WHITEHORSE, December 2, 2004 -- Member of Parliament (Yukon) Larry Bagnell, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, and Yukon Minister of Education John Edzerza today announced extension for the year 2004-05 of two agreements on official languages: the Canada-Yukon Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction, and the Canada-Yukon Funding Agreement on the Development, Enhancement and Implementation of French Language Rights and Services. Funding for the two agreements amounts to more than $4 million."Our linguistic duality is central to our identity as Canadians," said Mr. Bagnell. "Extension of these agreements will help to improve still more the quality of French services and French-language education in our part of the country.""I am pleased at the continuing cooperation between the governments of Canada and Yukon to help the territory's Francophone community live, work and grow up in French," said Minister Frulla. "Remarkable progress has been achieved to improve the quality of French services and to facilitate access to minority-language education and instruction in French as a second language. It is our duty to ensure continuity of these services, here as in all the regions of Canada."The governments of Canada and Yukon approved extension of the Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction for 2004-05 to ensure that current funding is maintained until a new Protocol for Agreements is signed with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, and a new multi-year bilateral agreement is concluded. The Agreement on the Development, Enhancement and Implementation of French Language Rights and Services seeks to offer French services in the language of the minority community, particularly to support the development of such services and to promote the vitality of the Yukon Francophone community. The Government of Canada will provide close to $2.5 million for the extension of the agreements. The Government of Yukon will contribute more than $1.5 million. "The extension of these two agreements highlights the bilingual character of our country," said Minister Edzerza. "Canadian society is built on mutual respect and appreciation of diversity. Knowing both official languages enriches the lives of Canadians and helps us understand one another better."Five projects fall under the Canada-Yukon Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction. They include establishment of a full-time kindergarten at Émilie Tremblay School, cultural activities, expansion and enrichment of education programs, a late French immersion pilot project for Grade 6 students, and the second stage of the liaison and coordination project involving Dawson and regional localities.Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Development of Official-Language Communities and Enhancement of Official Languages Programs.Funding associated with the agreements was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.Information:Donald BoulangerPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Canadian Heritage andMinister responsible for Status of Women(819) 997-7788 Mouktar AbdillahiSpecial Assistant Office of Larry Bagnell (613) 995-9368Andrea BuckleyDirector of CommunicationsGovernment of Yukon(867) 687-8688
