The Government of Canada Supports the Creation of a Business Mentoring and Development Centre for Manitoba's Bilingual Municipalities
ST. BONIFACE, April 26, 2000 -- The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps and on behalf of the Minister of Human Resources Canada, Jane Stewart, the Secretary of State for Francophonie and Western Economic Diversification Canada today announced a total funding of $900,000 to the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) in establishing its Réseau d'incubation et de mentorat. This pilot project, the first of its kind in Canada, will result in the foundation of a business mentoring and development centre in St. Boniface (Manitoba). The centre will encourage the growth of francophone entrepreneurship in Manitoba's bilingual municipalities. Funding for this program will help cover the cost of establishing, staffing and providing programming for a head office for the centre d'incubation in St. Boniface and a larger base of entrepreneurial resources for rural bilingual municipalities.Financial support from Canadian Heritage, totalling $450,000, is being provided under its Official Languages Support Program, over two years: $112,500 in 1999-2000 and $337,500 in 2000-2001. The remaining $450,000 will be provided, over two years, from the Comité national de développement des ressources humaines de la francophonie (CNDRHF), an initiative of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
« I am very proud to support this new initiative, which will contribute so much to the economic diversity and vibrancy of Manitoba's Francophone community, stated Minister Copps. This project is a wonderful example of how Canadians can work together to achieve growth and to nurture excellence. »
« This new initiative is part of the Governement of Canada's investment in the potential of Canadians, said the Honourable Ron Duhamel. It will encourage francophone entrepreneurs, from rural and urban areas, to integrate more easily into the business world, and to profit from recent shifts in the economy. »
The new Francophone entrepreneurs from Manitoba will now be able to rely on funding structure of on the needs of their communities thanks to the creation of a new network
for creating businesses and mentoring being put in place by the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM).
Michel Loiselle
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-3915
WD toll-free number:
1-888-338-9378
Catherine Gagnaire
Communications Assistant
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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