New Projects

After the Canada/BC General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages was signed in April 2001, the provincial government established a committee composed of prominent francophone representatives to hold broad consultations with the francophone community in BC to determine the priorities for expanding French-language public services for the benefit of B.C.'s 63,000 francophones.

In June 2001, the Final Report of the Consultation Committee
( PDF - 189KB) was released. The priority areas identified in the report include health, social services, administration of justice, and economic development. The key recommendations supported more francophone services in priority areas, increased availability of government publications in French, improved coordination, higher visibility of the francophone community and enhanced support for francophone initiatives.

This page provides progress reports on the latest initiatives in these key areas as well as updates on other priorities such as immigration that have arisen since the consultations were completed. A new round of consultations will take place in 2003, to be undertaken jointly with Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB), on a 5-year plan for the future of BC's francophone community. This will allow us to ensure that our priorities are relevant and resources targeted to achieving the goals of the program and furthering the aspirations of the community.

Health

• Health files translated in French and available on the Ministry of Health Planning Website.
• French translations of Women's Health Handbook and Seniors Information Guide.
• Supported the creation of RésoSanté, a "sectoral table" on francophone health services for B.C.
• Work underway in cooperation with the Ministry of Health Services, Health Canada and Canadian Heritage, to translate the BC Health Guide.
• Discussions with provincial governments to create a French nurse line for Western Canada.

Justice

• Joint project with the Ministry of Attorney General, the FFCB and the francophone school authority to increase the number of bilingual jurors from 135 to 335.
• Discussions underway with the Ministry of the Attorney General, the association of francophone judicial officials to provide French terminology training for justice staff in partnership with other provinces.
• French translations of justice documents on key topics like divorce, legal aid, wills and estates, and avoiding scams.

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Economic Development

• $45,000 to Tourism BC in support of the Société de développement économique (SDE) to produce a French tourism brochure and upgrade a French tourism Internet site.
• $21,000 contribution to Tourism BC and SDE to develop a business plan for francophone tourism in B.C and to help SDE to create a workshop on electronic business transactions in French.

Social Services

• $70,000 contribution through the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (MCAWS) to Réseau-Femmes to support francophone help line for women and educational theatre to help prevent family violence.
• $59,000 contribution to La Boussole to support a francophone social worker in Vancouver.
• $6,000 contribution towards a partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and MCAWS for a joint study with the FFCB on francophone immigration to Vancouver.
• $20,000 to the Fédération des parents francophones through MCAWS for a tool kit and brochure for French daycare services.

Post-secondary Education

• Working with the FFCB to help promote French post-secondary education programs, beginning with a pilot project at Simon Fraser University.

Community Events to promote the visibility of B.C.'s francophone community

• $3,500 to the Société francophone de Victoria to help celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2001.
• $4,000 for l'Association des francophones de Nanaimo to sponsor the 2003 Maple Sugar festival.
• $7,000 to the Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver to support Grands Spectacles 2003.
• $11,150 to the Société Maillardville-Uni to promote the Festival du Bois (children's tent) and other major community events.
• $2,000 to sponsor Radio Communautaire Victoria.
• Annual legislative proclamation of March 20 as the Journée internationale de la francophonie.

Communication/Consultation

• $24,000 for consultation with francophone community (2001)
• $20,000 to the FFCB for consultations with the francophone community related to the Official languages agreement (2003)
• Participation in numerous public meetings and events organized by francophone organizations. (~ 8 000 $).
• Meetings of officials and ministers responsible for francophone affairs. (~ $20 000 $).

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