Mr. Chair, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Conseil canadien de la coopération because I see your 2012, International Year of Cooperatives badge. You've done a lot of work in cooperation with two of our former ministers, Jean-Pierre Blackburn and Lawrence Cannon. I want to acknowledge that because it's a great achievement. We are very pleased.
I know there will be a lot of francophone activities during the International Year of Cooperatives. Can you remind us what those former ministers have done to achieve this international recognition? It didn't happen by itself. Canada had to take on an international leadership role. Explain to us how that happened?