should focus on. I'm thinking in particular of culture, education and tourism. However, in other areas where there's a position in international markets, it's capital that counts, and I think that investing in regions where the language has a chance of survival is a winning choice.

Official Languages committee  Immigration is an urban phenomenon, not only in Canada, but everywhere. If we want immigration to serve the Canadian francophonie, we have to develop measures to promote rural immigration. The welcoming francophone communities initiative is an interesting tool. At the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle‑Écosse, we're building on the welcoming francophone community in Clare.

Official Languages committee  You answered the question by asking it. That's exactly right. Old‑stock French‑speaking communities across the country are in rural areas that are losing ground, usually in favour of large urban centres. For example, in Nova Scotia, the largest pool of francophones is now in Halifax.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely. In fact, they will integrate better. That said, for that to happen, we need a critical mass. You can't do it one immigrant at a time. That's why the cohort idea is really important. People integrate better as a group than as individuals. If we can help these immigrants settle in areas such as St.

Official Languages committee  In some institutions, particularly educational institutions, yes. I'm sorry, but the customers of Nova Scotia's major seafood exporters are all over the planet. Trade with these customers is done in English. Of course, we talk to each other in French behind the scenes, but the work is done in English.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Samson. Again, I'll go back to the idea of coming up with a thoughtful, progressive strategy based on research. I really believe that research is of the utmost importance. There is university research, but there is also a lot of applied research going on as we develop our projects.

Official Languages committee  Okay. Thank you for your question, which I am happy to answer. First, some young people from our regions are extremely qualified and live in major Canadian cities, which are experiencing serious housing problems. We have connectivity issues in our regions. Addressing those issues and developing strategies that would support people working remotely would help bring back young people who have potential and who are able to exercise leadership in our regions, from our regions.

Official Languages committee  Yes, certainly. According to the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle‑Écosse, international students are a clientele, but they're also a resource. Indeed, international students who settle in our regions, even for a short time, patronize local businesses. For a rural region like St.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for this opportunity. I hope to be as effective as Mr. Desjardins. My name is Kenneth Deveau and I am the executive director of the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse. I have a doctorate in education from the Université de Moncton. I was vice-rector of Université Sainte-Anne, as well as director and founder of Invest Nova Scotia, of which I was also vice-chair and chair.