Ensuring Canadians have access to quality health services in both national languages
May 30, 2014
Moncton, New Brunswick - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, today announced an important investment to support 14 projects across the country that will improve access to health services for English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities outside of Quebec.
The projects will support the training and integration of more bilingual healthcare professionals in national language minority communities; strengthen health networks across the country; and implement new projects to expand access to health services in the minority national language. They are being funded under the Government's Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities.
As part of the announcement, Minister Valcourt announced three projects being funded in New Brunswick, which are with Ministère de l'Éducation postsecondaire, Formation et Travail (Fredericton); Ministère de l'Éducation du Nouveau-Brunswick (Fredericton); Université de Moncton (Moncton); and, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (Bathurst). These projects support post-secondary training programs in several health disciplines to improve the supply of bilingual health professionals across New Brunswick and in the other Atlantic Provinces. The remaining projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
With this $112.9 million investment, the Government of Canada is maintaining its commitment to the development of national language minority communities across the country, and ensuring a healthcare system that is responsive to the needs of all Canadians.
"As a francophone from New-Brunswick, I am proud to be a part of a Government that is committed to ensuring that Canadians across the country receive local level health services in the language of their choice. Today's announcement will support the training and integration of more bilingual healthcare professionals in English and French linguistic minority communities and further improve patient access to health services in the minority language."
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
"It's important that national language minority communities have access to quality health services in the national language of their choice. With this renewed funding, the Government will continue to promote and ensure the availability of bilingual healthcare personnel in communities across Canada, so that language is not a barrier for Canadians to access and receive the best care possible."
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
"Today's announcement of over $10 million for the recruitment and training of health professionals by the Université de Moncton will help ensure the delivery of quality healthcare to our francophone communities. I am proud of our Government’s consistent support of the Université de Moncton, and our commitment to providing quality bilingual healthcare through Canadian Heritage’s Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages."
Robert Goguen
Member of Parliament for Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe (NB)
"At the Université de Moncton, 12 postsecondary health training programs are receiving financial support from Health Canada as part of the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages. With this renewed funding, we will be able to continue the work that we have been doing with the CNFS office and other regional partners since 2003. It is a critical vehicle for health promotion, which is a priority area of development for us at the Université de Moncton."
Raymond Théberge
President and Vice-Chancellor
Université de Moncton
"Thanks to the financial support and ongoing cooperation of Health Canada, CNFS will continue the work it has been doing since it was created, with enthusiasm and conviction. We will now be increasing our active offer of quality health and social services in French in linguistic minority communities across Canada by training highly qualified French-speaking and bilingual professionals."
Allister Surette
Co-chair of the Consortium national de formation en santé and President of Université Sainte-Anne
"Our English-speaking seniors, youth and families, and many other vulnerable members of our communities will benefit from the new Roadmap. The federal contribution means we can continue our successful partnership with Quebec and its health and it's health and social services system to improve the health and vitality of our communities."
Jennifer Johnson
Executive Director of the Community Health and Social Services Network
"Health Canada's contribution as part of the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages is warmly welcomed by all members of the Santé en français [health in French] movement. We have worked with the federal government and 16 Santé en français networks from coast to coast for the past ten years to improve access to quality health services in French for all French-speaking Canadians and Acadians living in linguistic minority communities. Much has been achieved in these past few years, and we look forward to finally getting started on the activities for 2014-2018."
Dr. Aurel Schofield
Chair of the Société Santé en français
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, announced national funding to improve access to health services to official language minority communities. Minister Valcourt was joined by (L-R) Dr. Raymond Théberge, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Robert Goguen.
Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
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