Mr. Chairman, I would like to add a few words. I have been the executive director of the Alliance de la francophonie de Timmins since 1995. Since 1998, I have worked on a part-time basis because the alliance could not afford to pay me full-time. During the day, I work for the school board, and in the evening, I sacrifice my time with my family because I believe in the cause and I am fighting for this association as best I can. Is it acceptable, in a society like Canada, to have organizations that defend the Franco-Ontarian nation struggle with so many problems that they have to count on people like myself, who work part-time, and like Mr. Bélanger, who works on a volunteer basis? I believe that we live in a cutting-edge, progressive society, and we must ensure that our francophone organizations have the will and the duty to flourish.
The Dion plan provided support for existing infrastructure, such as school boards, colleges and health care institutions, but it actually undermined working organizations. There was nothing in the plan to help people working on the ground trying to fix the problems in our francophone communities.