Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and good morning, everyone.
I shared some of my thoughts with you at our meeting last week. I would like to reiterate that the members of my party hope that this situation will be resolved by a formal apology from Mr. Brock in the House, in connection with the comment he made and his response in the House, which showed flagrant disrespect for francophones and the place of French in our Parliament and in our country.
I'm disappointed with this filibuster, which is delaying our study. This is a very important study that I was very pleased to support, because I think it really targets the crisis in French-language and early childhood education in our country. Personally, I'm experiencing this crisis, not as an educator, but as a parent. We heard from representatives of my children's school, as well as organizations and school boards across the country, that our French-language schools and child care centres need immediate assistance and a substantial partnership with the federal government.
The shortage of staff in the early childhood field and the shortage of French-language teachers in the French as a first language education system and in French immersion programs are extremely obvious, particularly in western Canada. The waiting lists are long; parents obviously want to send their children to French-language day care centres, immersion schools or even francophone schools, if they're entitled to them. In fact, we don't have enough teachers or staff to provide French-language education to our children and help us raise our children in French. Several witnesses told us about the impact of this shortage on our ability to educate the next generation in French. That contributes to the decline of French, which is now an obvious fact in Canada.
In my opinion, our study is essential. We had some serious witnesses who took the time to come here, who came out of their classrooms and set aside their very important work to give us their advice and express their hope that we'd do something to help and support them, of course, to support our children who want to learn French, and parents who want their children to learn French. There are also francophone communities that want us to attack the decline of French.
I want to tell you that a few days ago, I met with representatives of Canadian Parents for French, which is doing incredible work across the country. I personally benefited from their work. Our community and the families of immersion students owe them a great deal. They were prepared to come before the committee and make important recommendations, but unfortunately they were unable to do so because of this ongoing filibuster. Because of what's happening and because of this waste of time, we're not listening to them. I think it's troubling that the committee is sending a signal that it would rather waste its time filibustering than solving the challenges targeted by the study.
I would like to remind you that an anglophone member made a comment in the House that showed a lack of respect for a francophone member and minister, as well as for the use of French in the House. It's one of our official languages here on Parliament Hill. It's troubling that a real apology wasn't made in the House, especially since this wasn't the first time such a situation occurred. Of course, we all heard, on another occasion, what a Conservative member of Parliament said to a minister. These are not isolated cases. In my opinion, this clearly shows a lack of respect for the French language and francophones in this country.
However, I would add that, in this committee, a number of Conservative members, some of whom are anglophones in particular, have clearly demonstrated that they are concerned about protecting French. I don't think we're questioning that at all. That said, I think it's crucial for a committee dedicated to official languages to hold to account an MP who showed a lack of respect for French and the francophonie in the House.
I think it points to a systemic problem. Canadians who are interested in the francophonie are currently observing this willingness to accept apologies expressed through social media rather than real apologies made in the House. Not only as parliamentarians, but also as parliamentarians who are interested in these issues, we have an obligation to take official language challenges seriously. We need a real apology in the House and a clear message that French is accepted on Parliament Hill and that it's unacceptable to deny MPs the right to express themselves in French or English. We must let Canadians know and acknowledge that a mistake was made in the House and that it's necessary to get to work to truly protect French, which is in decline in our country.
I want you to know that I want this filibuster to end so that we can vote. Finally, because this is the second time a Conservative has made such a comment, I hope that the Conservative Party will work to defend French. Such situations give us reason to have doubts. Since I was a member of Parliament during Mr. Harper's reign, I saw the cuts to the CBC, the end of the court challenges program and the cuts to funding for francophone organizations. His government didn't support the francophonie as it should have. He did not exercise leadership in francophone immigration. Francophone Canadians, particularly here in western Canada, are concerned because the Conservative leader will do what he will do as Prime Minister if he is elected.
I think we should call the question. The committee should make it clear that it expects a formal apology from the member in the House. Canada's francophones and Canadians who are interested in protecting French deserve it. I hope we can hear the member's apology as soon as possible.