Official Languages committee  That's why we want the commissioner to have the authority to make orders and impose penalties. We need more teeth. We've seen in recent years that the current approach doesn't work. It doesn't compel people to act and recognize language rights. I also want to note that I'm here with Daniel Boucher, the executive director of SFM.

Official Languages committee  Yes, there are targets across Canada because no one's hitting them. That's why we want to highlight the work being done by Accueil francophone. From 2010 to 2019, more than 4,800 immigrants arriving in Manitoba were able to communicate in French. Despite our efforts, and although we have an initiative to attract them, we took in only 301 immigrants and 109 refugees in 2020‑2021.

Official Languages committee  Good afternoon. I would like to thank you for the invitation to appear before you today. I am currently on Treaty 1 land, homeland of the Métis nation. The Manitoban francophonie is spread over territory that is subject to several treaties and the ancestral lands of several indigenous peoples.