The Canadian Francophonie Has the Wind in its Sails

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwired - June 22, 2016) - 21^st Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie

The provincial and territorial ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie met today in St. John's to discuss key issues, including the delivery of government services in French and francophone immigration. The slogan, The Wind in Our Sails, is inspired by the vibrant Newfoundland and Labrador francophone community as the Government has recently adopted the French Language Services Policy.

"The French Language Services Policy introduces a consistent, coordinated approach to service delivery in French across the Provincial Government," said the Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. "It illustrates the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's commitment to providing improved service for Francophone and Acadian citizens, and the recognition of their important contribution to the province's social, cultural and economic development."

As the federal government prepares to develop a new multi-year official languages plan, the provincial and territorial governments reiterate their willingness to improve the delivery of French-language services and ensure that the quality of these services is achieved through close federal-provincial-territorial cooperation. Therefore, the provinces and territories ask the federal government:

• To clarify its commitment to provinces and territories with regards to increasing the scope and quality of French-language services to reflect the changing needs and the diversity of the Francophone and Acadian communities;
• To update the bilateral cooperation agreements to match the realities of Francophone and Acadian communities and the priorities of provincial and territorial governments and in particular, to increase the financial envelopes allocated.

The ministers also provided updates on francophone immigration issues. They agreed on the need to work closely with the federal government in developing action strategies to be presented at the Forum on Francophone Immigration. A first in Canada, this Forum will be organized in conjunction with the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration with a view to ensuring that each government meets its respective goals for Francophone immigration.

The next Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie will be held on June 22 and 23, 2017 in the National Capital Region on the occasion of the 150^th anniversary of Confederation.

The Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, created in 1994, is the only intergovernmental forum that brings together all the ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie. The Conference works to make the Canadian Francophonie an open, vibrant, diverse community that contributes fully to the development of Canadian society. Visit the website of the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie at www.cmfc-mccf.ca.