CHARLOTTETOWN, May 11, 2005 -- Member of Parliament (Charlottetown) Shawn Murphy, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, and Prince Edward Island Minister of Education Mildred A. Dover today announced close to $3.8 million in funding for minority-language education and second-language instruction for the current school year. "Linguistic duality is fundamental to our identity as Canadians," said Mr. Murphy. "The cooperation between our two governments will help increase the promotion of French-language instruction in Prince Edward Island and preserve the French language and culture for the benefit of future generations." "I am delighted to see that cooperation between the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island is ongoing," said Ms. Frulla. "This partnership will contribute to the vitality of all of the Island's communities. This is something Francophones, Acadians and Anglophones can all be proud of." The funding was allocated under the Canada-Prince Edward Island Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction, as well as under the targeted measures in Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages. Pursuant to the Canada-Prince Edward Island Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction, the Government of Canada is contributing $1,746,500 and the Government of Prince Edward Island, $1,161,666. "We are very pleased to participate in this partnership which enables us to enhance and expand French language programs in Prince Edward Island schools," said Minister Dover." Furthermore, after Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages was announced in March 2003, the Government of Canada allocated funding for minority-language education and second-language instruction. These funds will help provinces and territories achieve the main Action Plan objectives: to improve the quality of minority education, increase the number of students who can attend a French-language school, and double the number of secondary school graduates who have a working knowledge of their second official language. The Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island signed an agreement on these targeted measures for the current school year. In accordance with this agreement, the Government of Canada is contributing $577,831 and the Government of Prince Edward Island, $280,000. The purpose of the two agreements is to achieve various projects focussed on minority-language and second-language learning, literacy, post-secondary education and program development. Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Minority-Language Education component of its Development of Official-Language Communities Program and through the Enhancement of Official Languages Program. Funding announced today was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget. -30- Information: Jean-Philippe Côté Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women (819) 997-7788 Jean Doherty Communications Government of Prince Edward Island (902) 368-6449 Connie Livingston Special Assistant Office of Shawn Murphy, MP (902) 566-7016 Myriam Brochu Chief, Media Relations Canadian Heritage (819) 997-9314
