Official Languages committee  I would like to comment on what Ms. Bossé said. In the province of Nova Scotia, FANE brings the commitment of our associations and of the people in our communities to the table. They are proud to be francophone Acadians, and they have confidence that we will meet their needs. Ho

Official Languages committee  In difficult budgetary times, as is currently the case, cultural activities are always the first funds affected. However everyone really needs them. In our province, people are losing their French. That's the case of a lot of seniors, who nevertheless spoke French when they were

Official Languages committee  We think there should be increased collaboration. We are the mouthpiece of the community, and we do a very good job with all the member associations. There should be greater collaboration and better communication between the community and government. That would make it possible

Official Languages committee  An increase in the number of francophones in the provincial cultural, economic and political fields. In other words, take our place.

Official Languages committee  I could add that, in our province, we have an overall development plan for the Acadian community and our 29 member associations. Under the next Roadmap, we would like there to be a collaborative relationship with the government on how that funding will meet the needs of the provi

Official Languages committee  That program, Grandir en français, is being implemented in all the francophone schools of the CSAP.

Official Languages committee  We're having an enormous success with this project. We're not having as much success with our French-language schools because it takes a lot of time to establish those schools. Our school has been under renovation for 10 years now. We now have 203 students, but the school, once r

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  I believe the project is managed by the francophone school board, the CSAP, and it's entitled Grandir en français. The project targets children four years of age, before they enter school, and it's like a—

Official Languages committee  They are rights holders, individuals who have a right to start school in French. Francophone immigrants belong to those groups as well, like my granddaughter. In our area, there are a lot of exogamous families whose members don't speak French at home. When their children start t

Official Languages committee  You speak well. I wouldn't know—

Official Languages committee  I'd like to mention that community people, like me, in Nova Scotia, in Acadia, are prepared for the difficulties and are used to the challenges involved in working with our anglophone communities. However, we want better things for our children. The Roadmap has made major succes

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Jean. Our recommendations are: that there be another Roadmap that is at least of the same scope as the one we are discussing today to enable the full implementation of section 2 of the Official Languages Act; that the successful initiatives made possible by the Roadma

Official Languages committee  Ladies and gentlemen members, distinguished guests. First I want to thank you for inviting the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, FANE, to speak as part of this evaluation of the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality. I am here with our executive director, Jean Léger.