Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In Nova Scotia, if the funding goes well, this plan will be developed by April 1, 2009. That proposal would be advantageous for the federal government, since it would make it possible to establish clear parameters for the departments and agencies that have responsibilities with regard to the implementation of section 41, which provides that the government must establish positive measures for the official language minorities in Canada. The communities, for their part, would know what to expect from their relations with the departments and agencies as a whole. That would reduce unforeseen situations and ad hoc efforts on both sides. In short, all that would guarantee greater efficiency and better chances for achieving positive results for the community and the government. We obviously advise that agreements be signed with the federal government as a whole, since a precedent was set with the voluntary sector in 2001.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the next agreements should promote the development of parameters to allow full implementation of sections 41 and 42 of the Official Languages Act by the Canadian government as a whole.
Thank you very much.