Mr. Speaker, as a francophone from outside Quebec, I would like to express the disappointment and anxiety I felt when I heard the comments made by a former Franco-Ontarian, who is now the hon. member for Québec-Est.
Strange how all of a sudden the Bloc Quebecois seems concerned about francophones outside Quebec. It recognizes us only as an excuse to criticize the government.
Franco-Manitobans have fought long and hard for the right to speak and live in French. We now have our own school board, the largest French-language university and community college in western Canada, a newspaper, radio and television stations, theatre and music in French, and much more.
I applaud the tenacity and dedication of all francophone communities outside Quebec, which are doing all they can to survive and being quite successful despite the pessimistic and destructive attitudes of a few.