It is fascinating, Mr. Chairman. Here we have a microcosm of Canada and of its future. That is what is fascinating. I thought I would follow Mr. Castonguay's example, but instead I am going to say exactly what I want to say. Phrases were coming to mind as I was listening to the discussion. I was thinking of my desire to make Canada a place where I could live as a Francophone. Earlier I said that I was a “Franglophone”, but really, I am fundamentally Francophone. At the same time, I want to live my life in English as well, because I made the effort to learn that language. It is my second language, and I would like to learn a third. All of that is personal, however.
In terms of the overall picture, I agree with Mr. Castonguay. Throughout its history, Canada has witnessed the steady decline of the French fact. The real issue for me is: with a determined effort on the part of the Canadian government, mainly, and provincial governments as well, would it be possible to stop assimilation and, possibly, reverse that trend? That is the fundamental question driving our efforts, or that should, at least, be driving them.
In a French version of the Reader's Digest, I read one day the infamous phrase about the pessimist and the optimist both being necessary to society: one invented the airplane and the other, the parachute. I am on the side of the optimists. My question is simple, but extremely complex. I do not expect to receive an answer today. It is an answer that will require some work, in my opinion.
With a determined effort by the government to create institutions, as was done with the school boards across the country and day care centres—and I come back to my example of Whitehorse, where there is a day care centre called the Garderie du Petit Cheval Blanc; I just love that name—and foster Francophone immigration, whether it is concentrated in Quebec or elsewhere, would it be possible to reverse that trend?