Renewal of Official Languages Support Programs
OTTAWA, March 18, 1998 -- The government of Canada announced today the renewal of its commitment in the area of official-languages education, by introducing measures which will impact nearly three million young Canadians. This commitment will provide $835 million over five years to support provincial and territorial official-language education programs.Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps made this announcement during her appearance before the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages.
During her presentation, Minister Copps also said that the Government of Canada had recently decided to:
-- renew the Department's Summer Language Bursary Program and Official-Language Monitor Program for a period of five years to enable more than 7,000 post-secondary students each year to visit another region of the country to learn their second language or to teach primary and secondary school students about their language and culture;
-- renew, for a period of five years, the Official Languages in Education Program, which for 25 years has allowed the Government of Canada to provide minority-language education and second-language teaching to millions of young Canadians;
-- complete, in cooperation with the provincial government, the implementation of school governance in Ontario affecting more than 100,000 Francophone students. School governance in Ontario will mark a major step forward with respect to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom's guarantees concerning education across the country.
"In the next few years, the government will continue to demonstrate its commitment to the promotion of French and English and the development of the official-language communities. Other measures may be announced between now and next year as part of the renewal of a series of development agreements, in particular, the Canada-Community Agreements," said Minister Copps.
This funding represents a decisive investment which will enable the Government of Canada to provide for stable funding in this area during the next five years.
Funding for these measures was provided for in the February 1998 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:
Jacques Lefebvre
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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