Government of Canada Announces Funding for the Festival Franco-Ontarien
OTTAWA, May 24, 2006 - Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, and Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, today announced $30,000 in funding for the Festival franco-ontarien at the unveiling of the 2006 Festival program. This funding, when combined with the $100,000 announced last week by Minister Verner, brings total Government of Canada support to the Festival to $130,000."For more than three decades, the Festival franco-ontarien has given Franco-Ontarians an opportunity to come together to express how proud they are to live in French in Ontario," said Minister Verner. "I invite all Francophones and Francophiles from the National Capital Region and across Canada to attend this
31st edition of the Festival."
"The Festival franco-ontarien is a celebration of Francophone culture," said Minister Oda. "The Government is proud to contribute to this festival that, every year, features the talents of established and emerging Francophone artists from across the country."
The financial assistance announced today is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Arts Presentation Canada Program. This program seeks to give Canadians more access to direct experiences of the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentation of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
Funding of $100,000 to the Festival franco-ontarien announced last week by Minister Verner was provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Development of Official-Language Communities Program. This program encourages the development of official-language minority communities in Canada to enable them to participate in all aspects of Canadian life.
Funding announced today was built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Robert Paterson
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
819 997-7788
Clément Bélanger
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages
819 997-6919
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief of Media Relations Canadian Heritage
819 997-9314
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