The Government of Canada, through its Action Plan for Official Languages, invests more than $3.6 million in 23 British Columbia organizations that support official languages

“Canada’s official language minority communities are part of the social fabric of our country, made up of many small, dedicated organizations that work tirelessly to ensure the sustainability and vitality of our Francophone populations. Our $3.6 million in support of 23 community organizations that support official languages across British Columbia will help them strengthen Francophone institutions in the province. More than ever, the Government of Canada has a role to play in protecting linguistic rights and bilingualism from coast to coast to coast.”

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

“In every part of Canada, official language minority communities are working to keep their language and cultures strong and thriving. Community organizations play a vital role in securing Canada’s bilingual future by providing leadership and direction while ensuring access to services, resources as well as cultural and linguistic activities.”

—Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages)

“Thanks to this Government of Canada funding, especially with the most recent 2018-2023 agreement, we are able to support our communities and ensure the influence of the Francophone population in British Columbia and beyond. We are very grateful for this. It shows the government’s commitment to French as an official language. This partnership, which we have enjoyed over the past several years and that continues to develop, lets us dream of a brighter future. It’s when our efforts are united—at the national and local levels—that we are able to work toward a future reflecting our image, supported by the modernization of the Official Languages Act and the vitality of our communities.”

— Padminee Chundunsing, President, Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique

• In British Columbia, French is the first official language of 1.4 percent of the population Seven percent of residents can speak both English and French. Nearly 6,000 students study in French-language schools in the province, a 25-percent increase over the past five years.

• The Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023: Investing in Our Future proposes an unprecedented investment of $2.7 billion over five years, including $500 million in new funding, to support official language minority communities and promote bilingualism across the country.

• On February 19, 2021, in the document English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada, Minister Joly unveiled the Government of Canada’s intentions to modernize and strengthen the Official Languages Act and related instruments. This document proposes a range of changes and new measures to achieve a new linguistic balance in the country.

• In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada proposed $392 million to support official language minority communities across the country. This investment aims to achieve greater levels of bilingualism, make high-quality post-secondary minority-language education available across Canada, support the construction, renovation and expansion of the educational and community spaces that serve official language minority communities and modernize the Official Languages Act.

Related products

• Backgrounder

Associated links

• Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future
• English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada

For more information (media only), please contact:

Catherine Mounier-Desrochers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
catherine.mounier-desrochers@canada.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca