Government of Canada Highlights More Than $1.3 Million for Official Languages Funding in Northern Ontario

Funding increases for official languages in Northern Ontario

SUDBURY, ON, May 21, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's official language minority communities continue to work to preserve their language, defend their rights and preserve their ability to live in the language of their choice. The Government of Canada supports people living in these communities and invests in the organizations that help develop the resources that allow people to learn and preserve their language.

Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages), confirmed today that the Government of Canada invested $1.37 million in 27 organizations in Northern Ontario. All organizations have received a minimum 20-percent increase since 2018. Two organizations received new funding. She made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.

The increased Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 funding supports programming at Contact intercultural francophone de Sudbury and Le Rayon Franco de Cochrane for the first time, providing financial stability for these organizations and helping them plan multi-year activities.

Quotes

"Canada's official language minority communities are part of the social fabric of our country, made up of many small, dedicated organizations that work tirelessly to ensure the sustainability and vitality of our Francophone population. Our $1.37 million in funding for 27 community organizations, that support official languages across Northern Ontario, will help them strengthen the Francophone institutions in the province. More than ever, the Government of Canada has a role to play in protecting linguistic rights and bilingualism from coast to coast to coast."

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

"In every part of Canada, official language minority communities are working to keep their language and culture relevant, strong and thriving. Community organizations play a vital role in Canada's bilingual future by providing leadership and direction, while also ensuring access to services, resources as well as cultural and language activities."

— Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages)

"Official language minority communities in Northern Ontario have proven their resilience and determination in preserving the French language, despite many challenges. The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario is very happy with the increased program funding from Canadian Heritage, which also gives new organizations the opportunity to benefit from this type of funding. We thank the Government of Canada, and more particularly, Minister Mélanie Joly and Parliamentary Secretary Marie-France Lalonde."

— Peter Hominuk, Executive Director, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario

Quick Facts

The Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023: Investing in Our Future proposes an unprecedented investment of $2.7 billion over five years, including $500 million in new funding, to support official language minority communities and promote bilingualism across the country.

On February 19, in the document English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada, Minister Joly unveiled the Government of Canada's plans to modernize and strengthen the Official Languages Act and related instruments. The document proposes a range of changes and new measures to achieve a new linguistic balance in the country.

In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada proposed $392 million to support official language minority communities across the country. This funding aims to achieve greater levels of bilingualism, make high-quality post-secondary minority-language education available across Canada, support the construction, renovation and expansion of educational and community spaces serving official-language minority communities and modernize the Official Languages Act.

Associated Links

Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023: Investing in Our Future

English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada

Backgrounder

CLIENT NAME	2018-19 FUNDING (BEFORE ACTION PLAN)	TOTAL ALLOCATION IN 2020-2021
AFNOO ASSOCIATION DES FRANCOPHONES DU NORD OUEST DE L'ONTARIO	$113,300	$135,960
ALLIANCE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE DE TIMMINS INC.	$37,250	$44,700
ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANCAISE DE L'ONTARIO REGION- TEMISKAMING	$37,000	$44,400
L'ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANÇAISE DE L'ONTARIO (DU GRAND SUDBURY) INC.	$60,000	$72,000
CARREFOUR FRANCOPHONE DE SUDBURY (LE)	$75,000	$90,000
CENTRE CULTUREL ARTEM (ARTEMISKAMING) (LE)	$25,000	$40,000
CENTRE CULTUREL LA RONDE INC.	$60,000	$85,000
CENTRE CULTUREL LOUIS HÉMON DE CHAPLEAU INC.	$31,000	$42,200
CENTRE FRANCO-ONTARIEN DE FOLKLORE	$32,000	$43,400
CENTRE FRANCOPHONE DE SAULT STE. MARIE	$30,000	$36,000
CENTRE RÉGIONAL DE LOISIRS CULTURELS, INC. (LE)	$72,300	$100,200
CLUB CANADIEN-FRANÇAIS DE GERALDTON	$20,000	$30,000
CLUB CULTUREL FRANCOPHONE DE THUNDER BAY CCF INCORPORÉE	$17,400	$30,000
CLUB DES FRANCOPHONES DE LONGLAC (LE)	$19,000	$30,000
COMPAGNONS DES FRANCS LOISIRS (LES)	$38,000	$52,000
CONCERTS LA NUIT SUR L'ÉTANG (LES)	$25,000	$35,000
CONSEIL DES ARTS DE NIPISSING OUEST	$20,000	$35,000
CONTACT INTERCULTUREL FRANCOPHONE DE SUDBURY	N/A	$20,000
GALERIE DU NOUVEL-ONTARIO, CENTRE D'ARTISTE (LA)	$20,000	$30,000
LE CONSEIL DES ARTS DE HEARST	$26,000	$31,200
LE RAYON FRANCO DE COCHRANE	N/A	$40,000
MICRO – MOUVEMENT DES INTERVENANTS ET INTERVENANTES COMMUNAUTAIRES EN RADIO DE L'ONTARIO	$50,000	$75,000
PRISE DE PAROLE INC.	$20,000	$32,500
RAFO RIVE-NORD INC.	$30,000	$36,000
RED LAKE FRANCOPHONE ASSOCIATION	$20,000	$40,000
SALON DU LIVRE DU GRAND SUDBURY (LE)	$15,000	$30,000
THÉÂTRE DU NOUVEL-ONTARIO INC. (LE)	$68,000	$81,600
TOTAL	$961,250	$1,362,160

Note: Organizations with N/A in the 2018-2019 column did not receive programming funding in 2018-2019.

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

(media only), please contact: Catherine Mounier-Desrochers, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, [email protected]; Media Relations: Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]