Governments of Canada and Manitoba extend the Canada-Manitoba General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages to the year 2004-2005
Winnipeg, October 28, 2004 - Member of Parliament Raymond Simard (Saint-Boniface), on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, together with Manitoba's Minister responsible for French Language Services Gregory Selinger, today announced the extension of the Canada-Manitoba General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages to 2004-2005. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are contributing an equal share to the extension of the General Agreement, an initiative that will receive $1.8 million."To ensure its long-term vitality, Manitoba's Francophone community must have access to services in its own language," said Mr. Simard. "The extension of this general agreement will ensure that activities currently underway will continue. It will also enable stakeholders to launch new projects that will continue to improve the quality of the French-language services offered in our province."
"I am very pleased with the ongoing partnership between the governments of Canada and Manitoba that is doing so much to help the Francophone community in Manitoba live, work and grow in French," added Minister Frulla. "We've made great strides to improve the quality of French-language services here, and we have a duty to maintain them over the long term, as we do in every part of the country."
The Canada-Manitoba General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages is intended to assist the province in meeting its obligations under the Manitoba Act, 1870, as well as in applying the provincial French Language Services Policy. The Agreement has other objectives, including assisting in the delivery of French-language health and social services, helping municipal organizations, and fostering the growth and development of Manitoba's Francophone community.
"The Canada-Manitoba General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages has played an integral part in enhancing the delivery of French language services in this province," said Minister Selinger. "We have achieved many successes in the area of French language services and we are pleased that these initiatives will continue to move forward."
The development of Bilingual Services Centres and a pilot project to launch two early childhood centres in Manitoba will be part of the extension of the Canada-Manitoba General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages to 2004-2005.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is providing financial assistance through its Development of Official-Language Communities Program.
The funding announced today was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
Information:
Donald Boulanger
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage and minister responsible
Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Colin Lemoine
Cabinet Communications
(204) 945-1494
clemoine@leg.gov.mb.ca
[ Media Room ]
