November 1, 2004 WINNIPEG -- The Honourable Raymond Simard, Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, on behalf of the Honourable Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, today announced $591,127 to support early learning and child care in official language minority communities. The Government of Canada is providing $315,243 to La Commission nationale des parents francophones (CNPF) for Partir en français 2, and $275,884 to the Canadian Teachers' Federation for Profil d'entrée à la 1re année dans une perspective langagière et culturelle. "The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the vitality of minority francophone communities," said Mr. Simard. "Working with our partners, we will build strong communities where children in minority francophone communities can fully participate in early learning." "Our children deserve the best possible start in life," said Minister Dryden. "The funds we are investing will help these communities ensure that their children are ready to learn and to take part in the richness of their francophone heritage." La Commission nationale des parents francophones helps its members to promote quality early-learning services in minority francophone communities. Partir en français 2 supports the work of 13 regional parent organizations and strengthens their ability to report on early childhood development investments for official language minorities in their communities. Partir en français 2 will also produce and disseminate an innovative video to French-language daycare service providers. The Canadian Teachers' Federation is the national bilingual umbrella organization for teachers in Canada and is committed to helping build a strong publicly funded French-language education system in minority language settings. Profil d'entrée à la 1re année dans une perspective langagière et culturelle, through pan-Canadian consultations, identifies the linguistic and cultural learning outcomes that young children need to master in order to be ready to learn in French-language schools in minority language communities. Social Development Canada supports these programs through the Official Language Minority Communities--Early Learning and Child Care component of the Social Development Partnerships Program. This component of the program works to strengthen the capacity of national organizations to promote linguistically relevant early learning and child care for official language minority communities and supports the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages. The Social Development Partnerships Program is a national program to help address the social development needs of Canadians and to promote their inclusion and full participation in society. Funding for this project was provided for in the 2004 federal budget. This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the department's administration of its grant and contribution programs. - 30 - Information: Social Development Canada Media Relations Office (613) 941-1110 This news release and backgrounder are available in alternative formats, upon request; Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY) PROJECT BACKGROUNDER La Commission nationale des parents francophones (CNPF) Partir en français 2 - will support the development of work plans by 13 regional parent organizations to help them to influence policies, programs and services in their jurisdictions; support the ability of organizations to interpret provincial reports on early childhood development (ECD) investments and to prepare their own reports on ECD investments for official language minorities in their jurisdiction; and produce and disseminate a "Paul and Suzanne" video that will promote francophone culture that will be distributed free of charge for French- language daycare service. Project length - October 2004 - June 2005Funding $ 315, 243 The Canadian Teachers' Federation Profil d'entrée à la 1re année dans une perspective langagière et culturelle The FCE will hold national consultations with provincial ministries of education and teacher's unions to identify the linguistic and cultural knowledge/learning outcomes young children need to master in order to be ready to learn in a French language school in a minority community. The process for developing the profile will take into consideration the fact that many children are being raised in mixed language families and need to have access to daycare programs that can address those deficits. Project length - October 2004 - March 2006 Funding $ 275,884
