The results presented by Statistics Canada should sound the alarm and make us realize how important it is to act now on various fronts.
We have talked for a long time about francophone immigration and the importance of welcoming immigrants to francophone regions outside Quebec. Before immigrants leave their country, they need to know that there are francophone communities here. They must be welcomed in French when they arrive in these communities and have access to infrastructure to help them, including schools and community centres. Immigration is not just one factor among many; it is a key factor.
Early childhood is another issue. We have talked about early childhood development. We must support early childhood development and minority language education. Education is a continuum from early childhood to university.
There are also programs that support bilingualism among the majority, namely, French as a second language and immersion programs. There are many ways to support bilingualism.
We hope that the official languages action plan will provide support in a number of these areas in order to reverse the trends.