Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to meet with us this morning.
What you have told us is similar to what we've heard from other stakeholders. There is this enthusiasm out there that, despite the many challenges you are facing, sustains your belief in what you're doing and your conviction that the French fact in Ontario is important enough for you to keep going. I strongly encourage you to do that, particularly since I understand the federal government has a responsibility as regards official languages. It has responsibilities to you as citizens, but it has special responsibilities with respect to official languages. Furthermore, it has to provide you with the means to carry out your mission and especially to ensure that people get what they need, because that is its principal function.
In that regard, the abolition of the Court Challenges Program has really shaken us as well, just as the other cuts have. They were carried out indiscriminately, with no consideration of where social needs are greatest, because of the problems associated with the current environment. You can rest assured that we will be passing that information along to the people who have decisions to make and who want to make those decisions.
However, there are a couple of points you raised, Mr. Hubert, that I would like to explore further. I understand the complexity you have described with respect to colleges in Ontario, which are completely different from colleges in Quebec. When you are in charge of literacy, education and vocational training, your responsibilities are obviously very extensive, and the cuts hurt you in many different ways simultaneously — hence the problem.
The particular point I would like you to clarify relates to immigration. You say that 80% of immigrant families choose English. I would like to know two things.
Are their numbers similar to the number of Francophones who just decide to leave? I don't think so. There are simply fewer Francophones. However, it is surprising, because the Francophone communities keep telling us that they are now trying to bridge the gaps through immigration. I would be interested in hearing your comments on that.
Mr. Larouche, your network is clearly a success, from what I understand. You have taken the time to point that out to us, while adding at the same time that the situation is serious. I realize that you have succeeded in becoming fully integrated with the various programs, but what concrete results do you expect to achieve and what will you need in order for that to happen?