Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to appear before you today.

The Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, or ACUFC, brings together the 22 francophone or bilingual post–secondary institutions located in eight Canadian provinces. Our mission is to increase access to French-language post–secondary education in francophone minority communities, and to represent the collective interest of our members with federal institutions.

I would like to use my time to present four main ideas to the committee. The brief we have submitted to the committee elaborates on those ideas.

First idea: Francophone communities and students get the short end of the stick when governments toss the ball back and fourth concerning the funding of post–secondary education. Today, I want to present our point of view on what the federal government can and must do to address funding issues directly.

Second idea: We feel that the government must think of other methods to provide federal support to post–secondary institutions. The primary vehicle the federal government has used to support post–secondary institutions in our communities is the official languages in education program, or OLEP. As you know, that program complements the funding provinces provide. The program contains many good aspects that must be retained. However, that program is over 50 years old, and it is time to check whether it still meets the needs of post–secondary institutions.

Third idea: We have no doubt that the federal government has the right to provide minority francophone and bilingual post–secondary institutions with direct support without undermining provincial jurisdiction in education. I will explain. Our institutions cater to francophone minorities in Canada. Their civic mission is different from that of institutions that cater to the majority. They must assume additional responsibilities and perform additional duties. The initiatives our post–secondary institutions must implement to fulfil that civic mission come directly under federal jurisdiction. I have three examples for you.

First example: Our post–secondary institutions must contribute in a special way to the vitality of francophone minorities. The federal government is the steward of that vitality, and it has an obligation to take action in that respect. That is a federal responsibility.

Second example: Our institutions must increase the rate of French and English bilingualism in the country. It is the federal government's objective to increase the rate of individual bilingualism, and it must find innovative ways to achieve that objective. That is another federal responsibility. Our institutions can help the government accomplish that goal.

Third example: Our institutions provide the necessary structures to welcome an international clientele. They establish partnerships with settlement agencies in the transition toward permanent residence. The federal government is in charge of francophone immigration, as it has set a target to meet. Once again, this is a federal responsibility.

Fourth idea: We are noting that political will is evolving more quickly than administrative vehicles, so the government must take action in that area. To that end, we ask you to make three recommendations in your report to the government.

First recommendation: That the government adopt regulations for applying part VII of the Official Languages Act.

Second recommendation: That the government adopt a public policy statement to support the post–secondary sector in a francophone minority context in its areas of jurisdiction.

Third recommendation: That the government develop a permanent program for supporting post–secondary institutions in a francophone minority context in order to take action in categories of need related to federal jurisdiction.

In closing, I will say that the government must take action, as it clearly states in its official languages reform document that communities cannot be strong unless institutions are also strong. We must avoid a weakening of francophone minority post–secondary institutions leading to a weakening of community vitality.

I would be pleased to answer your questions.