Mr. Chair, I will of course agree with anything that ensures respect for bilingualism and the official languages. I would not do as my colleague Mr. Lemieux has done in his riding of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, where he has not taken a position on bilingual signage.
Without wanting to echo his jurisdictional arguments, I would like to ask Michael a question. If we are talking about federal funds for a one-time event, that is one thing, and we can get involved. If federal funds are given to the provincial Ministry of Education for it to manage those funds, like what is done pursuant to the framework agreement on social union, then that poses a problem. Indeed, we should not intervene in provincial matters. Provincial governments have their own powers, and we have to respect their jurisdiction.
I am willing to discuss this file, but I first would like to clear up the jurisdictional concerns. Does this refer to such basic training as English as a second language or French as a second language programs? There are such related programs, particularly in the immigration sector. In the case at hand, are funds being transferred from the Canadian government to the provincial Government of Ontario? The Ontario government might make mistakes, and we might disagree with some of its initiatives, but it has free rein over such matters, and it is up to the Government of Ontario to decide what it will do with those funds. We cannot interfere and ask a provincial government to account for its decisions.
I want to understand before making a decision.