Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank all of you for being here with us. Some of you are appearing before the committee for a second time.
I thank you for your proposals concerning the Official Languages Act and the action plan.
I have two articles here.
First, I will read an excerpt from an FFCB press release dated June 22, 2018:
What is even more worrisome according to the judge is that Part VII of the OLA does not impose any specific or particular obligations on federal institutions, because nothing in the language used is specific in any way. The federal government consequently has only to adopt measures that are not negative to meet its obligations under the OLA. These conclusions are the most recent evidence of gaps in the OLA, and of the fact that it needs to be modernized.
This decision you received was like being hit on the head with a hammer. It's enormous. It says that the positive measures don't mean anything, that this is an empty shell, and that basically Part VII, with regard to positive measures, imposes no requirements. This is extremely serious. It could have consequences at all levels, not only for you in British Columbia but for all of the official language communities everywhere in the country. Yes, I agree with you; all of the members of the committee must read that decision. This seems very grave to me.
Under the current government the Standing Committee on Official Languages barely has six months to act before the next election. In six months we can't do everything.
You have the action plan before you. I have another article, which I mentioned earlier, but I'll read the title anyway. It's an article published by #ONfr entitled “Francophone organizations still waiting for promised funds”. The funds promised in May have not yet been distributed.
We also spoke about education, where there has not been an increase since 2003, despite the crying needs. You mentioned this.
Mr. Rothon, what urgent priority would you like to share with the committee regarding Part VII? Could you explain this to us?