Well, certainly at as early an age as possible. French as a second language.... ESL training in the lower schools here is a very popular program. Our education ministry in British Columbia can hardly keep up with the need for French bilingual training in our elementary and high schools. Certainly in my experience with my own sons, who were in French immersion in their secondary and elementary years, it has been tremendously obvious to me that this is a great advantage, certainly over their father attempting to learn French later on rather than starting in elementary school.
Evidence of meeting #19 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A recording is available from Parliament.