MP Galipeau Announces Funding for l'Assemblee de la francophonie de l'Ontario and La Cite to Support Francophone Economic Development in Southern Ontario

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 20, 2015) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
(FedDev Ontario)

Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans Royal Galipeau, on behalf of FedDev Ontario Minister of State Gary Goodyear, today announced up to $1,924,844 that will benefit Francophone and bilingual organizations across southern Ontario.

FedDev Ontario is providing up to $999,840 to l'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (AFO) to launch an internship program for Francophone youth.

FedDev Ontario is also providing La Cité up to $925,004 to deliver online training modules for businesses and to provide applied research services to businesses and community organizations.

For more information on these projects, please see the backgrounder.

These projects are supported through the Economic Development Initiative, as part of the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration and Communities, the Government of Canada's strategy for official languages.

Quick Facts

• Ontario's Francophone population increased almost 50 per cent between 1951 and 2006, and increased an additional 4.5% from 2006 to 2011. Ontario is now home to 611,500 Franco-Ontarians.
• During these projects, l'AFO and La Cité expect to create 36 permanent jobs and 60 temporary full-time jobs.
• Through EDI, from 2009 to 2013, FedDev Ontario has invested $2.6 million in 30 business and community development projects across southern Ontario. This investment has leveraged an estimated $2.5 million in additional support for these projects from partners such as Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Heritage, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, as well as local businesses and not-for-profit organizations.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada understands that Francophone communities play a crucial role in the economic development of southern Ontario. The funding we are announcing today for l'AFO and La Cité will help Francophone and bilingual organizations across southern Ontario to access youth interns, business management training and applied research services."

- Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans

"On behalf of the Assemblée, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for its commitment to the economic development of Ontario's Francophone community. This support will help us offer services tailored to our community in order to adequately foster its economic development and prosperity."

- Denis Vaillancourt, President, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (AFO)

"The important support of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario will help us to strengthen the economic base, the sustainability and the competitiveness of the Franco-Ontarian community. This funding will help La Cité to continue assisting Ontario's Francophone entrepreneurs and businesses through new services and training tools in business management and product development."

- Lise Bourgeois, President, La Cité

Related Products

Backgrounder: Economic Development Initiative Recipients in Ottawa

Speech: Economic Development Initiative Funding Announcement for AFO and La Cité

Associated Links

Economic Development Initiative

Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018.

Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (en français seulement)

La Cité collégiale (en français seulement)

Backgrounder

Economic Development Initiative Recipients in Ottawa

FedDev Ontario is investing a total of up to $1,924,844 in two Francophone organizations through the Economic Development Initiative.

L'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (AFO)

Contribution: up to $999,840

L'AFO will develop and administer a youth internship program across southern Ontario. The program will enable 29 businesses and 21 not-for-profit organizations to hire full-time youth interns for up to 52 weeks. Training will also be offered to all of the interns to assist them with their job functions.

This project will contribute to the sustainable development of Francophone communities and will provide opportunities for young Francophones to work in their mother tongue, while also gaining valuable skills, work experience and networking opportunities.

FedDev Ontario's investment will leverage over $682,000 from small- and medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit organizations.

The project is expected to create 21 permanent positions and 30 temporary positions during the project.

La Cité

Contribution: up to $925,004

La Cité will develop online training modules to support Francophone businesses in the development of business management and entrepreneurial skills, and support the development of new products through applied research partnerships with businesses and community organizations.

Through these activities, La Cité will improve the economic base and competitiveness of Francophone businesses and communities, increase the number of new Francophone businesses in southern Ontario and improve the success of entrepreneurs.

FedDev Ontario's investment will leverage over $658,000 from small- and medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit organizations.

The project is expected to create 15 permanent jobs and 30 temporary jobs during the project and maintain 30 permanent jobs and 40 temporary jobs.

Economic Development Initiative (EDI)

The Economic Development Initiative (EDI) is the key economic development initiative under the "Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities," the Government of Canada's strategy for official languages.

Through the Roadmap, the Government of Canada is investing $1.1 billion across 15 federal departments and agencies with a focus on three pillars that will ensure the vitality of English and French in Canada through education, immigration, and communities.

For EDI across the country, the Government of Canada is providing a total of $30.5 million from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2018. During this period, FedDev Ontario will invest up to $4 million in funding in southern Ontario.

EDI contributes to the Government's priority of creating jobs, promoting economic growth through investment, and supporting the economic development of official language minority communities (OLMCs). EDI will continue to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships, and the diversification of economic activities in OLMCs.

Related Products

News Release: MP Galipeau Announces Funding for l'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario and La Cité to support Francophone economic development in Southern

Speech: Economic Development Initiative Funding Announcement for AFO and La Cité

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