WINNIPEG, November 10, 2010 - Today, Shelly Glover, Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced $3.6 million in funding to strengthen and promote the use of both official languages within the justice system.
"In order to ensure that our justice system is both fair and effective, it is important that officials can perform their duties in both official languages," said MP. Glover. "This funding will help ensure that Canadians have access to the justice system in the official language of their choice."
In 2009, the Canada-Wide Analysis of Official Language Training Needs in the Area of Justice revealed that although a significant number of justice officials had the ability to communicate in French and English, many needed advanced training to improve their legal vocabulary. The $3.6 million in funding will help address this need by supporting the Centre canadien de français juridique. This Centre, established in March 2010, with the assistance of the Fédération des associations de juristes d'expression française de common law, offers training specifically designed for provincial officials in the legal system, particularly court clerks, probation officers, and Crown attorneys.
To date, the Centre has provided training in Iqaluit, St. John's, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Halifax, and Moncton. Further sessions are currently being planned for Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Whitehorse and Winnipeg. As the project moves forward, the Centre may expand to provide similar professional development opportunities to judges, lawyers, and police officers.
"In order to be a truly bilingual nation, our institutions must be accessible in both official languages," said MP. Glover. "The Government is committed to preserving Canada's proud tradition of bilingualism, and projects like these play a key role in delivering on that commitment."
This funding is part of the $41-million Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund, which supports official languages capacity building across Canada. This is an integral part of the Government's Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality, 2008-2013: Acting for the Future.
More information about the fund can be found at: http://www.justice.gc.ca?eng?pi?pb-dgp?prog?olsf-fajlo.html
Backgrounder: Official Languages Funding
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Ref.:
Pamela Stephens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
