The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario has already spoken about incorporating francophone rights in the Canadian Constitution. This was a priority for us, but our priorities have changed somewhat since November 15. That is one aspect.
As to what the federal government can do, many things have been said and much support has been given, for example in terms of funding and developing creativity. That's great, but the federal government could do even more. It could exercise its leadership in Ontario so that the Université de l'Ontario français may see the light of day.
Does the federal government have to wait for all of the province's requests? I think that it now has the possibility to exercise its leadership; it doesn't have to wait. It can make the first overtures towards the province. As our federal leaders, you are mandated to take on the issue of linguistic duality and to respond when there is pressing need, and the pressing need is certainly to have a French-language university in Toronto.
Each time that we set this project back, irreparable damage is caused to the young people who graduate from high school and don't really have any options in the Toronto region if they want to study at a French-language university. We know that assimilation rates are between 60% and 70% in the central southwestern region of the province.
I'm here today to ask the federal government to show leadership, to take the bull by the horns and to take on the file. The federal government could then put pressure on the provincial government.