Question Period Note: Partnership with the ACFO to Support the Bilingualism of the City of Ottawa

In June 2019, The Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie announced a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa (ACFO) in order to support the bilingual character of Canada’s capital.

• Our Government believes in the importance of promoting the use of our two official languages in Canadian society.
• Our Government is proud to support the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa in order to promote the bilingual character of Canada’s capital.
• This funding of $1.25 million over two years, is part of the 2018-2023 Action Plan on Official Languages.

• The Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 (Action Plan) invests 10 million dollars over five years to strengthen strategic investments, through the Strategic Fund sub-component of the Development of Official-Language Communities program, with the goal to empower community organizations to seize new opportunities and provide exceptional advocacy efforts. Within this envelope, the Action Plan dedicates up to 2.5 million dollars over five years on initiatives led by partners such as the City of Ottawa or community-based organizations to foster the bilingual character of the Capital of Canada.
• Canadian Heritage will contribute 1.25 million dollars over two years (2019-2020 and 2020 2021) to the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa (ACFO) for a project under which the organization will administer funds available under the Action Plan to strengthen the bilingual character of the City of Ottawa.
o The ACFO is a community organization that seeks to promote the Francophonie and the collective interests of the national capital’s Francophone community, in all of its diversity.
o The Official Languages Support Programs of Canadian Heritage (PCH) provide core funding to ACFO since 1991-1992.
• On November 19, 2019, ACFO announced the launch of its request of micro-grants. The purpose of the program is to promote the bilingual character of Ottawa, and promote the Francophonie and the collective interests of the Francophone community throughout the City of Ottawa by investing in tangible projects, by and for the community.
• For the 1.25 million dollars planned for the last two years of the Action Plan (2021-2023), Canadian Heritage will have to determine the preferred mechanism according the results achieved in 2019-2021.

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