It was around this time of year, yes.
If I understand the internal administrative and financial regulations, it was defined as a sunset program, and sunset programs can only be renewed one year at a time. Am I right? The government’s intent, at that time—and I can speak with some knowledge because I was—was therefore to renew this $10 million envelope twice: once, as was done for the current fiscal year, and a second time for FY 2007-2008. At that time, we were hoping to include this money in the five-year renewal of the Action Plan for Official Languages, which was scheduled for 2008, to ensure that there would be no more breaks in funding and to allow the communities to do their planning.
Mr. Chairman, I feel a little ill at ease because I’m replacing Mr. D'Amours in this forum. But I am certain that if I spoke to him and to other members of the Committee the Committee might agree to adopt a motion encouraging the government to renew this $10 million envelope for FY 2007-2008.
I is my opinion, Mr. Chairman, that there may be a motion to that effect, so that these communities can plan their activities effectively.
Mr. Nouvet, can you tell us how the Department plans to proceed with this renewal? Is this a Departmental initiative? Does it have to come from outside?