We have an excellent collaborative relationship with the Department of Health. I think I can say that it's more than a collaboration. The network is having major success because it automatically includes the Department of Health. When network members have discussions, the department is already at the table. It's represented by the French-language services coordinator, who has been in that position since 2004.
So the network doesn't exist without the department. The department can exist without the network, but the latter doesn't exist without the department. The department has been there from the outset.
We're talking about the action plan. The first recommendation is that the role of the network as the mouthpiece of the Acadian community on health issues in Nova Scotia be made official. We're discussing with the department how to do that and what it all means in concrete terms. We already agree on the principle of the recommendation, that the network be the mouthpiece of the Acadian community. So we have very close relations with the department.
We were consulted concerning the regulations under the act. Public consultations were held for everyone, and we were also consulted on all health issues. So the relationship is very close. I believe the Department of Health would tell you that they don't make any decisions without seeking the networks' input.
This is a privileged relationship. I've never seen a similar relationship in any other area.
The other action plan recommendations concern much more concrete matters in terms of implementation, which will be done at the same time as the regulations are implemented. So there's a very close relationship between the network and the department.