Agreement Signed Between the Federal Government and the Francophone Community of Saskatchewan
REGINA, April 26, 1996 The Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, MP for Regina-Wascana and federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, today announced the signing of an agreement between the federal government and Saskatchewan's Francophone community, represented by the Association culturelle franco-canadienne de la Saskatchewan.This multi-year agreement, the third of its kind to be struck in Saskatchewan, aims to assist the Francophone community in its development. Saskatchewan's Francophone community will thus be able to pursue its own development, in accordance with the priority objectives set by its members. Most minority official-language communities in Canada have now signed this type of agreement with the federal government.
The agreement will provide $ 5 700 000 over three years. By enabling the community to carry out long-term planning, this agreement will assist in the completion of projects that ensure the long-term vitality of the community. The federal government will provide an additional $ 375 000 to Saskatchewan's Francophone community to ensure the completion of related projects, including $ 75 000 for la Coopérative des publications fransaskoises, a non-profit organization which publishes Saskatchewan's French-language weekly, L'Eau vive, to ensure its financial self-sufficiency. These measures total a financial commitment of $6,075,000.
"This agreement confirms the federal government's commitment to the development and enhanced vitality of Francophone communities across Canada," said Mr. Goodale at the signing ceremony held in Regina. "It is a very important lever that will lend support to Saskatchewan's French-language community in various areas of activity, including culture, communications, the economy and education."
This third agreement confirms continuity in the federal government's commitment towards the Fransaskois, said Michel Vézina, president of the Association culturelle franco-canadienne de la Saskatchewan. Further, it commits the community to more active involvement in the administration of the funds, to work out a new and more focussed approach to its development despite difficult economic times, and, finally, to be more creative as it takes the future in its own hands.
Funding for this project was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This initiative is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.
Information :
Denis Racine
Senior Program Officer
Canadian Heritage
(306) 780-7285
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