Good morning, Mr. Chair, committee members, thank you for the invitation you have sent us. We are pleased to be with you this morning.
I would like to introduce the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité. My name is Marthe Hamelin and I am its president. I am here with Brigitte Gagné, director general, and Melvin Doiron, a member of CCCM's board of directors. Mr. Doiron is also director general of the Coopérative de développement régional — Acadie ltée, in New Brunswick, and a delegate of the Conseil acadien de la coopération.
The Conseil acadien de la coopération et de la mutualité has been in existence since 1946 and represents 3,700 cooperatives and 54 mutual companies, which generate turnover of over $23 billion annually. The 8.9 million individual members hold more than $180 billion in assets and help support 100,000 quality jobs in every francophone and Acadian community in Canada.
Cooperatives and mutual companies operate in every sector of the economy. The caisses populaires and credit cooperatives are definitely the most familiar. However, there are also cooperatives in the forest sector, food services, housing, accommodation, funeral services, health care and education. Many cooperatives are established by newcomers and bring people together around activities such as sewing and food services.
The cooperative structure is increasingly popular and increasingly recognized as a good way to start up a business.
I will now hand over to Ms. Gagné.