Submitted by the Province of Manitoba
On Dec. 4, I was pleased to take part in a videoconference with my provincial and federal counterparts on the Ministerial Conference of the Canadian Francophonie.
Manitoba is home to a significant and dynamic French-speaking population, and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss issues of importance and to share the priorities of Manitoba’s francophone community.
During today’s meeting, my fellow minsters and I reaffirmed our commitment to work together in promoting the Canadian Francophonie and improving services and communications in French, especially in light of emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
I also shared our government’s priorities as we work to protect and enhance services and supports to our francophone communities including:
• working with other jurisdictions to adopt best practices in the provision of services in French,
• promoting bilingualism as a key driver for post-COVID economic recovery, and
• reaffirming the equal partnership between provinces and territories and the federal government in ensuring the vitality of francophone communities.
The French language is an integral part of our province’s history and its future. I look forward to continued partnership as we work to support and strengthen our francophone community for generations to come.
