WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, June 5, 2009 – The Honourable Greg Selinger, Manitoba Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for French Language Services and Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, officially opened the St. Vital Bilingual Service Centre, housing Service Canada and Employment Manitoba.
“The service centre highlights Manitoba’s commitment to increasing access to French language services in this province,” said Minister Selinger. “Our first priority is to actively offer services in both official languages in areas with a high concentration of French-speaking Manitobans. This centre will also provide added convenience by allowing people to do business with both levels of government in one location."
“The St. Vital Service Centre is a wonderful facility and Service Canada is pleased to partner with Employment Manitoba to deliver bilingual services to clients in this community,” said Ms. Glover. Residents of Saint Boniface and the surrounding neighbourhoods will receive personalized service in either French or English. The Centre is bright, welcoming, and - most importantly - it’s fully accessible for people with disabilities.”
The St. Vital Bilingual Service Centre is one of four federal/provincial Bilingual Service Centres in Manitoba.
The Service Canada Centre is designed to enhance access to services in south Winnipeg and represents one of over 600 points of service in communities throughout Canada.
Employment Manitoba offers individuals access to labour market information, employment needs assessment, employment/career counselling services, skills training opportunities and access/referrals to employment assistance services.
Employment Manitoba also offers labour market information and services to local employers/businesses including access to job vacancy advertising, and training development and partnerships.
Service Canada was created in 2005 to improve the delivery of government programs and services to Canadians, by making access to them faster, easier, and more convenient.
Service Canada offers single-window access to a wide range of Government of Canada programs and services for citizens through more than 600 points of service located across the country, call centres, and the Internet.
For more information on Service Canada: please contact us at 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232), TTY: 1-800-926-9105, online at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in-person services at over 600 points of service in communities throughout Canada.
Information on Employment Manitoba programs and services is available at www.gov.mb.ca/employment, by calling 204-945-0575 or
(toll-free) 1-866-332-5077 or in-person at any of the 16 centres throughout Manitoba.
More information on the Bilingual Service Centres can be found at www.csbsc.mb.ca. The Centre can be reached at 204-945-0600, toll-free at 1-866-267-6114 or by email at csbsc@gov.mb.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
National Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Joe Czech
Communication Services Manitoba
204-945-6778
