Ottawa Invests $72 Million to Boost French Language Education

The federal government of Canada has announced a significant investment of over $72 million over the next four years to enhance French language education across the country. This funding will support instruction from pre-school through to post-secondary institutions, a move that has received widespread approval from advocates of French language education.

During a media event in Winnipeg, Ginette Lavack, Member of Parliament for St. Boniface-St. Vital, and René Cable, the provincial minister of advanced education and training, formalized the commitment by signing a bilateral agreement focused on francophone and French immersion funding.

Joel Martine, executive director of the Canadian Parents for French – Manitoba, expressed enthusiasm about the announcement, stating, “It’s a good day whenever we see an announcement that government sees the value of French learning.” Martine emphasized that this funding will facilitate the growth of francophone programs in the province, especially in a time when Canada is exploring new global trading partners.

The funding is particularly crucial for the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, which serves around 6,500 students across 25 schools in Manitoba. Luc Bremault, assistant superintendent of the division, noted the continued growth of enrollment, stating, “We have been growing by two percent year to year. This money will definitely help with expanding.”

In a statement, Lavack highlighted Manitoba’s commitment to its bilingual identity, which is rooted in its two official languages and the strength of its educational sectors. Under the terms of the agreement, the provincial government will match the federal funding of $18 million annually. However, a provincial spokesperson confirmed that Manitoba’s contribution will increase to $30 million each year for the duration of the agreement.

Cable acknowledged the investment in French language education as a recognition of Manitoba’s bilingual heritage and a vision established by Louis Riel. “By ensuring access to post-secondary programs in French, we will enable students to strengthen their cultural identity while preparing to become active bilingual citizens in their professional and personal lives,” she stated.

The announcement is part of a broader commitment from Ottawa, which earlier this year unveiled a plan to allocate $1.4 billion over four years for minority language education and second language instruction in provinces and territories. This initiative comes at a time when demand for French immersion programs is surging across Canada. According to Statistics Canada, the number of French-language minority schools increased by 21.5 percent from 2005 to 2021, while enrollment in elementary and secondary levels rose by an impressive 64 percent.

The federal funding and resulting provincial investment are expected to enhance educational opportunities for students learning French, further enriching Canada’s linguistic diversity and cultural identity.