Yes, absolutely.
As we know, Canadian Heritage funds are used to award $3,000 scholarships to students from anglophone school boards' immersion programs so they can continue their education in French. When we talk about the education continuum with our partners in the 12 francophone school boards, they tell us they feel almost discriminated against by these scholarships. When $3,000 scholarships are awarded to students from anglophone boards for them to continue their education in French or for them to decide to switch to a program in French, no thought is being given to the big challenge facing francophone communities. As Mrs. Bourque said earlier, students are already deciding to leave francophone secondary schools, or even francophone elementary schools, to enter the English-language school system. What can be done to retain these students and encourage them to continue their education in French?
In my case, when I was in school, a scholarship was offered to study in French, and that was what helped me make the decision to study in French and English. The scholarship was a deciding factor in my decision. I see the benefits now that I have graduated. It can do a lot to help slow down the cumulative assimilation process and encourage the education continuum, starting with early childhood education and including kindergarten and elementary and secondary school, all the way to the post-secondary level. A scholarship to study in French is added value for encouraging students to continue along the continuum of education in French. I think this is a significant added value. It prevents or deters students from changing paths and switching to the anglophone school boards.