Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the members of the committee for inviting Statistics Canada to appear and offer input to their discussion on the state of affairs and historical evolution of enrolment in language immersion programs in Canada and the related issues.
Before I begin, I would like to point out that, since Statistics Canada does not have information to measure access to those programs, their capacity, waiting lists or best practices, the presentation by my colleague Jean-Pierre Corbeil will focus mainly on data that Statistics Canada collects on changes in student enrolments and the portion of students enrolled in immersion programs in Canada compared with enrolment in other French as a second language programs.
Mr. Corbeil will also provide information on the second language retention level of students who attended these programs compared with that of other students.
Now I will hand the floor over to him.