Official Languages committee  That's a good question. Albert Einstein said that the quintessence of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and thinking that it will produce different results. Clearly, neither the content of the Official Languages Act nor what is proposed in this reform will stop the decline of French in Quebec or the rest of Canada.

Official Languages committee  They are unilaterally federally funded, without any involvement from the Quebec government, even though the government of Quebec should be responsible for administering language matters in Quebec.

Official Languages committee  It provides absolutely no funding. No funding is available for French language advocacy groups. Conversely, the federal government seems to be quite generous in funding organizations that represent the interests of the English-speaking community. In the past few months, the Townshippers' Association, which I respect, and the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network received a whopping $1.5 million in funding, even though the English-speaking community in the Eastern Townships is thriving.

Official Languages committee  The minister, Ms. Petitpas Taylor, organized two meetings in Quebec on the reform of the Official Languages Act. I wasn't at the first meeting, but I was at the second. I can tell you that the Société nationale de l'Estrie and Droits collectifs Québec were the only French language organizations the minister had invited.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu, for voicing a position that certainly doesn't reflect the common view in the House of Commons. It is, nevertheless, a position that needs to be heard. The silence of your fellow members sometimes makes me think that ours is not a welcome voice here, in Parliament.

Official Languages committee  Good morning, esteemed members of the honourable institution of the House of Commons. I am obviously very pleased to have the opportunity to help you with your study. That said, my political convictions and my experience as a champion of the French language lead me to believe, in light of the past, that the federal state will never be able to adopt a legislative framework that will allow the francophone nation of America, our nation, to flourish and allow French not only to survive and be promoted, but also to expand and prosper.