I travel a lot in the regions. Every year, I make the rounds and talk to people. I've been all across the West, including to St. Boniface. Indeed, René Fontaine, our new Director of French Services in Western Canada, was to be with us today. We have consolidated everything there as well. He cannot be with us today because he is signing agreements with the Europeans. The Western regions are now able to sign agreements with regions in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. There are some interesting things going on there. But it comes back to the same thing, again.
I believe we have a role to play in terms of connecting francophones. I talked about the connection between francophones across Canada, but also between francophones here in Canada and the rest of the world. It is great for people from Winnipeg to be able to sign agreements with certain regions of France. That leads to emulation and communication between people from different backgrounds. We also do this with Moncton, and it works very well.
I'm very sympathetic to what you said about the needs of francophone communities, particularly in the West. They are quite fragile. When in the midst of these communities, you really feel as though you're in a China shop. There are very few production companies, and if we don't help them, they won't be able to hang in there. It's the same in the musical field. When you visit these communities, you become acutely aware of that.
I believe that a consolidation of francophone services out West within Radio-Canada will be beneficial, because this will also allow us to develop a strategy and will give francophones in the Prairies an opportunity to talk to one another from time to time. We're very aware of that need.