For immediate release

MP Yasir Naqvi and MP Marie France Lalonde announce long-term funding through the new Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028

Thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada, a number of local and national organizations in the National Capital Region will be able to consolidate their actions for the benefit of official language minority communities.

Ottawa, ON March 27, 2024

Our official languages are a powerful tool for inclusion and dialogue and foster a better way of living together. In addition to being an important vector of social cohesion, the community organizations that serve our official language minority communities enable our communities to flourish more and more every day.

This is why today, MP Yasir Naqvi, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, and MP Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orléans, announced a 12.5% increase in basic funding to the following organizations: Canadian Parents for French (CPF), French for the Future, Association Canadienne des professionelles de l`immersion (ACPI), Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, Reseaux des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada, le Regoupement des parents et amis des sourds et malentendants franco-ontariens, Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans (MIFO), Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la capitale nationale (RGA). This funding, adding up to a total of $392,500 for 2023-2024 will support projects to enhance official language programming. MP Naqvi and MP Lalonde made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.

This funding is made possible through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028. In total, Canadian Heritage invests $62.5 million over five years to increase the core funding for community organizations and to fund certain strategic initiatives.

This increase will enable community organizations to offset the rising cost of living and offer competitive working conditions to their staff. This amount will also be used to extend services, activities, and events; support the financial health of community organizations; and support new initiatives that support equity, diversity and inclusion.

Through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, the Government of Canada will support initiatives related to Francophone immigration, economic development, education, justice, health, and arts and culture.

Quotes:

"Every Canadian should have the tools and resources to express themselves and be served in the official language of their choice. The funding announced today will allow the organizations named today and more than 300 other organizations across Canada to strengthen their local community activities to support our official language minority communities. I am I'm pleased to see that the record official languages funding will materialize on the ground and make a difference for Canadians."

— The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

“Our official languages are an integral part of our Canadian identity. I am pleased that Ottawa Centre is home to numerous francophone organizations, whose mission it is to participate in and reinforce a bilingual Canada, where both official languages are recognized and accessible in all aspects of life. Our government will continue supporting organizations across the country to help them face current economic challenges.”

---Yasir Naqvi, MP for Ottawa Centre

" More than ever, our government is committed to protecting and promoting our two official languages. This additional core funding will support key French organizations in Orléans and in our national capital. I am pleased to see this increase particularly at a time where Canadians rely even more of their vital programming and services. "

---Marie France Lalonde, MP for Orléans

“We were delighted to learn about the core funding increase for official language community organizations. This supplementary contribution will strengthen our organizational capacity, allowing us to better cope with rising operational costs and offer competitive wages and working conditions to retain and support qualified staff which in turn help us carry out our mandate of promoting and creating opportunities for students to learn and use French.”

-- Nicole Thibeault, Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French

“The RGA propels and supports the success of Francophone and Francophile business people in the National Capital Region. In addition to being an essential partner in the success of French-speaking businesses, the RGA ensures that entrepreneurs in the national capital give importance to French in the business community. We work in conjunction with the English-speaking business community by offering them the translation of their service offerings as well as certain networking events in both official languages.”

--Catia Céméus, Executive Director for the RGA de la Capitale nationale