Official Languages committee  It is a much bigger problem. It is difficult to find a doctor who is francophone or bilingual. It can be very difficult when a francophone shows up at the emergency room with a sick child and there are no services in French. There is also a problem when it comes to mental health care.

Official Languages committee  The addition of a linguistic duality criterion to the Canada Health Act.

Official Languages committee  Yes, there is no doubt that things have changed since 2006. The networks have grown increasingly strong and more and more partners have rallied around them. We just finished an evaluation of the period from 2013 to 2018 and produced a report entitled “Destination Health 2018”. We surveyed nearly 200 people and conducted interviews.

Official Languages committee  Okay. The modernization of the Official Languages Act must therefore give the federal government a clear role. In other words, the government needs to take all of the measures necessary and promote official languages within its own administration. In closing, Health Canada depends on organizations such as the SSF and the CNFS to meet its obligations under the act.

Official Languages committee  Yes, no problem.

Official Languages committee  Thank you very much. Hello ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the chair of the board of directors for the Société Santé en français, Dr. Anne Leis, I thank you for the invitation to appear before your committee. Created in 2002, the Société Santé en français is made up of a secretariat and 16 provincial and territorial networks.