Official Languages committee  No, I think that's accurate to say. In Atlantic Canada, we tend to work closely with our Atlantic partners: New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. We work collaboratively in that regard. I think we tend to be closer to Manitoba than some of the other provinces.

Official Languages committee  The other thing is that every day I have immigrants come to my office and those individuals are saying to me that they're having a tough time finding employment. So we have to focus our efforts on engaging employers so that more employers are open to hiring immigrants. That is where our focus is.

Official Languages committee  I think it's a very plausible argument and I appreciate that you brought it to my attention. I think it's well worth looking at, but I cannot make a commitment in this room.

Official Languages committee  The development of the strategy is not mine alone. It has gone through a detailed process. I'll certainly bring this back. It has not been finalized yet, though it is in its nearly complete stages. I will certainly bring this discussion to my minister. But I want to say something very important, and that is that immigration is new.

Official Languages committee  So we are building capacity.

Official Languages committee  I agree that we really do need more accurate information in order to do better planning. To set a target, you really need to know what is the reality here and what is achievable. So I totally agree and I think that it's very difficult when you're relying on statistics information only.

Official Languages committee  That's correct. It was the French-language Services Act, and we are very proud of that act. The Nova Scotia government has been working very hard to fulfill the terms of that act. We have a coordinating committee. Each department has a French-language services representative appointed to sit on that committee.

Official Languages committee  I think I tried to answer that question earlier, but your answer is quite a bit more eloquent and positive than mine. Nova Scotia is not a bilingual province. We do have the French-language Services Act, which ensures that all French-speaking individuals have access to services in French.

Official Languages committee  --if the resources are available to support it and the job opportunities are there as well.

Official Languages committee  I look forward to bringing you to Treasury Board with me as well.

Official Languages committee  Great. You're on.

Official Languages committee  Very noble--

Official Languages committee  No, there will not.

Official Languages committee  The strategy is not yet released, and I don't want to pre-empt our minister,who will soon be releasing that strategy.

Official Languages committee  Yes.