Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for the question, Ms. Ashton, and thank you again for all the work you have done on Bill C‑13. From our point of view, it's not so much a question of consulting the provinces as it is of consulting those best placed to talk about the cultural specificity of francophone communities and markets.

Canadian Heritage committee  As all three of us mentioned, there is a CRTC‑OLMC discussion group, which holds meetings about upcoming public hearings. At these meetings, it is sometimes recommended that such and such an organization be included in the consultation process. However, as I am not the member of this discussion group, I will ask Mr.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for the question. Indeed, as its representatives say, the CRTC really likes to hold major consultations or public hearings. What would be important for us would be to have more individual discussions with the CRTC. I can let my colleague Mr. Quinty, the director of communications for the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, tell you more, because he has had a lot more experience with the CRTC on this issue.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think that the comments in Mr. Quinty's response are quite general, complete and specific on this issue.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, that's what we'd like to see. The discussion group is still a discussion group. Since October 2023, community organizations have very much wanted to see this discussion group become a full‑fledged advisory committee.

Canadian Heritage committee  Good evening, Madam Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting us and our colleague from the Fédération culturelle canadienne‑française, the FCCF, to testify before you today. My name is Liane Roy, and I'm accompanied by our director of communications, Serge Quinty, who is attending the meeting in person and who will be able to answer your questions.

Canadian Heritage committee  As you know, our role at the FCFA is really to represent the 2.8 million French-speaking Canadians who live outside Quebec. For those people, the court challenges program is crucially important to the health and survival of their community. That's really what I want to say today.

Canadian Heritage committee  We're always in favour of transparency regarding national programs. In its current form, the court challenges program is required to prepare annual reports and is held to quite a high degree of accountability. Given those factors, I think enough information is being published or made public regarding the program for the moment.

Canadian Heritage committee  To save the committee's time today, I'll respond that I entirely agree with what Mr. Jensen said in response to a similar question earlier. I think the situation would be devastating for francophone communities. As you know, the francophonie is now a rich and varied space that embraces individuals of various origins and orientations.

Canadian Heritage committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I want to thank you for inviting us to appear before you today together with our colleagues from the FAJEF. The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA, is the national voice of 2.8 million French-speaking Canadians living in minority communities in 9 provinces and 3 territories.

Official Languages committee  It could be similar, but it is different. It would be very focused on the post-secondary sector and might truly influence what goes on there. Collaboration is important because it would truly help the different bodies become aware of the challenges at the post-secondary institutions.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question, Mr. Godin. I think that is why we worked so hard on modernizing this legislation. This is the first time that legislation mentions the continuum of education, from early childhood to post-secondary education, from everything having to do with formal training, non-formal and informal, as well as everything to do with consultation, which is found in Part VII of the Official Languages Act.

Official Languages committee  I apologize.

Official Languages committee  Of course, the regulations will clarify several aspects of the legislation. We still do not have all the wording of the regulations, but we are working hard with the various stakeholders, including Canadian Heritage and Treasury Board, to ensure that it will be used as a solid foundation for enforcing the legislation.

Official Languages committee  Yes, absolutely. The community component is the reason we wanted to participate in the national dialogue on post-secondary education in a francophone minority context. Post-secondary institutions are places with a student social life, but they are also important for the neighbouring communities.