I've noticed that francophobia appears mainly in the English‑speaking media. Like all of you, I read the articles published. Some of the readers' comments are appallingly francophobic. I don't understand why English‑speaking society allows these types of comments.

I've been experiencing this for 50 years. Even at Queen's Park, I felt like an alien. I look like Colonel Sanders, the developer of the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain. However, I still felt like an alien. We keep hearing rude questions and comments.

What do the French want? You don't speak real French.

I've heard things from all parties, at all levels, that I couldn't repeat. They forgot about the francophone activist in the room. It's always the same thing, and it's still happening. It's as if, in English Canada, all phobias, except for francophobia, are absolutely terrible. Attacks against francophones are tolerated and supported. What I saw at Queen's Park really threw me. I thought that I would find support. However, I spent my time trying to explain the francophonie outside Quebec and the francophonie in Quebec, and how they're different and how they have their own characteristics. I realized that there are two kinds of blind people in the world. I have tremendous respect for the blind people with the white canes. Yet there are willfully blind people who don't want to see or accept that our needs are different.

As Mr. Godin said, French‑language educational institutions must be as attractive as English‑language institutions. If we were to list the programs available in French outside Quebec and in English outside Quebec, you would see quite a disparity. This discourages many francophones.

I'll go back to francophobia. I don't accept that it's tolerated today. No phobia should be tolerated, whether it's against francophones, Muslims or Black people. It must be strongly condemned.

Most people don't want to understand that our needs are different, so you'll need to help us make them understand. We're in catch‑up mode. Smaller universities such as Hearst need special assistance to launch many diverse and quality programs. When it comes time for young people to choose a university, they must think that it's worthwhile to study at a francophone university.

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