Good morning.
I'd like to welcome you to the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Our Committee has been around for 25 years. This is the first time, however, that it is making a trip such as this. Last year, we had decided to go across the country to meet with groups, but because of the election being called, our plans fell through or, as we say back home, fell right into the Baie des Chaleurs. This time, the project was approved by Parliament. Like other parliamentary committees, we wanted to make this trip, among other reasons, to meet with people on their home turf, rather than Ottawa, right in the middle of the big parliamentary machine.
One element of our mandate is the 2003 Official Languages Action Plan, which set aside $700 million for official languages. We are anxious to see what is going on in minority regions and communities with respect to official languages and, in some cases, as regards their minority status.
My name is Yvon Godin, and I am the NDP member of Parliament for the riding of Acadie—Bathurst, in the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick. That's why I made that reference to the Baie des Chaleurs. With us today are Mr. Pierre Lemieux, Ms. Sylvie Boucher, and Mr. Daniel Petit, representing the Conservative government. To my left is Mr. Jean-Claude D'Amours, representing the Official Opposition — in this case, the Liberal Party — and Ms. Vivian Barbot, of the Bloc Québécois. We also have with us our clerk, Mr. Samy Agha and our analyst, Mr. Jean-Rodrigue Paré.
This is how we are going to proceed: each group will have five minutes to make its presentation. Now you may be thinking to yourselves that five minutes is not much, but the idea here is to keep some time for a discussion with members after the presentations. We would like you to give us a brief overview of your organizations and your concerns. I can assure you that once the question period has begun, you will have an opportunity to elaborate further. Once we know the specific challenges you are facing, we will be better able to engage in meaningful dialogue. If you have any points to add, don't hesitate to do so.
We will begin with Mr. Jean-Claude D'Amours.