Thank you for having me here today.
I am here as the Executive Director of the Centre culturel de Cornwall. This cultural centre has the following goals: to ensure the unity and safeguard of francophone culture; to study the measures needed to encourage progress; the promote the tourism industry; to strengthen cooperation, unity and friendship among French Canadians; to safeguard francophone customs and traditions and give them pride of place; and to promote arts and culture.
As the Executive Director, I have several concerns: social change; demographic statistics; civil rights, obligations and responsibilities; francophone social, cultural and artistic services; the quality and quantity of our services; francophone community integration services; various sources of funding; social impacts; the next francophone generation; and the involvement of professionals. Those then are the major interests. There are several points that stand out as important for my region.
I find that three minutes to explain 45 years of operations is not a lot. I didn't think I would have only three minutes to speak to you about the problem being experienced by our francophone community.
I am a Franco-Ontarian who lives in a francophone minority region. I got involved in the cultural centre because I found that francophone culture was missing in our region. Personally, I encountered many challenges in growing both culturally and academically. The cultural centre is trying to continue its development. We have been collaborating for 45 years and we intend to keep our francophone community.
At the moment, funding is the main problem being faced by the cultural sector, particularly after the substantial cuts it experienced this year. These cuts are threatening the survival of the centre and the survival of our francophone communities.
Last year, we presented a development plan to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. The plan focuses on the following: developing access to infrastructures, resources and equipment needed for the development of the francophonie; promoting coordination and solidarity among socio-cultural communities; promoting the francophone identity.
How much time do I have left?