Merci, Claire.
Today we would like to answer the questions put to us by this committee concerning, first, specific programs at SFU in support of official languages; second, about possible initiatives post-secondary institutions could take; and third, the role of the federal government in support of post-secondary institutions.
First, let me inform you that Simon Fraser University has received funding under the Canada-B.C. auxiliary agreement for the development of post-secondary education in French at SFU, an initial five-year funding from 2003 to 2008, followed by a one-year extension for 2008-09.
The initial funding allowed the establishment of the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs, otherwise known as OFFA. OFFA's mandate is to develop and coordinate programs and courses taught in French at SFU, as well as to promote the programs in B.C., in Canada, and internationally. OFFA has an original administrative structure rarely seen in a university setting. OFFA works with two faculties, the faculty of education and the faculty of arts and social sciences, and answers directly to the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic. OFFA's mission also includes reinforcing the ties to B.C.'s francophone and francophile communities.
OFFA came into being thanks to the mobilization and cooperation of a number of community, university, and government stakeholders interested in achieving the common goal of fostering access to post-secondary education in French in B.C.
Two B.C. community groups are worth mentioning for their relentless work and contribution: the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie Britannique and the B.C. and Yukon branch of the Association of Canadian Parents for French.
Across Canada, as we know, there is a shortage of teachers of French. B.C. is particularly in need because of the increasing demand from parents who wish to put their kids in French immersion programs. More than 42,000 students are in French immersion across the province. There are 1,472 new students this year, representing a growth for the eleventh straight year in B.C. As you may have heard in the media, some parents camp overnight, or are being asked to use a lottery system, to register their child in French immersion in B.C.
There is also an increasing number of francophone children in the province, more than 4,200, attending the 40 francophone schools of the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. Enrolment projections confirm that Conseil scolaire francophone experiences the fastest growth in all of B.C. school boards.
Since 2003, with the help of the funding received from the federal government, the faculty of education at SFU has expanded its programs and developed new programs to provide initial and continuous training to teachers of French. For example, in initial teacher education the number of places has doubled. In addition to the masters of education offered in French at SFU already, a new masters of education program is now accessible online for teachers throughout the province and beyond.
SFU is a member of the MedOuest Consortium, Le Consortium des établissements universitaires de I'Ouest canadien, which includes I'Institut français de I'Université de Regina, Ie College universitaire de St-Boniface, et Ie Campus St-Jean de I'Université de I'Alberta. As a member, SFU shares online M.Ed. courses with these institutions.
In 2007 another initiative was put in place by the faculty of education. A doctoral program in educational leadership was developed and is taught entirely in French. School administrators, teachers, community leaders, and civil servants are currently registered in this doctoral program.
Let me end by saying that students graduating from the various programs in education have great employment opportunities because of the demand in French immersion and core French programs, as well as in the francophone program.
The faculty of education at SFU is committed to continue its support to the development of official-language minority communities, as well as the learning of French as a second language.
I will now turn it over to my colleague.
Thank you.