Edmonton... Francophone students in the communities of Edmonton, Calgary, Wainwright, Peace River, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Cochrane will benefit from the Government of Alberta's additional investment of $7.3 million in Francophone infrastructure projects.

"The allocation of these dollars will help address some of the most pressing infrastructure needs identified by the Francophone school authorities, especially in light of ever-increasing Francophone student enrollments across the province," said Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky. "This investment, along with yesterday's announcement of $34 million for 130 new modular classrooms, completes the allocation of the $303.3 million for school capital projects I announced in August."

The distribution of the $7.3 million for Francophone projects includes:

• Greater Southern Public Francophone Education Region
• $2.1 million for École La Vérendrye in Lethbridge (major modernization)
• $1.4 million for a K-6 starter school in northeast Calgary
• $550,000 for Jerry Potts School in northwest Calgary (start-up and lease support)
• Greater Southern Separate Catholic Francophone Education Region
• $1.1 million for École Notre-Dame des Vallées (steel-framed modular classrooms) and planning for a facility solution in Cochrane
• $500,000 for École Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys in southwest Calgary (2 steel-framed modular classrooms)
• Greater North Central Francophone Education Region
• $1 million for École publique Gabrielle-Roy in Edmonton (major modernization)
• $200,000 for École St-Christophe in Wainwright (portable classrooms)
• Northwest Francophone Education Region
• $350,000 for École Quatre-Vents in Peace River (major modernization)
• $100,000 for École Nouvelle-Frontière in Grande Prairie (major modernization)

This funding announcement demonstrates the Government of Alberta's continued commitment toward Francophone authorities under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Last year, as part of his announcement of $207 million for school infrastructure projects, Minister Zwozdesky announced $5.5 million for Francophone infrastructure projects.

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Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal (IMR) funding increases to Francophone authorities:

• East Central Francophone Education Region
• $56,189 in 2005/06 to $215,002 in 2006/07 (increase of $158,813)
• Greater Southern Public Francophone Education Region
• $46,979 in 2005/06 to $279,684 in 2006/07 (increase of $232,705)
• Greater Southern Separate Catholic Francophone Education Region
• $52,826 in 2005/06 to $206,028 in 2006/07 (increase of $153,202)
• Greater North Central Francophone Education Region
• $166,900 in 2005/06 to $753,905 in 2006/07 (increase of $587,005)
• Northwest Francophone Education Region
• $31,371 in 2005/06 to $130,032 (increase of $98,661)

Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal funding can be used for priority health and safety projects such as water and sewer lines, immediate maintenance needs such as roofs, window replacement and weeping tiles, and general upgrading, including flooring, ceiling and locker installation and replacement.

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