I will give you concrete examples, but I think that positive steps also mean a different approach for each institution. For example, taking positive steps means adopting a proactive and systematic approach in designing, measuring and assessing the programs. The institution, when it sets out its policies and programs, must adopt the perspective of the minority and assess whether or not the impact of this measure or this initiative will give comparable results for both the minority and the majority.
Each institution must also establish permanent links and collaboration with the official language communities—what we call horizontal governance. In order to take their interests and their specificity into account, the institution must establish a permanent relationship with them. It is another way of governing.
What does that mean in practical terms for some institutions? I will give you a few examples.
Canada Post decided to open a postal outlet at the Cité francophone, a community centre in Edmonton. By choosing to open a bilingual outlet in this area, the institution has more or less contributed to promoting the growth and development of communities, because they are very visible being located in this area that gathers together services intended to the Francophone minority. In short, it creates a living space for this community and contributes to it.
Our federal institutions must review their decisions regarding the choice of location for services and the way in which the services are offered. They must take into account the location.
Here is another example of a concrete step that was taken by Industry Canada. Industry Canada modify the criteria for the community access program in order to better take into account the specific needs of minority communities as regards affordable access to the Internet. If the program criteria were applied to all Canadians, the communities, because they are fewer in number, would not necessarily have access. They would therefore be denied the benefits of the program. These are the kinds of steps we except the different institutions to take. What's more, it is up to the institutions themselves to define them.
I could give you other examples, like the single window approach for bilingual services in Manitoba, which is a federal, provincial and municipal initiative. This is another example that illustrates how the federal government can act positively to sustain vitality. In this case, the three levels of government worked together to create a one-stop window for bilingual services in that region, where the working language is French. Manitoba is not a region that is designated bilingual by the federal government for language of work purposes. It is a way of proactively supporting the community that allows for more flexibility.
Does that answer your question?