QUÉBEC CITY, November 26, 2007 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today announced funding for a special broadcast of La Fureur on December 31, 2007, live from Québec City.Funding of $308,000 will help the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue produce this special broadcast. The program will be devoted to the 400th anniversary of Québec City and the 10th anniversary of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie."The Government of Canada is proud to support this special celebration of French language and culture in Canada," said Minister Verner. "As we are getting ready to kick-start the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec city, we are all reminded that the French language is the founding language of Canada."The 400th anniversary of Québec City is an important celebration for all of French-speaking Canada, as is the 10th anniversary of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. We could not pass up the unique opportunity to launch 2008 on a celebratory note by associating this final episode of La Fureur with the 400th anniversary of Québec City and the vitality of the French language and culture in Canada," said Marc Arnal, President of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue.Established in 2004, the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue seeks to promote and sustain dialogue and harmonious relations between Francophone and Acadian communities and the rest of Canadian society. In 2005, the Foundation took on the task of organizing the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. This involves coordinating a large number of activities for the Journée internationale de la Francophonie and promoting initiatives for Francophones and Francophiles across the country.The Government of Canada has provided this funding under the Enhancement of Official Languages Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to promote better understanding or appreciation of linguistic duality and improved relations, both linguistically and culturally, on the part of members of both official-language communities. The Government of Canada is also proud to have contributed $110 million to the celebration of Québec City's 400th anniversary. This is a historic event for Canada and for North America. It is from this date that we truly started to become what we are today, as the founding of Québec also marks the founding of Canada.For more information, visit the Government of Canada's official site for the 400th anniversary of Québec City at www.quebec400.gc.ca/bienvenue-welcome-eng.cfm.Information: Dominic GosselinPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages819 997-7788Donald BoulangerA/Chief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819 994-9101
