Official Languages committee  I would like to come back to the example of Destination Manitoba that I talked about earlier. One of our members, in Manitoba, wanted to know what forum produced the best result. I think it was in connection with a partnership with the province that he decided to go to Côte d'Ivoire.

Official Languages committee  We go, but this year we decided to participate at our own expense. The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne received funding to send a delegation. It is a really strategic issue for our members. They want us to be there anyway. So we will be there.

Official Languages committee  Not since 2005, but I could send the answer to the committee in writing. In general terms, however, our base funding, which we receive from Employment and Social Development Canada, is in the neighbourhood of $2 million per year. We can calculate the number of years, but that is our base funding.

Official Languages committee  From memory, no. However, I was present at the National Summit on Francophone Minority Economies. When the white paper was published, I was not part of RDEE Canada, but I recall the discussions very clearly. In fact, the people at the mic said that to governments, it was as if economic development had no language, no matter what level of government or what party it was.

Official Languages committee  I do not have the figure in my head, but what was particularly wanted was to establish a kind of consistency or coordination relating to economic development. Obviously, it would mean millions of dollars, but I am not able to tell you how much, today. However, what I felt from the people who were at the mic, and correct me if I am wrong, Ms.

Official Languages committee  I imagine that the question is meant for me. The 12% target does seem to be fairly widely recognized in the ecosystem of organizations in the Francophonie. In our organization, that is also the one we use. We want to be ambitious, we want to set ambitious targets, but I think the important thing is for the government to take steps in the right direction.

Official Languages committee  Yes, very certainly. Investments have already been made and a program has been put in place. RDEE Canada has played a role that has produced results: childcare spaces have been created, people have created their small businesses to set up childcare centres, and children have been able to spend 40 hours a week in a centre where French, rather than English, is spoken.

Official Languages committee  What the members of my organization tell me is that there are not enough properties available for creating spaces. If there were adjustments to make in the existing programs, it would be to invest in that, essentially.

Official Languages committee  This was raised with me in all the provinces I have visited to date. We have to understand that repreneurship is different from selling a business. It is not just about selling a business and agreeing on a price. In the case of repreneurship, the seller wants the culture of their business to be retained—its history and language of operation, in this case—while the buyer wants a business that already exists, in order to keep a business that is already a symbol in its community going.

Official Languages committee  Certainly we would like it to be, but it is always a question of funding.

Official Languages committee  Apart from Ontario and New Brunswick, life happens in English in several provinces. We must not spin tales for ourselves. I think the bilingual candidate will be more attractive. That being said, there is still a degree of suspicion. Take the example of Saskatchewan. When you leave...

Official Languages committee  I am going to let my colleague answer that question, because he is our immigration expert on the board.

Official Languages committee  Right, I'm sorry. Our members have their own relationships with their regional development agencies, based on where they are located in the country. In terms of ourselves, at a higher level, we may also have discussions with those agencies, but it is not something that happens regularly.

Official Languages committee  Three come quickly to mind. If needed, my colleague will add to my answer. For example, our Ontario member, the Société économique de l'Ontario, has established a virtual incubator for entrepreneurs. When the enterprise is ready to fly on its own, it does so. Our member created the program, which has had considerable success.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely. That is somewhat why we...