The Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie Continues Its Commitment to Francophone Immigration

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 23, 2011) - The provincial and territorial governments which are members of the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie continue to play a catalyst role in Francophone immigration, which is an essential avenue for developing the Canadian Francophonie.

The provincial and territorial component of the Conference renewed the partnership established in 2010 with the Metropolis Secretariat to organize again this year the National Metropolis Pre-Conference on Francophone Immigration in Canada, which was held today in Vancouver. Its purpose was to facilitate continued discussion among federal, provincial and territorial representatives of the Canadian Francophonie and ministry/department representatives responsible for immigration, researchers and key civil society stakeholders.

The provincial and territorial governments responsible for Canadian Francophonie are thus carrying out their commitment, made at the last two Conference meetings (in Vancouver in September 2009 and Yellowknife in June 2010), to support intergovernmental cooperation initiatives intended to facilitate discussion and to share views, knowledge, experiences and expertise relating to Francophone immigration for the benefit of Francophones and all Canadians.

Pre-conference discussions dealt specifically with:

• The governmental role in delivering services in French to encourage Francophone immigrant settlement and in awareness-raising and partnership practices between Francophone communities and majority Anglophone settlement organizations;

• The economic integration of Francophone immigrants;

• Public policies on economic integration and community vitality.

The discussions held throughout the day on Francophone immigration to Canada will be used to inform the discussions of the ministers responsible for Canadian Francophonie at the next Conference meeting to be held in Dieppe-Moncton, New Brunswick, on June 15 and 16, 2011.

Created in 1994, the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie is the only intergovernmental forum bringing together federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie. The Conference works toward an open, dynamic and diverse Francophonie which contributes to, and fully participates in, the growth of Canadian society.

Visit the Web site of the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie at www.cmfc-mccf.ca.