First of all, if we proceed with consideration on December 6, we obviously won't have time to hear testimony from the four ministers, unless they each have half an hour for their presentations. I think it's critical that we hear the ministers' testimony. I also would have liked to hear the comments of the Minister of Official Languages on the official languages health program.
There was an article in the Journal de Montréal on the weekend about how hard it is to get care in French at a hospital. We already knew that: there are always a host of examples of people who have had trouble being served in French. That's the case at many hospitals recognized under section 29.1 of the Charter of the French language, which provides status.
An important reminder to everyone that the situation is completely different for institutions designated or referred to under the Official Languages Act, which are asked to provide certain services in French where numbers warrant.
Section 29.1 confers a status which enables institutions to operate entirely in English with regard to signage, communications and even staff hiring. This enables recognized institutions to hire people who don't speak French.
This spreading of English throughout health services in Quebec has mainly been caused by the Official Language Act and the federal government, which, incredibly, funds organizations to promote English throughout Quebec.
Alliance Québec initially received $1 million—