Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for being here today.
I have a problem. These are two very different issues, in terms of our public service which is not bilingual, judges who are not bilingual, people being hired and deputy ministers who are not bilingual—who are recruited for their skills; I understand that—but who are then given five years to learn the second official language, be it French or English. If they do not learn it in five years, they can ask for another five years. In other words, the process is never-ending. Ultimately, these people never really learn to speak the second language.
I don't think that really concerns you. Yes, you have students. I know you are doing a good job. I know many young people who are pursuing their studies at the University of Ottawa and they are very happy to be able to learn both languages. The environment is important, as you said; there are both Anglophones and Francophones studying there, they talk to each other, and even couples are formed.
That does not necessarily relate to our current area of study—the problem we are experiencing here, which has gotten worse and worse every year since the Conservatives took office. I am not saying it is their fault, but there is definitely a need for the government to look closely at what its role may have been. The minister must make an effort in that regard.
I want to come back to your funding shortfall, because that is important. Have you made a specific request? The fact is that you provide services that are different from the other universities. What response have you had from the federal government?