About HRSDC | Our Offices | Programs & Services | A-Z Index March 23, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 05-18 OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of State (Human Resources Development), and the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, Minister responsible for Official Languages, today announced the approval of funding for the Enabling Fund to support the Partnership Initiative for Community Economic Development in Official Language Minority Communities. Administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Fund has been set up to ensure longer term horizontal support for the work of community capacity building in the areas of human resources development and economic development of linguistic minority communities. "The Fund gives evidence of the Government of Canada's continued commitment to strengthen the linguistic duality that is at the heart of our country's identity," said Minister Bradshaw. "I am very happy to say that the efforts made by both the communities and the Government of Canada have produced results, and that we are now moving forward on even more solid footing." This initiative establishes the Enabling Fund's strategic framework. It will ensure increased horizontality by having the Privy Council Office (PCO) co-chair the Joint National Committees, which will make it possible for investments to be focussed on local activities and increase the Fund's scope. Moreover, the Fund is the first and only federal program directly linked to PCO's Horizontal Results-Based Management Accountability Framework as it relates to the Action Plan for Official Languages, and will be reviewed during the Government-wide evaluation of the Action Plan for Official Languages in 2008. "Again, linguistic minority communities and the Government of Canada have shown an exemplary spirit of co-operation," added Minister Bélanger. "Now that the funding for the networks is ensured for three years, these leaders in community economic development will be able to devote themselves to enhancing the vitality of their community." The new fund will receive $12 million annually for three years. This funding arrangement meets the six priorities expressed by the groups consulted to create the program. "The Community Table has been eagerly awaiting this announcement. This funding better reflects the reality of developing economic opportunities through community capacity building initiatives at the grassroots level with English linguistic minority groups and communities in Quebec," said Elizabeth Kater, President of the Community Table of the National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority. "This agreement is not only good news but it also demonstrates the Government of Canada's acknowledgement that this is a long-term process requiring patience, dialogue and commitment". "RDÉE Canada and its network enthusiastically welcome the announcement of the Enabling Fund, which recognizes once again the importance of economic development within Francophone communities," added Claire Bélanger-Parker, Chair of the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE) Canada. "This funding will enable the Committee to continue its work in this area and in job creation, while making it possible to maintain economic development as a priority in the Action Plan for Official Languages." The announcement was made at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Ottawa, during a lunch attended by representatives of linguistic minority communities. Included were representatives of the Community Table of the National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority in Quebec, as well as representatives of RDÉE Canada, the Quebec Community Group Network (QCGN) and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA). This initiative complies with all departmental administrative rules governing grants and contributions and with the provisions of the Financial Administration Act. It is also subject to reviews to ensure compliance with the objectives of the program. - 30 - For more information: Yannick Leclair Office of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw (819)-953-8385 Orli Namian Office of the Honourable Mauril Bélanger (613) 996-6708 Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (819) 994-5559 Backgrounder on the Enabling Fund Enabling Fund The Enabling Fund is part of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's (HRSDC) response to its commitments under Part VII, section 41, of the Official Languages Act. The objective of the Enabling Fund is to ensure continuity of activities and funding for the organizations that foster human resources development and community economic development in Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs). Among the new aspects of the Fund, the Privy Council Office (Official Languages Branch) is now the co-chair of the National Committees, which will ensure greater interdepartmental cooperation and more adaptability to existing programs. In addition, the funding is more flexible than the Support Fund, which was funded by Part II of the Employment Insurance Act. The terms and conditions are similar to those of the Temporary Support Fund, the transitional fund between the Support Fund and the new Enabling Fund. The Enabling Fund provides stable funding for the next three years, after which it will be evaluated in the context of the Action Plan for Official Languages. The program will be reviewed at that time and improvements could be made. The Support Fund is managed by the Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities (SOLMC) of HRSDC. The only sponsors eligible for the Enabling Fund are the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE) Canada and the provincial and territorial RDÉEs, and the Community Table of the National Human Resources Development Committee for the Anglophone linguistic minority in Quebec, as well as its network of Community Economic Development and Employability Committees (CEDECs). Background Since its creation in 1999, the Support Fund has supported organizations representing OLMCs nationally and local organizations that provide services to local communities. For Francophone official language minority communities, these organizations include the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE) Canada and its network of provincial and territorial RDÉEs. For Anglophone official language minority communities, these organizations include the Community Table of the National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Community, and the Community Economic Development and Employability Committees (CEDECs). These interconnected organizations form a Canada-wide infrastructure that contributes to the vitality of OLMCs. The Support Fund has helped to retain the population in official language minority communities and to develop the socio-economic vitality, cohesion and sustainability of these communities. The Support Fund demonstrated that it was a very worthwhile investment of public funds and a valuable contribution to the vitality and the strength of linguistic duality in Canada. The work done by the National Committees has changed a great deal over the years, and it was imperative to adapt the Support Fund to the new needs of the National Committees so that they could fulfill their mandate in official language minority communities. The Minister of HRSDC received this mandate in 2004. HRSDC developed this new program in consultation with its colleagues from other departments, relevant agencies and members of linguistic minority communities. The program provides more horizontal flexibility and stability, which enables communities to address the issues they face with regard to human resources, community capacity building and community economic development. Moreover, to provide horizontality across federal government departments, the Privy Council Office (Official Languages Branch) is now the co-chair of the Joint National Committees (along with representatives from OLMCs), and is responsible for coordinating and supporting the efforts of the departments participating in this initiative, especially the evaluations done in the context of the Action Plan for Official Languages. Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities The mandate of the Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities (SOLMC), is to coordinate the efforts of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) in implementing section 41 of Part VII of the Official Languages Act, which states that the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada. SOLMC consults the minority language communities on an ongoing basis and promotes the programs and services offered by HRSDC to official language minority communities to support and promote the development of the communities. It also ensures close cooperation among the regions, various divisions at National Headquarters and other departments to support local projects. Lastly, SOLMC administers the Enabling Fund. National Committee of Economic Development and Employability Canada This committee consists of the community side (RDÉE Canada), which includes active members of the Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada, and the federal side, which includes representatives from 11 federal departments. Its mandate is to advise on directing the policies, programs and services of the federal organizations that are party to the agreement so that these organizations can promote the development and enhance the vitality of Francophone minority communities in Canada. The Committee is represented in every region outside Quebec by the local RDÉEs. Their mandate is to offer various services to the communities to create business ventures and long-term employment. National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority The National Committee is the result of a unique partnership between the Government of Canada and the English-speaking community in Quebec. It reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to team up with Quebec's Anglophone communities to help enhance their vitality through community economic and human resources development. The National Committee members are regrouped under two entities: the Federal Table, consisting of employees from seven federal departments and agencies, and the Community Table, represented by regional associations and Community Economic Development and Employability Committee (CEDECs) in Quebec. Locally, these 11 CEDECs, made up of volunteers, form the link between the National Committee and the community that they serve.
