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<title>MINISTER BOUDRIA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE FIRST CONFÉRENCE DES MINISTRES FRANCOPHONESCHARGÉS DES INFOROUTES</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">April 10, 1997 No. 66</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">MINISTER BOUDRIA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE FIRST </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CONFÉRENCE DES MINISTRES FRANCOPHONES</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CHARGÉS DES INFOROUTES</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Honourable Don Boudria, Minister for International Co-operation and Minister
Responsible for la Francophonie, will chair the first Conférence des Ministres
francophones chargés des inforoutes, which is scheduled to take place in Canada,
more precisely in Montreal, from May 19 to 21.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister Boudria launched this event with the Quebec Minister of Culture and
Communications, Louise Beaudoin, and the Secretary-General of the Agence de la
Francophonie, Jean-Louis Roy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada is proud to host this first conference in Montreal. The information
highway is the way of the future for all of us, especially youth. It is important
that French be given a dynamic and proactive presence on it," said Minister
Boudria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Canadian government will contribute $500 000, both directly and indirectly, to
this conference.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada is already known as a world leader in the field of new information
technologies for French, and we must pursue our efforts to guarantee that la
Francophonie will occupy a fair share of the information highway," added Minister
Boudria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Canadian government will priorize three of the elements that will be part of
the action plan to be submitted at the Conference: the democratization of access
to the information highway, remote training programs, and the creation of a
funding program for production to facilitate the creation and flow of information.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1997 federal budget
and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Jacques Lefebvre</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Official Spokesperson</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Co-operation </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-0918</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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