Finance committee  So we at the Association of Canadian Community Colleges are proposing that a postsecondary education transfer fund be established that is targeted for postsecondary education and handed over to the provinces. Right now, we receive a portion of the money because, traditionally, the...

Finance committee  The difficulties we encounter don't stem from the fact that we're not receiving our share of the money; they stem from the fact that there were cuts in 1992, 1993 and 1994. That's the difference.

Finance committee  That depends on what you mean by “funding for grade 12”. The system in Quebec is different. We have six years of primary school.

Finance committee  Yes, it's separate. Everything's different. We have five years of secondary school, two mandatory years of Cegep, then university. It's a completely different system, perhaps more similar to the European system, the LMD, the licence, master's and doctorate, which consists of three years of university.

Finance committee  It ends up being sixteen years anyway; it's just a different system.

Finance committee  It doesn't cost more money; it gives more accessibility.

Finance committee  Well, no problem. Call me. I'll go with you!

Finance committee  We want money whichever way it comes.

Finance committee  If it goes to a post-secondary transfer, targeted to post-secondary education, then we're confident it will come to us. Do you want to add to that?

Finance committee  Actually, there are two things. In our report, the report of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, we talk about 1992-93, but the Fédération des cégeps talks about 1994-95. That's why I said 1992-93 and 1994-95.

Finance committee  No. We're talking about the federal transfers to post-secondary education.

Finance committee  That means, I think, that we don't get direct money from the federal government. We don't have direct grants.

Finance committee  Thank you. I'm also the Director General of Collège Édouard-Montpetit, the largest Francophone cegep in Quebec. I'm here today with Ms. Nicole Rouillier, Director General of Cégep Marie-Victorin. Both of us are members of the board of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.