Official Languages committee  Indeed.

Official Languages committee  That's the finding of a report that has been detailed in depth. That's indeed the finding we made.

Official Languages committee  I think there are two parts to that problem. The first is not connected to the language issue. It is the rural exodus. That's happening across the country. Francophones are leaving the small municipalities in Manitoba to go to the cities. Anglophones are doing it as well. It's not just for linguistic reasons; it's a universal phenomenon that is not limited to Canada.

Official Languages committee  I'll give you two examples. In the context of the application of Part VII of the Act, local directors of federal institutions have shown innovation in very interesting ways. For example, Parks Canada made a very interesting offer to the Francophone community in the Jasper region.

Official Languages committee  The decision to cancel the program was made between the time of my appointment and the time I took up my duties. After I took up my duties, I wrote to the minister. I subsequently met him to ask him whether the suspension would in fact take place. The government did not accept my request.

Official Languages committee  I said in my last answer that the early childhood centres are an essential entry into the education system for minorities. In my travels, I met the president of a college where there was a day care centre that served three purposes: to care for the children of professors, to care for the children of students and to act as a training centre for the college's students who were taking courses to become child care workers themselves.

Official Languages committee  And I mentioned in my statement the importance of arts and culture. I could continue.

Official Languages committee  We have looked at the government's obligations under the amended act. Here I'm talking about the amendments that were passed by Parliament in 2005. Those amendments require that the government take positive measures. That involves a process that ensures that the government's actions respect the minorities.

Official Languages committee  It is important to recall that the Charter does not apply solely to the federal government. It is possible that it is highly respectful of the Charter and of language rights, but that the provincial governments make decisions that are inconsistent with the Charter. Let's take the example of the case funded by the Court Challenges Program involving parents who had taken immersion courses outside Quebec.

Official Languages committee  Thank you very much, madam. You've asked a good number of questions. I could take much more than the allotted time to answer them. First, I want to thank you for your congratulations. My predecessor, Dyane Adam, left me with a very strong team that has helped me enormously in understanding the issues.

Official Languages committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, members of Parliament, mesdames et messieurs, I am very pleased to meet with you today to discuss my very first annual report, which was tabled on May 15, and to present its highlights to you. Before I start, allow me to congratulate you as a committee for having taken the initiative of visiting official language minority communities and reporting on their vitality.

Justice committee  Yes.

Justice committee  I wanted to say I appreciated the questions I received. I hope this was a useful contribution to your deliberations.

Justice committee  We don't have information. I have no reports to suggest that it's numerous.

Justice committee  Again, what we're suggesting is that the discretion of the judge be maintained.