We have received money directly from Health Canada under the roadmap since 2003. It was the action plan at the time.
We have received $17 million a year for the past 10 years. That money is allocated among 11 colleges and universities to support some 100 programs in the field of health.
We have established 68 new programs since 2003. However, some of that number were already in existence. This funding has made it possible to maintain those programs.
You know as well as I do that student cohorts in minority communities are, in many instances, not as large as those in the anglophone institutions. Funding is required to maintain student cohorts, and the provinces sometimes impose certain quotas, which requires us to increase the cohorts.
Furthermore, we were able to equip laboratories with the funding from health Canada. Those who have had a chance to visit our colleges and universities recently, particularly in the health field, have seen simulation labs borrowed from aviation. This is very sophisticated and expensive equipment. As francophone institutions, we have a duty to be on the cutting edge of technology. We often have to be better than everyone else in order to attract a clientele. I know you all understand that aspect.