The Government of Canada invests in Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community

/EINPresswire.com/ -- CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 03/15/16 -- Department of Canadian Heritage

Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament (Egmont), took part today in the official opening of the renovated site of Ecole Francois-Buote and the Carrefour de L'Isle-Saint-Jean on behalf of the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. He took the opportunity to note the Government of Canada's contribution to the renovations.

Under an agreement between the Government of Canada and Prince Edward Island, the Department of Canadian Heritage invested $2,104,150 in this project from 2011 to 2013.

Canadian Heritage contributed to the renovation and expansion of community spaces in collaboration with the province. The Acadian and Francophone community now possesses facilities that better support its growth.

Quick Facts

--  Canadian Heritage has agreements on minority-language education and
    second-language instruction with all of Canada's provinces and
    territories, through the Official-Language Support Programs.
--  There are close to 5,000 Francophones and Acadians in Prince Edward
    Island, representing 3.5 percent of the province's population.

Quotes

"The Canadian Francophonie is a treasure. I am very proud that my department plays a leading role in the development of official-language minority communities. I am also very pleased about this partnership with Prince Edward Island for the benefit of the province's Francophone and Acadian community."

-The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"The school's student enrolment has more than doubled in 25 years, demonstrating the vitality of Charlottetown's Francophone and Acadian community. By investing in these two buildings, we are providing spaces for the community, and these will become meeting places that foster development going far beyond the classroom."

-Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament (Egmont)

"Ecole Francois-Buote and the Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean are in a state-of-the-art building that will be the pride of the Acadian and Francophone community in Charlottetown. French education cannot exist without government support, and the Acadian and Francophone community cannot grow without receiving French education. This is why governments have to work together to realize initiatives like this."

-The Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island

Associated Links

Ecole Francois-Buote

Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean

Official-Language Support Programs

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Contacts:
Pierre-Olivier Herbert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca