MP Royal Galipeau Announces Investment to Strengthen Francophone Communities in Ottawa

For immediate release
June 15, 2010

Ottawa, Ontario — Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Orleans, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), today announced that seven Francophone organizations in the Ottawa area will benefit from an investment of more than $189,000 to help support economic growth and promote linguistic duality.

"Our government is committed to investing in Francophone communities here in Ontario to generate business development opportunities," said MP Galipeau. "Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our government will continue to foster economic growth and help create jobs in Ottawa."

Through the Economic Development Initiative, FedDev Ontario is investing in seven local projects, including support for the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario for follow-up activities from a province-wide forum to develop a community strategic plan for Ontario's Francophone population.

"We are delighted that FedDev Ontario has made the wise decision to support the development of the Strategic Plan for the Franco-Ontarian community," said Mariette Carrier-Fraser, President of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario. "This tangible support will help achieve the results sought after by community stakeholders who are dedicated to developing the Francophone community, which will also contribute to the growth of the province as a whole."

Please see the backgrounder for a full list of projects approved in the Ottawa area.

The Economic Development Initiative is part of the "Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future," the Government of Canada's strategy for official languages. As part of this initiative, FedDev Ontario is providing $4 million over five years to promote the development of new expertise through innovation, diversification of economic activities, partnerships, and increased support of small- and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario Francophone communities.

FedDev Ontario was created as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to support economic and community development, innovation, and economic diversification, with contributions to communities, businesses and non-profit organizations in southern Ontario. To learn more about FedDev Ontario, please visit the website at www.feddevontario.gc.ca, or call 1-866-593-5505. For additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
613-943-7599

Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
416-973-5945

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Backgrounder

Listed below is a breakdown of the projects approved for funding under the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) in the Ottawa region. 

Funding Recipient	Project Title	Total EDI contribution (up to)
Association des auteures et auteurs de l'Ontario Français	Identifying Market Opportunities and Challenges	$30,000
Association française des municipalités de l'Ontario	Creating a Strategic Plan to Support the Development of Francophone Municipalities	$33,000
Conseil de la coopération de l'Ontario	Hiring a Youth Intern to Support the Development of Youth Cooperatives	$27,500
Coopération intégration Canada	Hiring a Youth Intern to Develop an Employment Research Model for Immigrants	$23,624
L'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (L'AFO)	Follow-Up Activities related to the Strategic Plan for the Franco-Ontarian Community	$20,000
Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d'Ottawa	Hiring a Youth Intern to Develop a Volunteer Strategic Vision	$27,500
Réseau Ontario	Hiring a Youth Intern to Develop Business and Market Opportunities	$27,500
Total		$189,124