The Governments of Canada and Manitoba Invest in Manitoba’s Bilingual Communities

January 13, 2010

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Manitoba’s 17 bilingual municipalities will benefit from a $1,680,000 federal-provincial investment to support rural diversification; green projects; youth retention and entrepreneurship; and export development and advisory services to new Canadians.

Additionally, a contribution of $59,500 will assist the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) in providing Francophone youth in Manitoba with a series of workshops on entrepreneurship, cultural identity, sport, leadership, and heritage.

"We are pleased to be supporting Manitoba bilingual communities in their goal to build strong economic development plans," said Ron Lemieux, Minister of Local Government, on behalf of Peter Bjornson, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade. "Manitoba's investment will ensure bilingual communities succeed."

“Our Government recognizes the importance of supporting bilingual communities in achieving results that will strengthen their economies,” said Shelly Glover, Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, on behalf the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification (WD). “By supporting these key initiatives, we are promoting a strong future for Manitoba’s Francophone communities.”

Since 1996, Le Conseil de développement  économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) has become a leader in economic development in Manitoba, and has embraced the power of bilingualism to stimulate, encourage and support bilingual municipalities as unique and promising places to live and do business.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba are investing a total of $1,680,000 towards this CDEM project. WD is providing $840,000 under the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) through the Government of Canada’s “Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality.” The Province of Manitoba is providing $840,000 under the Canada-Manitoba Western Economic Partnership Agreement, and nine municipalities are investing $10,000 each.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is investing $59,500 under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program through the Government of Canada’s Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada 2008–2013: Acting for the Future.

“We wish to thank the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba for investing in special projects,” said Louis Allain, executive director of CDEM. “The three year investment agreement is critical for the implementation of strategic projects for rural development, for the next generation of young people and for business immigration.”

The funding will allow CDEM to provide support to youth and new immigrant start-up businesses, develop entrepreneurial training for youth, and complete nine community economic development plans, or “Vision Plans.” In addition, Francophone youth will have the opportunity to further develop their cultural and linguistic pride, while developing their skills, interests and leadership capacity.

The EDI supports business and economic development, which encourages sustainable growth in Western Canada’s Francophone communities. The initiative aims to help individuals, businesses, youth and immigrants to flourish in the language of their choice and in their communities.

Under the Canada-Manitoba Western Economic Partnership Agreement, Canada and Manitoba are contributing $25 million each, over four years, to strengthen economic activity and improve the quality of life in western Canadian communities.

The Development of Official-Language Communities Program is aimed at fostering the development of Canada’s Francophone and Anglophone minorities and enabling them to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian life. Like the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future, support for this organization reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to our two official languages and the vitality of official-language minority communities. The Roadmap is an unprecedented government-wide investment of $1.1 billion over five years.