The solution best suited to the majority will not necessarily fit our needs, anymore than it will fit the needs of English-speaking communities in Quebec. So that's an important caveat. As for whether the funding model could work, I would say that it probably could. What we are saying is, together, let's look at all the possible repercussions of social-finance-based programs. We aren't opposed to innovation, on the contrary.
Ever since the Supreme Court's 2009 ruling in CALDECH, which I talked about, a number of departments seem to have taken a blanket approach that doesn't take into account the specific needs of the minority. And yet, the ruling stipulates that they must be taken into account. It's important not to adopt a cookie-cutter approach. It doesn't work that way. We have to look at the impact it will have on communities, and that's all we came here to tell you.
I live in Saskatchewan. I'm sure there are private investors who would like to invest in the francophone community. I, myself, am an employer in the private sector and I'd be interested in making that kind of investment. But I'm not so sure that my neighbour who owns the business next to me and doesn't speak French would want to invest in my francophone project, even though he knows me and accepts that I live part of my life in French. That's where it gets a bit tricky for our communities. We will have much more limited access to these types of private investors. And I don't necessarily mean in larger communities in Ontario or the Acadie region but, rather, in communities like mine, or those in the Yukon and other parts of the country. Finding private investors would even be hard in some Acadian communities.
Is it possible to measure the approach's potential? Are there other ways of going about it? Together, can we find other innovative approaches? We aren't saying to the government, do it and we'll sit and watch. We're perfectly willing to do it with you. Let's work on it together because we don't have the resources to do it on our own. We need help and we are prepared to work with the government to make sure that everyone comes out a winner.
I'd just like to add one last thing. The government's official languages obligations don't end with my organization or a private investor. If the government entrusts partners with money under the roadmap or makes other financial commitments to enhance the vitality of minority language communities, the government has an obligation to make sure that the money really goes to francophone programs.