Official Languages committee  Our organizations are going to become threatened species because, unfortunately, funding will continue. The overall funding was increased. As for official languages in Ontario, the amount was increased by 11% last year, but the number of francophones in Ontario also increased, as did the number of organizations for meeting the needs of the communities.

Official Languages committee  Let's look at TFO, for example—

Official Languages committee  TFO will become an independent network in January.

Official Languages committee  TFO has in fact just begun to produce téléromans with Franco-Ontarian producers and actors, and these are being shot in Franco-Ontarian settings. Some are being produced in Prescott-Russell and in Sudbury.

Official Languages committee  Yes indeed. Now TFO broadcasts all around the country. Its airwaves are received in several western provinces and even in some parts of Quebec.

Official Languages committee  These are definitely cuts that had an impact on official language minority communities. For example, some organizations have responsibilities with respect to the status of women. The Court Challenges Program was used frequently. In Ontario, the program was used to oppose the provincial government, and to move a number of our causes forward, whether they had to do with French-language school boards, French-language schools, or Montfort Hospital.

Official Languages committee  With respect to the RDÉE and economic development, the grants still appear to be there, because I feel there has been a renewal in Ontario so that the services can continue. The alliance of health networks is perhaps less stable at this time because the funding will stop at the end of March.

Official Languages committee  The answer is yes, definitely. The Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs was also the Minister of Culture. There is therefore recognition that it exists. As for grants, there are not that many in Ontario. Grants are not paid out to various organizations. That is something we would like to undertake to ensure that the Ontario government is made accountable to francophones.

Official Languages committee  Let's take the example of health. A great deal of work was done by the Société Santé en français. In Ontario, four organizations that are part of the Alliance des réseaux ontariens des services de santé en français did unbelievable work thanks to funding from the federal government.

Official Languages committee  You are speaking of the former provincial ACFO.

Official Languages committee  The regional ACFOs have a local mandate: they address the needs of their own communities. The purpose of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario is not to replace the local organizations. For example, the work of the Centre culturel de Cornwall has nothing to do with us. The priorities that we set are to increase funding for all existing organizations and to increase French-language services provided by the provincial government.

Official Languages committee  —who are members.

Official Languages committee  The AFO set its priorities for an 18-month period, which is the end of my term in 2008. Collaboration and coordination between sectors, regions and racial minorities are a priority. It is a very important dimension. The groups are not very familiar with their role, and we need to establish what I like to call a parliament.

Official Languages committee  Yes, I would like to make a comment strictly about—

Official Languages committee  Ask me a question about the networks.