Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Ottawa, provinces sign bilingual education deal

WINNIPEG - The federal and provincial governments signed a new four-year minority-language education agreement worth more than $1 billion this morning in Winnipeg.

Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Minister James Moore signed the new accord, along with Manitoba Advanced Education Minister Diane McGifford, at a ceremony this morning at the Legislative Building. McGifford, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Education, represented her provincial counterparts at the event.

The deal increases federal funding for language-exchange programs and minority-language education by 1.5 per cent over the previous four-year accord, Moore said.

It comes a week before the 40th anniversary of the implementation of Canada’s Official Languages Act, he noted.

"About 2.4 million young Canadians right now are learning English or French as a second language in school, including over 300,000 in immersion classes," Moore said.

About $938 million will be invested over four years in provincial and territorial bilateral agreements, complementing provincial and territorial investments in minority-language education and second-language instruction. As well, $96 million will be invested over the next four years to fund language-exchange learning programs.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
 

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