OTTAWA, June 19, 2008 - Canadians will benefit from an unprecedented commitment by the Government of Canada to linguistic duality and the vitality of official-language minority communities. Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages and Minister for La Francophonie Josée Verner today released the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada 2008-2013: Acting for the Future.
This unprecedented, government-wide investment of $1.1 billion over five years will encourage linguistic duality among Canadians, and offer support to official-language minority communities in five priority areas: health, justice, immigration, economic development, and arts and culture.
Moreover, the Roadmap aims to address government priorities with action in the following areas: emphasizing the value of linguistic duality among all Canadians; building the future by investing in young people; improving access to services for official-language minority communities; capitalizing on economic benefits; ensuring efficient governance to better serve Canadians
"The Government of Canada is taking action to promote the vitality of English and French among Canadians across the country," said Minister Verner. "Our Government is committed to linguistic duality and today, we give it tangible expression by announcing the Roadmap. Our goal is to support the cultural vitality of communities by emphasising the value of increased knowledge of both the English and French languages and access to services for official-language minority communities".
The Roadmap also calls for additional funding to enable all Canadians to benefit from linguistic duality. For example, the Government will provide all Canadians with free access to the Government of Canada Language Portal. A National Translation Program for Book Publishing will also be implemented to increase the availability of books in both official languages.
"Once again I thank everyone who participated in the consultations on linguistic duality and official languages. The consultation findings, as well as the studies conducted by key stakeholders, such as minority official-language communities, Parliamentary committees, and the Commissioner of Official Languages, were vital to the development of the Roadmap, our plan for the future." added Minister Verner.
In line with the overall approach of the Government of Canada, the Roadmap will add to other government strategies and departmental responsibilities for official languages. The Government of Canada will work with partners and key stakeholders, such as provincial and territorial governments, official-language communities, and all Canadians, to implement the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada so people across the country may benefit from it.
For more information on the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada: Acting for the Future, please see the attached backgrounder.
Information :
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages and Minister for La Francophonie
819 997-7788
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future
FACT SHEET
The Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future is an unprecedented government-wide commitment, with a budget of 1.1 billion divided among 13 departments and federal agencies. The Roadmap is directed at strengthening the vitality of minority official-language communities and offering all Canadians the benefits that French and English--the country's two official languages--give them.
The Roadmap targets five areas of action:
- emphasizing the value of linguistic duality among Canadians;
- building the future by investing in youth;
- improving access to services for minority official-language communities;
- capitalizing on economic benefits; and
- ensuring efficient governance to better serve Canadians.
The Roadmap investments will be made through 13 departments and federal agencies.
Initiatives by Department or Agency (in millions of dollars):
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency - 16.2
Support to Francophone Immigration in New Brunswick - 10.0
- Economic Development Initiative - 6.2
- Centre of Excellence - 17.0
Canada School of Public Service - 2.5
- Expanding Canadian Universities' Access to Language Learning Products - 2.5
Canadian Heritage - 624.5
- Support to Minority-Language Education - 280.0
- Support to Second-Language Education - 190.0
- Summer Language Bursaries - 40.0
- Support for Minority-Language Communities - 22.5
- Intergovernmental Cooperation - 22.5
- Cultural Development Fund - 14.0
- Youth Initiatives - 12.5
- National Translation Program for Book Publishing - 5.0
- Music Showcases for Artists from official-language minority communities - 4.5
Official Languages Secretariat
- Accountability and Coordination Framework - 13.5
Citizenship and Immigration Canada - 20.0
- Recruitment and Integration of Immigrants - 20.0
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec - 10.2
- Economic Development Initiative - 10.2
Health Canada - 174.3
- Training. Networking, and Access to Health Services - 174.3
Human Resources and Social Development Canada - 94.0
- Enabling Fund for Official-Language Minority Communities - 69.0
- Child Care Pilot Project - 13.5
- Family Literacy - 7.5
- Improving NGO Capacity - 4.0
Industry Canada and Federal Economic Development Initiative in Northern Ontario - 10.9
- Economic Development Initiative - 10.9
Justice Canada - 93.0
- Contraventions Act Fund - 49.5
- Access to Justice in Both Official Languages - 41.0
- Accountability and Coordination Framework - 2.
National Research Council of Canada - 10.0
- Languages Technologies Research Centre - 10.0
Public Works and Government Services Canada (Translation Bureau) - 34.0
- Government of Canada's Language Portal (Termium) - 16.0
- Language Industry Initiative - 10.0
- Program of University Scholarships in Translation and Interpretation - 8.0
Western Economic Diversification Canada - 3.2
- Economic Development Initiative - 3.2
Total - 1 109.8
