2024 – Federal-provincial-territorial Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia

News Releases
09/08/2024

Press Release – August 2024

 


Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie

Federal-provincial-territorial meeting

Grand retour en Acadie: 30 years of leadership in the Francophonie

On August 8 and 9, the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) held its annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, marking its 30th anniversary. As was the case in their first meeting in 1994, the ministers met just before the Congrès mondial acadien, which is taking place this year in southwest Nova Scotia.

The ministers remain committed to the development of government services in French and wish to intensify their work to promote the Canadian Francophonie. They agreed to examine ways to increase the visibility of French-language content on digital platforms and in the online environment.

Matters relating to the vitality of Francophone and Acadian minority communities, such as bilingual labour shortages, Francophone immigration, and the use of French in emergency situations, were also discussed.

“Sharing best practices and inspiring initiatives for French-language services enables members to continue a collaborative momentum to deliver government programs and services in French. Together, we continue to work to address the priorities of the Acadian and Francophone communities.”

—The Honourable Colton LeBlanc, Nova Scotia Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie and Co-Chair of the MCCF.

“I am convinced that the modernized Official Languages Act, which includes the Policy on Francophone Immigration, and the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 are opportunities to strengthen our ties and work together for the benefit of all French-speaking, Francophile and Franco-curious Canadians, particularly when it comes to accessing minority-language services across the country.”

—The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and MCCF Co-Chair

An update of the national portrait of unmet needs for a bilingual workforce was presented to the ministers, as part of a project initiated by the MCCF three years ago, in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada.

The ministers welcomed the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, the Honourable Anita Anand, to their meeting to discuss how her role has been strengthened as a result of the modernization of the Official Languages Act, and the opportunities for collaboration between governments, respecting their jurisdiction and recognizing the diversity of language regimes.

With respect to Francophone immigration, discussions with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Honourable Marc Miller, explored links between the MCCF’s objectives and those of the new federal policy on Francophone immigration. The ministers agreed that the MCCF’s collaboration on Francophone immigration will focus on ways to facilitate the retention of newcomers within the Canadian Francophonie.

The ministers also reiterated the importance of French-language communication in times of crisis and will continue to work with their colleagues responsible for emergency services.

A new video from the series entitled How Far Can French Take You? Le français peut vous mener loin, was premiered at the meeting. This initiative is designed to celebrate learning and using French in Canada.

At the close of the meeting, the co-chairs invited ministers to the opening of the MCCF’s Agora on the Francophone Economy. The event brings together partners from private, academic, associative and government sectors, and aims to identify avenues to explore to better support the Francophonie’s contribution to Canada’s prosperity.

The government of the Northwest Territories will co-chair the next annual MCCF meeting, to be held in Yellowknife in 2025.

The Ministers’ Council on 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 dynamic Francophonie that contributes to and fully participates in the development of Canadian society. Visit the Ministers’ Council on Canadian Francophonie website: https://cmfc-mccf.ca/en/

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Information:

Ama Lorenz
Communications Director
Government of Nova Scotia
Ama.Lorenz@novascotia.ca
902-943-4978

 

Mathis Denis

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
Mathis.denis@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
media@pch.gc.ca
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155

Virginie Dallaire
Coordinator, Communications and Events
Ministers’ Council on Canadian Francophonie
Communication@cmfc-mccf.ca
587-713-4744