Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Théberge, I am always pleased to see you because you represent an important Canadian institution. We are all proud of bilingualism, which is part of our identity.
The Official Languages Act is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Earlier, you mentioned that 2018 has been a horrible year for bilingualism. We can think of the Université de l’Ontario français, which was denied funding, the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner in Ontario, which lost its independence, and the election of three anti-French-Canadian MLAs in New Brunswick. We are living in troubling times.
I have visited Western Canada on a number of occasions. In Vancouver, there are even notes of optimism. In that city, the number of francophiles has increased because of the arrival of new francophones and people from Asia who want to learn Canada's languages. Just now, you seemed to be saying that there is a problem with immersion programs, but I don’t think that the problem is a lack of demand for them from the public.
What is your analysis of the events in Ontario and New Brunswick that show that bilingualism is not sailing full steam ahead? In Canada, bilingualism is part of our fundamental identity.