OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 29, 2002 – The Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Sheila Copps, and the President of the Privy Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for official languages files, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, today announced the initiative Francophone Youth and Community Futures. This initiative will help Francophone youth to invest in the development of their communities in order to ensure their vitality and sustainability.

Three foundations will be responsible for implementing the initiative, which will receive $3.5 million in funding from Canadian Heritage. In the Atlantic provinces, the Fondation des Jeux de l’Acadie will receive a grant of $1 million; the Fondation franco-ontarienne will receive $1.5 million for Ontario; and Francofonds will receive $1 million to provide services to Francophone youth in Western and Northern Canada. The initiative will run over a ten-year period.

"Youth is the force that drives the development of official-language minority communities; with their commitment, we will be able to build strong and dynamic communities", declared Minister Copps.

"The vitality of young Francophones is essential to the development of their communities," said Minister Dion.

The foundations will use the funding to provide young Francophones in these communities, aged 15 to 24, with activities that will strengthen their sense of attachment to and full participation in the life of their communities.

 

For information :

Kerry Edmonds Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage Telephone: (8l9) 997-7788

André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of Minister Stéphane Dion Telephone: (613) 943-1838

Three existing community foundations have been chosen on the basis of the following criteria:

• their capacity to serve all minority Francophone communities (Western and Northern Canada, Ontario, and Eastern Canada);
• their experience in managing public and private funds;
• their motivation, energy and innovation.

In September 2002, each foundation will be required to submit a business plan outlining the procedures, terms and conditions for managing the funding over the 10-year life cycle of the initiative.

The plans will be developed in close cooperation with community resources and will respect four main principles:

• For and by youth. Youth will have to be active participants in the resource allocation decision-making process, through selection panels or other direct participation mechanisms.
• Partnership / Leverage. Each proposed initiative will be required to adopt a partnership format, with financial participation by the affected community covering at least 25% of the project cost.
• Community building. The initiatives will have to be complementary, building on one another for the good of the community and the young people themselves.
• Accountability. The selection criteria will have to be results-oriented and accountability-driven.

The foundations will produce an annual report on their activities and achievements. Best practices will be shared with all community network stakeholders and will be available on the websites of Canadian Heritage and interested groups.