Campus Saint-Jean has been an integral part of Alberta and the Franco-Albertan community since it was founded in Edmonton by oblate missionaries. It is the only post-secondary francophone institution west of Winnipeg. It has trained generations of Franco-Albertans and generations of anglophones who wanted to become truly bilingual. Its campus is located in the heart of Edmonton’s historic francophone neighbourhoods and enables students to become completely immersed in the French language and culture.

Campus Saint-Jean is also the alma mater of our dear colleague Senator Chantal Petitclerc. Today, Campus Saint-Jean needs $20 million for building renovations. The university is therefore proposing to sell the land the campus is on and reinvest the money in French-language education on the main campus.

However, if this land is sold, it would be a devastating blow to Edmonton’s dynamic francophone neighbourhood and the francophone cause in Canada. The amount of federal funding given to Campus Saint-Jean has remained unchanged since 2003. However, since then, the number of Albertans who reported speaking French as their mother tongue increased to 31%. Today, Alberta has the third biggest francophone population in Canada after Quebec and Ontario.

We need to find a way to save this unique and extraordinary institution. I would like the University of Alberta, the Government of Alberta, the federal government and Franco-Albertan communities to work together as a team to find a solution. I also hope that we will be able to continue to talk in the Senate about these very important issues concerning the future of French-language post-secondary institutions outside Quebec that protect the rights of francophones across Canada. Thank you, hiy hiy.