Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Absolutely, but I don't necessarily want to say what the federal government will decide to do. However, for a few years now, it has been involved in terms of cooperative development, in other words, new cooperatives and start-ups. Without federal government support, we will never

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Our recommendations are as follows. Establish a new business relationship between the Canadian cooperative movement and the federal government under the umbrella of Industry Canada, and create an organization responsible for all cooperative affairs. Create an interdepartmental co

Special Committee on Cooperatives committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. In this, the International Year of Cooperatives, we wish to start by thanking all the committee members for meeting with us this morning and for agreeing to undertake a comprehensive study of the cooperative formula this summer. We would like to express our

Official Languages committee  Thank you.

Official Languages committee  In fact, there are two national organizations. One is for the anglophone cooperatives, and it is located here in Ottawa. The other one, for the francophone cooperatives, is also located here in Ottawa. However, there are members everywhere, in all the provinces. We are establishe

Official Languages committee  What portfolio are you talking about?

Official Languages committee  We don't receive $30 million.

Official Languages committee  No, it hasn't been continued.

Official Languages committee  In fact, a few years ago, we received an amount, but it was for the north. It came from a very specific budget that had been set aside for northern development.

Official Languages committee  Yes, undeniably.

Official Languages committee  It was all in cooperation with a lot of people, including through steps made to approach the UN. For first time in its history, Canada has supported a theme year before it was introduced by the United Nations. So I would say that, in terms of partnerships in relations between the

Official Languages committee  Many of the activities will be in French, and many of the activities in Canada will also be in English. It must be understood that half of the participants in the cooperative movement are anglophone.

Official Languages committee  Yes. For us, they'll be bilingual. The activities in Quebec, for example, will be in French. The activities in Ottawa will be bilingual. The other activities in the other provinces where the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité is involved will be bilingual.

Official Languages committee  I mentioned the problem at the outset, but perhaps I can give you a few ideas. The little program we have with the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food represents approximately $3.75 million a year. That includes consulting services, cooperative development and research progr

Official Languages committee  In fact, if the next Roadmap is able to acknowledge cooperative economic development as an important player in the communities, that will enable the cooperative movement to position itself better and to provide considerable assistance in the case of requests that we receive from