Harper Government and Government of British Columbia Support Delivery of French-Language Services
VANCOUVER - Francophones in British Columbia will have greater access to provincial and municipal services in French, thanks to an intergovernmental cooperation agreement on minority-language services. The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and the Honourable John Les, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of British Columbia, today announced the signing of the Canada-British Columbia Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The agreement will support the development and implementation of specific measures to help the province provide services to the Francophone community in priority sectors.
"This agreement delivers on our commitment to support British Columbia Francophones," said Minister Moore. "Our Government is working with its partners, including provincial and territorial governments, so that throughout the country the French fact is protected and all Canadians can benefit from both our official languages."
"This agreement shows our wish to cooperate with the federal government to ensure delivery of French-language services in British Columbia," said Parliamentary Secretary Les. "Thanks to the agreement, our government will be able to strengthen services for B.C. Francophones in priority sectors such as economic development, health and social services, immigration, arts and culture, and justice."
The governments of Canada and British Columbia will each contribute $700,000 a year under the two-year bilateral agreement, for a total of $2.8 million.
Under the agreement, the Government of British Columbia will implement a strategic plan with two objectives: to strengthen the management of its Francophone Affairs Program, and to support the development, planning, and delivery of services in priority fields (health, economic development, immigration, arts and culture, social services, justice, and communications, information, and consultation).
Since the signing of the first Canada-British Columbia Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages in 2001, this partnership has made it possible to support priority programs and services for Francophones in British Columbia and to help the provincial government provide French-language services. The Government of British Columbia has worked with the Francophone and Francophile community to build a dynamic cooperative relationship.
For more information on intergovernmental cooperation on services to official-language minority communities, visit the website of the Department of Canadian Heritage at
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca.
For more information on British Columbia's Francophone Affairs Program, visit
www.gov.bc.ca/igrs/francophones.
