Official Languages committee  We have not produced any official documents. People submit ideas for projects to us. They send us documents describing their ideas and their activities. The department has no formal program yet. The budget has not been determined yet. The minister will decide that.

Official Languages committee  I cannot speak for the minister or for my colleague who is responsible for official languages in the department. The government has committed itself to the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality. The department's reports and plans demonstrate that. As for the programs we deliver

Official Languages committee  As I mentioned, we are still in the preliminary planning stages. The department itself already has a selection of programs, some of which target national organizations. Others target the provincial level more and still others target the community level. If the decision is made t

Official Languages committee  That is a theme that has come out of the 150th anniversary committee consultations. The study deals with exchanges, among other things. Our department has a youth exchange program to bring together young people from all over the country. Will there be a funding envelope set aside

Official Languages committee  Very likely. But we do not have a plan yet. The plan is being developed. However, it is absolutely essential to include what you say. We want to involve new Canadians. Some have already been here for several generations or more. We also want to reach young people. We see that in

Official Languages committee  As we mentioned earlier, there are a number of stories that have to do with the country's historical figures. The stories are important. The voices are important and communities are going to showcase them. That is where the ideas come from and people have the right to celebrate t

Official Languages committee  It wouldn't be in my purview to comment. I'm not aware of initiatives to date of that nature. Plans have not been finalized in terms of programming in an area related to the 150th, so I can't comment.

Official Languages committee  Is everything under consideration? Are suggestions and ideas such as these important to hear? Absolutely. I know, for example, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the FCM, is involved with the CBC and others in terms of consultation. So I think the level of awaren

Official Languages committee  Definitely. It's one of Monsieur Racine's ongoing partners, so I'll let him speak to that.

Official Languages committee  I do believe our minister has been clear on the desire for stories and for grassroots involvement. Will there be broad thematics that will develop? Most likely. The focus should be, and the focus as stated by the minister is, to unite Canadians and to put forward our common val

Official Languages committee  Those are wonderful anecdotes of those communities. I think there are many ways to highlight those communities and the richness they bring. Fortunately, and that's without government intervention, of course, we will have programming to support local groups as we do through our

Official Languages committee  You seem to be demonstrating good leadership in your community by rallying everyone together.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your suggestion. As I said already, we are going to get involved with anyone we have agreements with. It is going to be very clear.

Official Languages committee  It was interesting to hear the discussion between Mr. Dion and the chair on Monsieur Borden and then Monsieur LaFontaine and Mr. Brown. I think Quebec and francophones across the country have a very rich history and influence in the building of our nation. What we've learned thr

Official Languages committee  Not yet.