Thank you.
Unlike the CCSF, which I mentioned earlier, the new fund, the BCSF, is not a program exclusively dedicated to cultural infrastructure. As no minimum funding is earmarked for our sector within this new program, there is a real fear that cultural infrastructure across the country will be underfunded, particularly as demand for the CCSF has been exceeding its resources for several years. For these reasons, the FCCF is making three recommendations.
Firstly, a portion of the BCSF funding should be set aside for cultural infrastructure. Funds must be allocated to the sector.
Secondly, in keeping with the spirit of part VII of the Official Languages Act, funds within this budget should be set aside for cultural infrastructure serving Canada's francophone and Acadian communities. These infrastructures face challenges specific to a context often characterized by remoteness from major centres, the small size of communities, higher project implementation costs and limited access to certain technical skills and resources.
Within the framework of this earmarked fund, flexibility should be shown with regard to the program's eligibility criteria and eligible expenses. Indeed, federal institutions must recognize the unique nature of the realities and characteristics of minority communities—which differ from one another and from those of majority communities—in order to take positive measures that will enable the Government of Canada to fulfill its commitments regarding official languages.
Thirdly, the federal government should fund, through the means it deems most appropriate, research activities aimed at gathering reliable and regularly updated data on cultural infrastructure in all provinces and territories, as well as across all artistic disciplines, whose needs may vary.
As set out in section 41 of the Official Languages Act, federal institutions must, as far as possible, base their positive measures on analyses derived from research and evidence. However, at present, this picture remains incomplete and does not allow for fully informed decision-making.
Thank you for your time. We are now ready to answer any questions you may have about cultural infrastructure or any other topic relevant to the study you are conducting.
Thank you.