“The Institut français will not only play an important role in supporting and enriching our fransaskois community,” said Minister Goodale. “It will also provide greater opportunity for our young people to increase their ability to communicate in both languages, a key asset in our global economy.”
“I am very pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting the Institut français at the University of Regina,” said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. “Through this innovative centre, youth will benefit from access to high-quality French programs and a student support centre with a French atmosphere.”
In November 2003, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan signed a Canada-Saskatchewan subsidiary agreement with the aim of creating the Institut français at the University of Regina. The agreement allows for the development of a post-secondary education centre that will offer language, cultural, and social programs. The funding will be spread over a five-year period from 2003–04 to 2007–08. The Government of Saskatchewan will provide more than $13,800,000 in funding and the Government of Canada will provide funds of $6,900,000.
Provincial funding for this initiative comes from the provincial contribution to the University of Regina’s operating budget. There will be no incremental provincial funding over the term of this agreement.
“The creation of the Institut français will enable the University of Regina to become the focal point for French-language education in Saskatchewan. I would like to thank the Governments of Canada and of Saskatchewan for helping to make this project a reality,” said David Barnard, President of the University of Regina. “I am particularly proud of the excellent relationship established between the university and the Francophone community of Saskatchewan. Together we have met major challenges and, in doing so, have built a genuine partnership that will ensure the success of the Institut and will strengthen the foundations of the university and the community.”
Financial assistance from the Government of Canada is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage under its Official Languages in Education Program. The program seeks to help the provinces and territories give members of French- or English-language minority communities the opportunity to receive their education in their mother tongue, and to develop their potential by becoming familiar with their own culture. It also provides Canadians with the opportunity to learn French or English as a second language, and to deepen their knowledge of the country’s other official-language community.
Federal funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 Budget.
Information:
Pat Breton
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
(613) 996-3225
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
René Archambault
Executive Director
Official Minority Language Office
Saskatchewan Learning
(306) 787-6089
(This release is also available at: http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.)
Backgrounder
Support for the Institut français at the University of Regina
On November 18, 2003, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan signed the Canada-Saskatchewan Auxiliary Agreement for the Establishment of the Institut français at the University of Regina. Under this agreement, the two governments are working to establish this institution as a post-secondary academic, linguistic, cultural, and social centre. Plans include developing programs, establishing a student support centre, researching issues related to Francophone minorities, and creating partnerships between the Institut français and the community.
Leading up to this agreement, a committee comprised of representatives from the University, the Francophone community (through the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise), the Francophile community (through Canadian Parents for French), and the provincial government developed a post-secondary learning centre model that was then used in the creation of the Institut.
Under the November 2003 Auxiliary Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide funding of $5.65 million over five
years (2003–04 to 2007–08) and $1.25 million during the same period via the federal-provincial agreement signed
under the Official Languages in Education Program. This brings total federal funding for the Institut français to
$6.9 million. The Province of Saskatchewan will provide more than $13.8 million through its contribution to the University
of Regina’s operating budget.
Federal funding of $5,650,000 will be distributed as follows:
2003–2004: $1,050,000
2004–2005: $1,120,000
2005–2006: $1,130,000
2006–2007: $1,145,000
2007–2008: $1,205,000
Provincial funding of $13,823,354 will be distributed as follows:
2003–2004: $2,563,207
2004–2005: $2,660,183
2005–2006: $2,760,845
2006–2007: $2,865,331
2007–2008: $2,973,788