The importance of the early childhood period for intellectual, emotional and identity development no doubt no longer needs to be demonstrated. As your committee is well aware, the early childhood period is even more fundamental for the francophone and Acadian minority communities. The Franco-Saskatchewanian community is facing one of the highest rates of assimilation in the country and linguistic exogamy is constantly growing. Also, the chronic underfunding of the CEF does not allow it to boost the number of places it offers for pre-kindergarten.
We are very pleased that the current federal government seems more receptive. We would like to point out that the 2017 Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care is a great initiative, but let's be realistic: it has a seven-year term, and the bilateral agreements for implementing it will expire three years after they are adopted. Still, taking into account the interests of our communities during the implementation of these instruments depends on a lenient political will of our government towards us, which, let's be frank, is rather rare. There is a big gap between the early childhood programs offered to the majority and those offered to the minority. This is unacceptable, and it contributes to the assimilation of the province. This is why intervention by the federal government is critical. It must ensure the promotion of French-language communities in Saskatchewan, and at least partially bridge the gap between our communities and the English-speaking majority in Saskatchewan.
The gaps identified on several occasions by minority francophone school boards and by this committee require structuring solutions that go beyond the adoption of another protocol, a roadmap or a multilateral framework. Providing protections for early childhood education in the Official Languages Act would be a permanent solution to these problems.
Your current study is the perfect opportunity to recommend legislative changes, which could then permanently remedy the problems of the CEF in the field of early childhood education.
The CEF thanks you for giving it the opportunity to present its concerns and solutions.
Thank you.