FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL MEETING OF THE MINISTERS' COUNCIL ON THE CANADIAN FRANCOPHONIE - The economy at the heart of the meeting of ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie
The ministers reaffirmed the Francophonie's positive contribution to the Canadian economy and the importance of promoting its competitive advantage. To this end, they discussed potential ways of fostering business opportunities and promoting market development for Francophone businesses. These discussions were a continuation of the MCCF's Agora on the Francophone economy held in Halifax in August 2024.
With regard to Francophone immigration, the ministers support the Culture d'entreprise [business culture] project, which aims at helping employers promote the retention of French-speaking employees from immigrant backgrounds, in the provinces and territories where French is a minority language. This project, led in collaboration with the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF) and Culture pour tous, will be rolled out progressively over a three-year period, at the end of which a range of support tools will be available to all employers.
The ministers also discussed the maintenance of language competence in French between finishing high school and entering the job market. This is seen as essential in meeting workforce needs in all sectors. They also reaffirmed the importance of communications in French during emergencies.
The meeting was also an opportunity to unveil the digital strategy for the How Far Can French Take You? – Le français peut vous mener loin project. The initiative demonstrates, through a series of video clips, how the French language is a source of personal and professional growth. The video clips feature individuals whose rewarding careers are linked to their knowledge of French.
Lastly, the ministers discussed the importance of supporting the discoverability of francophone content in the digital world and increasing the presence of French in the public sphere.
The Government of Manitoba will co-chair the MCCF's next annual meeting, which will take place in Winnipeg in 2026.
"It was an honour to welcome my colleagues to Yellowknife for this year's MCCF meeting. Linguistic and cultural diversity is a source of strength, pride, and prosperity for communities across the country — and especially here in the Northwest Territories. Our discussions helped advance intergovernmental collaboration on priority issues for the Canadian Francophonie, particularly around economic development and supporting vibrant, inclusive communities."
— The Honourable Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Northwest Territories
"The Francophonie is at the heart of Canadian identity and is a driver to help us build a strong economy. I am delighted to see that each of us within the MCCF shares a desire to work together to make French a competitive advantage all across the country and to build prosperous Francophone communities. In this third year of the Action Plan for Official Languages, we continue to act in support of Francophone communities from coast to coast to coast. I am pleased to note that we have signed agreements with each province and territory to increase support for government services offered in the minority language, with a historic level of funding, so that Canadians can have access to services in the official language of their choice."
—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
The Ministers' Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF), created in 1994, is an intergovernmental forum that brings together the ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie. The MCCF works toward an inclusive and dynamic Francophonie that fully contributes to and participates in the development of Canadian society. The MCCF's website can be found at www.cmfc-mccf.ca.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
38 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge Flights Suspended due to a Strike By CUPE Flight Attendants
Air Canada Jazz and PAL Airlines flights continue to operate as usual MONTRÉAL, Aug. 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Air Canada today said that it has suspended all operations of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge due to a strike by its 10,000 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The strike took effect at 12:58 am Eastern Time on August 16, 2025. Flights by Air Canada Express, which are operated by third-party airlines, are not affected. CUPE served Air Canada the statutory 72-hour strike notice on August 13, 2025. The airline has since been gradually reducing its schedule of approximately 700 daily flights to manage the labour disruption created by CUPE's strike notice, while working diligently to reach a new, negotiated collective agreement and avoid further labour disruption. Approximately 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the strike continues. Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on an airline other than Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge. Air Canada will notify customers with imminent travel of additional cancelled flights and their options. For those customers due to travel soon whose flights are not yet cancelled, Air Canada has put in place a goodwill policy to allow them to rebook their travel or obtain a credit for future travel. For more information customers should visit Air Canada deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers. About Air Canada Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada's climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please see Air Canada's TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US. Sign up for Air Canada news: Media Resources: Photos Videos B-Roll Articles SOURCE Air Canada
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Maine state senator's pitch for western provinces to join U.S. is ‘nonsense,' says ‘enraged' B.C. MLA
VICTORIA — A British Columbia legislator said he went from 'disappointed' to 'enraged' after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'This would not be annexation. It would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions,' he wrote in the letter shared by Day. Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a 'fantasy of empire' but a 'vision deeply rooted in American tradition' that would give the four provinces a chance to 'leave behind failing ideologies.' 'For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means,' he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 'while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection.' He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Martin said 'millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation' would be rewarded by 'liberty' if the four provinces were to join the United States. 'The welcome mat is out,' he concluded. Day said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, monarchism, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Day said in an interview that Martin needed to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is. He said Martin's party was 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to 'rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment left by voice mail and text. Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. 'But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest,' Day said in his response. 'We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground.' Day said in his interview that the 'overwhelming majority of Canadians' like themselves just as they are. 'We have got a lot of work to do in improving our services, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely, and getting good value for it,' Day said. 'But I don't think anybody here looks south and goes, 'we want more of that.'' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Vancouver Sun
5 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. legislator shocked by American senator's 'nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
A B.C. legislator said he went from disappointed to enraged after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Senator Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'This would not be annexation. It would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions,' he wrote in the letter, which Day made public. Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a 'fantasy of empire' but a 'vision deeply rooted in American tradition' that would give the four provinces a chance to 'leave behind failing ideologies.' 'For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means,' he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 'while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection.' He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Martin said 'millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation' would be rewarded by 'liberty' if the four provinces were to join the United States. 'The welcome mat is out,' he concluded. Day, the MLA for Courtenay–Comox, said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, the monarchy, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Day said Martin needed to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is. He said Martin's party was 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to 'rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Martin did not respond to a request for comment left by voicemail and text. Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. 'But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest,' Day said in his response. 'We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground.' Day said the 'overwhelming majority of Canadians' like themselves just as they are. 'We have got a lot of work to do in improving our services, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely, and getting good value for it,' Day said. 'But I don't think anybody here looks south and goes, 'we want more of that.''
