April 10, 1997 No. 66

MINISTER BOUDRIA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE FIRST

CONFÉRENCE DES MINISTRES FRANCOPHONES

CHARGÉS DES INFOROUTES

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.

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.

"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.

The Canadian government will contribute $500 000, both directly and indirectly, to this conference.

"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.

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.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1997 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Jacques Lefebvre

Official Spokesperson

Office of the Minister for International Co-operation

and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie

(819) 997-0918

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca