At this point, I still have the right to table it. So, thank you, Chair.
You know the process, Commissioner. We're going to interrupt questioning because I have a motion to table, which is as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee undertake a study on the continuum in education, from early childhood to post-secondary, in official language minority communities.
I'd like to take this opportunity to greet two organizations, the Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick, represented in the room by Ms. Arseneau Sluyter, and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, represented in the room by Mr. Fournier. It is at the request of these organizations that we wish to conduct this study.
That, in the context of this study, the committee : (a) Study access to early learning and child care services in the minority language in Canada, including the quality of child care services and their impact on the linguistic and social development of children; (b) Examine the funding, including through the Official Languages in Education Program, for elementary and secondary schools in the minority language in Canada; (c) Examine federal funding for post-secondary institutions serving official language minority communities in Canada; (d) Assess the federal government's capacity to gather data on the education continuum, including data on rights holders; (e) Evaluate the impact of the education continuum on the implementation of the right to education in the minority language enshrined in article 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That, in the context of this study, the committee invite, among others: i) The Minister of Official Languages and the Minister of Canadian Heritage; ii) The Commissioner of Official Languages; iii) Officials from the Department of Canadian Heritage; iv) The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes, the Commission nationale des parents francophones, the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones, the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne and the Quebec Community Groups Network; v) Representatives from advocacy organizations in each province and territory where French is the official minority language; vi) Representatives from school boards or provincial education associations in each province and territory where French is the minority language; vii) Representatives from the ministries of Education in each province and territory where French is the minority language; viii) Representatives from post-secondary institutions serving official language minorities in each province and territory; ix) Experts from all areas of the education continuum in the minority language. That the committee allocate a minimum of twelve meetings to this study; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request a comprehensive response from the government.
You will understand, Mr. Chair, that this study is important. It stems from a request from, I would say, a hundred or so organizations that defend official language minority communities. Of course, the focus is more on francophones, as the Commissioner mentioned earlier. In my opinion, it's important to ensure the continued presence of French-English bilingualism in Canada, and that means education. From early childhood, we need to give our young people access to the extraordinary French language, and then ensure that they can maintain this link throughout their educational path to post-secondary education.
I ask the committee to proceed with this study as soon as possible. Obviously, we will prioritize the Commissioner's request for a two-meeting study. However, I would like this notice of motion to be accepted by the entire committee.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.