ALBERTA, Monday, December 16, 2024

Canada’s bilingualism is a source of national pride and unity and an expression of our identity.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, along with the Government of Alberta, announced the ratification of the Canada-Alberta Agreement on French-Language Services from 2023–24 to 2027–28. This agreement provides a federal financial contribution totalling more than $11,200,000 to the province over five years.

By supporting province-wide planning and delivery of services, this funding makes accessing French-language services in Alberta easier and contributes to the vitality of the Franco-Albertan community. These funds will support key provincial sectors, including economic development, the arts, culture and heritage, health and physical activity, justice, immigration, and social services and community support.

French-language services actively provided by government departments and agencies are critical to the promotion of bilingualism and the equal status of both official languages. Over the past year, the federal government has signed 10 new intergovernmental cooperation agreements on minority-language services.

Today’s announcement speaks to that progress and reinforces the crucial role that provincial and territorial governments play as essential partners in helping to develop fulfilling living environments in minority communities.

This investment reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to working with the provinces and territories to ensure that official-language minority communities receive the services they need in their own language.