Collaboration Accord Signed by Department of Canadian Heritage and Francophone and Acadian Community Sector of Newfoundland and Labrador
ST. JOHN'S, November 4, 2005 -- Senator Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, and Jean-Guy Dionne, President of the Federation of Francophones of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the signing of a Collaboration Accord between Canadian Heritage and the Francophone Community Sector of Newfoundland and Labrador for the period from 2005-2006 to 2008-2009.The financial commitment for Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone community in 2005-2006 will be $1,039,000 -- up 11 percent from the previous funding.
"I am pleased to announce the renewal of this agreement between the Government of Canada and the Francophone and Acadian community of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Senator Losier-Cool. "This agreement will ensure greater stability for Acadian and Francophone organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador and enable them to contribute even more to the growth of their community."
"I am pleased that we are continuing a long tradition of co-operation between the Government of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone community sector," added Minister Frulla. "In signing this new agreement, we are reaffirming our shared commitment to the vitality of Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone community."
"I am pleased to have reached the end of the negotiation process and, on behalf of the Francophone and Acadian Community of Newfoundland and Labrador, I am ready to sign the Accord," said Mr. Dionne.
The Accord provides a framework for the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Francophone Community Sector of Newfoundland and Labrador, represented by the Federation of Francophones of Newfoundland and Labrador, to better serve Francophones and Acadians in this province.
Under the Accord, the Federation and the Department are committed to working together to achieve results set out in the overall Development Plan:
- to implement an efficient, all-encompassing, and modern communication infrastructure
- to strengthen the education system for members of the Francophone and Acadian community in their language, in their communities
- to provide quality health services for members of the Francophone and Acadian community in their language, in their communities
- to strengthen community economic development
- to improve training programs and services to increase young people's skills
- to help the province's Francophone artists develop by celebrating and promoting Franco-Newfoundlander and -Labradorian arts and culture and by providing greater access to artistic and cultural events that respond to the needs and expectations of the members of the Francophone and Acadian community, depending on their region
This past spring, the Government of Canada announced an increase of the regular financial envelope allotted to Acadian and Francophone community organizations for 2005-2006. The funding provided to Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone community has been increased from $936,000 to $1,039,000. By proposing strategic projects, the community will also have access to the Atlantic regional envelope, which now amounts to $451,520.
More information on this Accord and on Accords between the Department of Canadian Heritage and communities across Canada can be found in the backgrounder attached to this news release at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.
Funding announced today was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Ali Chiasson
Director general Federation of Francophones of Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 722-0627
Jean-Guy Beaupré
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
BACKGROUNDER
Collaboration with Francophone Community Organizations
The Community Life component of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program involves creating, improving, and delivering activities and services geared to official-language minority communities to ensure their long-term development.
Collaboration Accords with the Canadian community sector are agreements-in-principle that define how the Department of Canadian Heritage and official-language minority community organizations of a particular province or territory will work together. The Department of Canadian Heritage is committed to supporting the activities of the relevant community organization (representation, awareness, networking, etc.) and to helping these communities maintain or establish the infrastructure necessary to establish public spaces where they use their own language (such as community centres, community radio stations, and theatres).
The Canada-Community Agreements expired on March 31, 2004. In 2004-2005, the Department of Canadian Heritage maintained the funding allocated to each community.
The audits and evaluations conducted on this component recommended increased involvement by Canadian Heritage in terms of delivery and reporting, as well as in clarifying expected outcomes.
The baseline budget for this component of the program is distributed as follows:
Collaboration Accords with communities $27.5 million
Strategic Fund $ 4.3 million
Total $31.8 million
Renewal of Co-operation with the Communities
The Department of Canadian Heritage intends to renew its co-operation with official-language minority communities by signing Collaboration Accords in 2005-2006, which provides for an 11-percent increase for the current year. The communities could also benefit from a special $2-million fund during this year, raising the total by as much as 19 percent. Beginning in 2006-2007, Canadian Heritage intends to match these multi-annual funding agreements with all of the official-language communities across the country.
The Collaboration Accord Between the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone Community Sector in Newfoundland and Labrador
The Government of Canada and the Acadian and Francophone community sector in Newfoundland and Labrador have a long tradition of co-operation with respect to enhancing the well-being of Francophones living in Newfoundland and Labrador. They share a commitment to helping build vibrant communities.
Ten years of co-operation, structured by a Canada-Community Agreement, has advanced the relationship between the Department and the Acadian and Francophone community sector toward the common objective of having the community play a greater role in the sector's development. This Accord continues the work begun and endeavours to improve the relationship between these two partners, while respecting their respective responsibilities.
The Acadian and Francophone community sector is responsible for promoting a coordinated approach among all parties involved in developing the province's Acadian and Francophone community. Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone and Acadian community sector and Canadian Heritage have agreed to maintain and strengthen existing community efforts, which will mobilize all developmental organizations to define a global vision and implement the overall Development Plan of the community.
At the request of the Francophone and Acadian community sector of Canada, the financial commitment of the Department of Canadian Heritage in support of implementation of this Accord is identified for 2005-2006 only.
The envelope reserved for Collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Sector is $1,039,000 for the 12-month period from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, which represents an 11?percent increase from the previous funding. It is allocated as follows:
- The Supporting Action component represents a maximum of 80 percent of the envelope
- The Supporting Innovation component represents a minimum of 20 percent of the envelope
An additional envelope of $2 million will support formative initiatives developed within Canada's entire Francophone and Acadian community sector. The community sector has been invited to submit projects within the scope of this envelope.
[ Media Room ]
