Official Languages committee  In fact, the National Research Council of Canada, a federal agency that is one of the partners, has a team that is housed in the university's building. The NRC researchers collaborate with those of the university. There they do work to develop new technologies to expedite and improve translation and develop techniques for language training and second-language training.

Official Languages committee  I'll explain that to you simply. The university owns a building that is financed jointly by the federal and provincial governments. That building houses a research centre which is a non-profit organization and which receives funding in cash and in kind from the federal government, the provincial government and the City of Gatineau, in addition to co-funding from the university.

Official Languages committee  Indeed, this $3 billion market for Canada alone is doubling every five to seven years. The global market is even bigger. So we're talking about extremely significant potential economic development for Canada in order to position itself. Currently, Canada clearly has a serious shortage of translators and terminologists to meet its needs.

Official Languages committee  Since the universities are involved, would you allow me to speak, Mr. Chairman? When I left my native city, Quebec City, at the age of 21, I was a unilingual Francophone. I chose to do my studies at a unilingual Anglophone university. So, from the outset, I had to meet the challenge, for an adult, of learning English in a unilingual environment, but that was also an advantage.

Official Languages committee  I speak two fairly well.

Official Languages committee  All right. Perhaps I can provide a quick snapshot of the Language Technologies Research Centre. It's a non-profit organization that has three founding partners: two federal agencies, including the NRC and the Université du Québec en Outaouais. It's an organization whose annual budget is currently approximately $0.5 million a year, including all expenses.

Official Languages committee  No, I wasn't approached.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members, thank you for this opportunity to address you today. As rector of the university, I would like to discuss the work accomplished in the context of the action plan that will terminate in March of this year, and especially the planning for the new phase that is beginning.