Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In 2002, the Commission nationale des parents francophones succeeded in placing early childhood development on the agenda for francophone communities.
Here is why: Recent research by Dr. Fraser Mustard on brain development showed that the neurological and biological pathways created in the first months of life had a life-long impact. The brain develops through sensory stimulation. Without such stimulation, there is a risk of producing children and adults who will be a burden on society and a barrier to prosperity. The successful societies will therefore be those that invest the most at a time when such interventions have the greatest impact—in early childhood, when the brain is extremely malleable. James Heckman's research has shown that every dollar spent on quality early childhood care generates up to $8 in savings over the long term.
In 2003, early childhood development was recognized as a priority in the Action Plan for Official Languages.
Here is why: Brain research is revolutionizing our understanding of education. For example, sensory stimulation, attachment to parents and visual contact are needed to awaken curiosity and pleasure in learning; the higher cognitive functions peak at the age of 12 months; language learning begins at the sixth month of pregnancy and levels off before the age of 12 months. When preparing to send a child to day care or to school, it is too late to begin speaking to the child in French and having the child read in French. The basic identity forged in the early years is the most solid.
The impact of a good start enables children to be able to learn at least two languages, prepares them to attend school and allows them to besome success stories rather than constant failures. A good start is crucial because once adolescence is reached, when identity is challenged in predominantly English-speaking communities, the young people in question will be able to build on their successes and capitalize on their confidence in their language and culture. They will thus stand a better chance of resisting assimilation.
That is why the CNPF and parents are so emphatic in wanting early childhood services to be considered as essential to our society as public education. Learning while very young establishes the trajectory for life-long learning. It acts as a catalyst for education. Investment in young children is essential to lasting economic development.
The Commission nationale des parents francophones conducted a national tour of its members and partners in 2004 and developed a national early childhood vision: the optimal development of all francophone children in healthy families and communities through universal and affordable access to a continuum of high quality services in French.
The need for an emphasis on early childhood was reiterated at national congresses gathering together over 300 francophone leaders from the early childhood and French education sectors in 2004, and on health in French in 2006. At the provincial and territorial level, our parent federations and their partners developed strategic plans and action plans in 2005.
The CNPF got the 15 partners of the Table nationale sur la petite enfance francophone involved in a process to develop a strategic framework for early childhood development. One of the things we recommended was the establishment of an early childhood and family centre attached to each of the 400 elementary schools in minority communities. There are already 20 of these centres in Canada, providing a number of services.
These centres provide comprehensive early childhood services. They naturally include programs for children such as nursery schools, play groups and junior kindergarten, in addition to direct support services for families, beginning at the perinatal period. It is during pregnancy that there is an opportunity to include families in francophone communities. Early childhood services are the doorway to all the other services in French and to French-language schools.
The challenge to the communities is enormous: at the moment, only one out of every two francophone children is enrolled in a French school.
We will soon be undertaking a study to evaluate the costs of establishing the services we are proposing. It will be useful addition to our existing tools.
We have all the information we need, and we have established a national vision as well as a model for service delivery. We have action plans in each province and territory. We have obtained the commitment of governments and community partners to begin implementation.
In short, the Commission nationale des parents francophones is putting together the conditions needed for a change of direction in early childhood in minority francophone communities. The challenge is a major one. It will condition the very future of francophone communities. Communities, after all, are built from the bottom up.
Are you with us?