Official-language minority communities are a cornerstone of Canada’s identity and culture.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced investments of nearly $5 million to support official languages in Alberta.
Community organizations and the provincial government will benefit from this support, provided through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Official Languages Support Programs (see the attached backgrounder for more details). These programs enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities, in addition to promoting, spreading and preserving linguistic duality across the country.
The Government of Canada is investing close to $2.5 million in 2023–2024 through the various components of the Official Languages Support Programs.
For more details, read the press release
Ms. Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for the Northwest Territories, addressed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, in French to celebrate La Francophonie Ténoise. Here is an excerpt from her declaration:
Monsieur le Président, le mois de mars est le mois des Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, une célébration nationale de la langue française et de la culture francophone.
Cette année, le gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest s’est associé à ses partenaires francophones, le CDÉTNO, le Collège nordique et la Fédération franco-ténoise, pour organiser un concours et célébrer notre dynamique communauté francophone. Visitez le site Web du ministère de l’Éducation, de la Culture et de la Formation au début du mois de mars pour en savoir plus à ce sujet.
Monsieur le Président, si l’on compare l’offre de communications et de services en français du GTNO d’il y a dix ans à celle d’aujourd’hui, la différence est immense. Le GTNO dispose maintenant d’un Secrétariat aux affaires francophones bien établi et d’un réseau de coordonnateurs des services en français au sein de chaque ministère.
Read the complete declaration here
Students in the New Brunswick anglophone education sector will have access to new language-learning opportunities through a new centre of excellence.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has launched its sixth centre of excellence, this one focusing on language learning. The centre is one of eight commitments the government of New Brunswick made last July to improve the anglophone education sector.
“As the only officially bilingual province in Canada, it is especially important our students grow up with a strong grasp of both official languages,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan. “We are thankful to our partners and for the excitement everyone has shown in bringing this new centre to life.”
Access the press release here.
Learn more about the program here.
The provincial government of Prince Edward Island has added 21 new designated services under the French Language Services Act to give French-speaking Islanders better access to services in their language.
These services fall under the departments of Education and Early Years, Health and Wellness, and Transport and Infrastructure, as well as Health PEI, and are available through the Prince Edward Island Government website.
With the addition of these 21 services, a total of 40 services have been designated under the French Language Services Act since it came into effect in 2013.
To consult the complete release
Technology changes quickly and more people are using online services. That is why Alberta’s government is launching a free digital literacy program for people looking to develop basic digital literacy or improve existing skills.
The program is designed for Albertans with little to no experience using computers but incudes a range of topics helpful to anyone looking to boost their digital literacy skills. Each course can be completed in 30 minutes or less.
The Digital Literacy Program offers two streams, beginner and intermediate, in English and French.
To access the release details
To access the digital literacy program
Francophone immigration plays a crucial role in Canada’s economic growth and promotes the vitality of Francophone minority communities and meet labour needs across the country.
Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced in Caraquet, New Brunswick, a series of initiatives to support Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
Francophone Immigration Policy and its implementation plan
Francophone Immigration Support Program
The Province has developed a French-language policy that will guide government ministries in enhancing services to French-speaking residents.
The Government of Yukon has released its third strategic framework for French-language services. The 2023–25 roadmap will help guide the Yukon government’s actions and investments to keep current with the evolving priorities of the growing Yukon Francophone community.
The four priorities are:
- leveraging technology;
- keeping people safe;
- recruiting and supporting bilingual employees; and
- supporting a thriving Francophone community.
2023_Exploring-Canadas-Unmet-Labour-Demand-Bilingual-Workers-OLMCs (2)
This report uses online job postings data, a proxy for unmet labour demand, to estimate job vacancies in Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).
Premier Blaine Higgs has announced that Official languages Day will be celebrated every year in New Brunswick, on the second Thursday in September.
Nova Scotia will officially celebrate Acadian Heritage Month for the first time in August 2024, honouring more than 400 years of Acadian history, culture, language and traditions.
Read more: Press Release
Canada and Yukon he Governments announced joint funding to allow Les Essentielles to buy the building that houses their organization.
Read more:
Government of Canada Press Release
Government of Yukon Press Release
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced the appointment of Edith Dumont as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, announced that the Government of Canada is investing $240,000 to support a pan-territorial campaign targeting bilingual workers to fill job vacancies and build capacity across numerous sectors.
Minister Vandal announces investments in tourism initiatives promoting Francophone and Métis history and culture in Manitoba.
Health PEI Home Care Services are now available in French to better support PEI’s Francophone community in the Prince County area. The service officially began June 19, 2023 with funding support from Health Canada.
Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF)
Federal-provincial-territorial Meeting
______
INTERGOVERNMENTAL CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE GROWTH OF FRANCOPHONE AND ACADIAN COMMUNITIES
The Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) held its annual meeting on July 6 and 7 in Vancouver to discuss key issues for Francophone and Acadian communities. In the wake of announcements concerning the modernization of the Official Languages Act and the 2023–2028 Action Plan on Official Languages, the ministers pledged to continue their efforts to strengthen coordination of their governments’ investment in the Canadian Francophonie for the benefit of Francophone and Acadian communities.
“The Canadian Francophonie is comprised of diverse individuals who share the French language and Francophone cultures”, stated the Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs for the Government of British Columbia and Co-President of the MCCF. “Intergovernmental collaboration remains a strong foundational element of the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie and the meeting in Vancouver highlighted again the important contributions of the Canadian Francophonie to the social, economic, linguistic and cultural fabric of Canada.”
“I firmly believe the recently modernized Official Languages Act and the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 will give us the tools we need to create more learning opportunities, enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities, and address the decline of French in Canada”, said the Co-Chair of the MCCF, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “Strengthened collaboration will allow us to promote the Canadian Francophonie across the country and better support government services in sectors essential to the development of Francophone communities, including in the fields of culture, health, justice, employment, immigration, and education—from early childhood to the post-secondary level.”
The ministers discussed measures being developed to support Francophone immigration. The governments presented their progress on the issue and explored opportunities for future collaboration, to be guided by the following statement:
The MCCF is very pleased that the 4.4% target for Francophone immigration outside Quebec was reached in 2022. Francophone immigration contributes to the vitality of the Canadian Francophonie and Canada’s socio-economic growth, in addition to supporting the delivery of public services in French. The MCCF therefore hopes that Francophone immigration pathways will be maintained across the country. It also reaffirms the relevance of supporting ministers responsible for immigration to ensure they take into account the importance of welcoming newcomers who are proficient in French.
The ministers examined new data on the Francophone and bilingual workforce outside Quebec. The data, made available thanks to a partnership between the MCCF, Employment and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada, will help governments identify bilingual workforce needs. The ministers also discussed potential initiatives related to Francophone economic development, as well as ways to leverage the promotion of the Francophonie for that purpose in Canada and abroad.
The ministers—aware of the growing importance of French internationally—were delighted to welcome Patrick Van Gheel, Ambassador of Belgium and representative of Francophone ambassadors in Canada. Mr. Van Gheel talked about the desire of these countries to strengthen ties with Francophones in Canada.
As part of their activities aimed at promoting the Canadian Francophonie, the ministers released a second video in the series How Far Can French Take You? (Le français peut vous mener loin), a social media initiative designed to celebrate learning and using French. To reiterate the importance of including French in crisis communications and to follow up on a video it produced on the topic in 2021, the MCCF partnered with the Université de Moncton, which developed a training module called Bilingualism Can Save Lives. The module, which is intended primarily as a tool for communicators whose language of work is not French, is now available for everyone—individuals, institutions and organizations—on the MCCF’s website.
In response to the commitment made in Regina in 2022 to support the development of online government services in French, the ministers continued their reflection on future delivery methods arising from new technologies.
The Government of Nova Scotia will co-chair the next MCCF annual meeting, to be held in Halifax in August 2024.
The Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF), created in 1994, is an intergovernmental forum that is made up of the ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie. The MCCF works for an inclusive and dynamic Francophonie that contributes to and fully participates in the development of Canadian society. Visit the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie website at https://cmfc-mccf.ca/en/.
-30-
Tara Gostelow
Media Relations Director
Communications & Public Engagement (GCPE)
Government of British Columbia
250-893-7136
Sylvie Painchaud
Executive Director
Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie
Marianne Blondin
Press secretary
Office of the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Marianne.blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Media relations
Canadian Heritage
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
June 8, the provincial government released the PEI Francophone Immigration Strategic Action Plan 2023-2028 to attract French-speaking immigrants who will contribute to the prosperity of the province and enrich the diversity of Island communities.
Category-based selection will allow Canada to issue invitations to apply to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training or language ability.