Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Recently, representatives from the minister's department met various organizations representing francophone and Acadian communities to confirm new cuts in federal subsidies and to try to make adjustments in the department's relations with these organizations.
However, the approach proposed by the department was judged to be unacceptable, and I would like to quote what was said by the spokesperson for the Coalition franco-ontarienne, in referring to the government's discussion paper: "We realized it failed to mention the issues we wanted to discuss. We want a comprehensive policy that respects the principles of the Charter".
Would the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who claims to defend the rights of francophones from the Atlantic to the Pacific, confirm that his discussion paper was rejected by the Coalition franco-ontarienne?