HALIFAX, August 26, 2008 - A community marketing campaign will encourage Nova Scotia's Francophone and Acadian community to use provincial government services available in French.
The Honourable James Moore, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages), and Nova Scotia Acadian Affairs Minister Chris d'Entremont, announced funding for the marketing campaign called Ça se brasse chu nous. This campaign will provide Acadians and Francophones with information about services offered in French by the Government of Nova Scotia.
The $60,000 in federal funding that matches $60,000 from the Government of Nova Scotia will enable the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse to launch the campaign.
"The Government of Canada wants to ensure the success of members of Nova Scotia's Francophone and Acadian community," said Secretary of State Moore. "I am delighted that the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are working together to advance the use of French in the province. This collaboration shows our commitment to continuing to promote our country's linguistic duality, a commitment reaffirmed and expressed concretely in the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013."
The Government of Nova Scotia is committed to improving its service in French to the province's Acadian and Francophone people. It proclaimed the French-Language Services Act in 2004 and is implementing regulations to increase French service in priority areas. As a result, people can now renew vehicle permits online in French, speak with Francophone operators at the provincial government call centre, and participate in more public consultations in French.
"We're working closely with the Acadian and Francophone communities in Nova Scotia as we continue our efforts to increase government services in French," said Mr. d'Entremont. "Now we need to ensure that Francophones know these services are available. This marketing campaign will encourage them to ask for service in French and will communicate our government's commitment to the province's Acadian and Francophone culture."
La Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse is a group of regional, provincial, and institutional French language organizations committed to promoting the development and overall well being of the Acadian and Francophone communities in Nova Scotia.
"The Acadian community is happy that government is now offering more services in French, and now it's up to us to take full advantage of them," said Désiré Boudreau, President of the Fédération. "The marketing campaign should make the Acadian community aware of services in French and encourage Acadians to avail themselves of these services."
The Government of Canada has provided this funding under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program is designed to foster the vitality of Canada's French and English minority-language communities and to enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.
For more information about the Development of Official-Language Communities Program and the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013, please visit www.canadianheritage.gc.ca
Information:
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Secretary of State
(Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics)
(Official Languages)
819 956-4000
deirdra_mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Kyla Jardine
Communications Advisor
Office of Acadian Affairs
902-424-8549
jardinkv@gov.ns.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
1 866 569-6155
