Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here.
Mr. Demers, in your opening remarks, you spoke many times about Catholic schools. If I understand correctly, you represent seven out of 10 pupils in Ontario. I gather that the three other pupils attend public francophone schools, which are likewise funded.
The purpose of our study is to determine how we can improve the education continuum, starting with early childhood. You talked about day care for children between 18 months and four years old, while Mr. Foucher discussed the university sector.
If we want to look at schooling over the next 15, 20 or 30 years, the question we need to ask is the following: What can the federal government do now to prevent disruptions to service or quality in the education continuum?
We know that many francophone immigrants are being welcomed throughout Canada, and there's a big focus on immigration. In fact, the government has boasted about reaching the 4% francophone immigration target it set long ago.
I see the repercussions of potentially training teachers from abroad here in Canada, so they can fill the void in our schools and ease the labour shortage, like a chain. Where, though, can we currently expect this chain, or continuum, to break or be weakened?
Let's begin with you, Mr. Lévesque.