Thank you, Ms. Lavallée.
The Prime Minister gave me the dual responsibility of horizontal coordination and specific duties in relation to the Department of Canadian Heritage. This dual role ensures that government action is more consistent. Not only does it give me a more broad-based understanding, but it means I have the tools to play a coordination role and to set the tone for government policy in relation to the official languages support program.
I'm working very closely with my colleagues. I made a number of announcements a few months ago alongside my colleague the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The purpose of these announcements was to promote francophone immigration. I have also worked with my counterpart from the Department of Health to make sure minority groups get access to health care services. In short, I've worked with all my colleagues around the cabinet table. More recently, I have had an opportunity to work with Minister O'Connor on the transformation model.
I particularly welcome my colleague's initiative as he sought to respond to what amounted to a record of failure. I listened to Mr. D'Amours, the member for Madawaska—Restigouche attack the work my colleague has done in response to the former Official Languages Commissioner's recommendations. Even though I wasn't present, I presumed that he was just as virulent when asking questions of the former government whose record was far from brilliant and was criticized on several occasions.