Official Languages committee  Yes, there are opportunities for both francophones and anglophones. Actually, in the west there are some really good opportunities and good jobs. The west is doing well in small and medium-sized businesses, and there are strong resource sectors, with lots going on. We've mentione

Official Languages committee  Yes, I'd say those are the major areas, absolutely.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  At WEDC, we respond to industry demand through our own programming. So if industry tells us there is a gap, we'll work with industry to see how we can work, so it's kind of push and pull. In terms of francophone communities, a good example of a project we did was with Universit

Official Languages committee  I think francophone companies in the west are very well positioned to take advantage of this agreement. Through our own programming, we support export activities, of course. A good example is in Manitoba. We have the only world trade centre that's a bilingual world trade centre.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Ms. Bateman. That is a very good question. We are working closely with the departments to ensure that our clients are not doubling up on the same jobs. That is very important. When we initiate or change programs, we make sure that we exchange information and that we c

Official Languages committee  We have a group in our department that meets and shares information on a daily basis.

Official Languages committee  My answer is that the future is bright. We are actually talking about what to do to prepare for the future. For WD, when we support our communities, we are also helping small and medium-sized businesses, including young people and francophone newcomers, to contribute to the econo

Official Languages committee  Yes. For instance, I am not from Manitoba. However, my children went to Université de Saint-Boniface, and my grandchildren are going to Les Tournesols daycare, a French-language institution. So I am an example; I live in a minority community.

Official Languages committee  It depends on the business and its situation. A business that receives enough support to prepare its business plan and to form partnerships in order to secure funding can make it just as easily as a business from another region.

Official Languages committee  Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you. I am pleased to appear before your committee today. My name is France Guimond. I am the Director General, Operations—Manitoba for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). As you know, WD is the regional development agency res

Official Languages committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair. The Centralia project received WD funding in 2010. That was the first time a forum like that was held in Manitoba. More than 4,000 international small businesses took part in it, and the results were very good. We finalized sales with a number of busines