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ARCHIVED - RPP 2006-2007
Western Economic Diversification Canada
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SECTION IV – OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
APPENDIX A – OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Through the development of new partnerships and opportunities to expand on current community and economic development initiatives, WD commits to four key activities in WD’s Section 41 Action Plan (2004-2008):
- communicating the department’s Official Language Action Plan by promoting concepts, activities and achievements of Section 41 within and external to the department;
- building partnerships with other departments and stakeholders;
- providing support to FEDOs; and
- providing support to projects with Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).
The action plan looks to enhance the department's strategic directions of innovation,
entrepreneurship and community economic development within the activities of the western OLMCs. Further information on the action plan can be obtained at: http://www.wd.gc.ca/rpts/strategies/ola/2004/.
WD is continuing to develop a strategic and unified network of francophone businesses to service western OLMCs. The four FEDOs work with francophone communities and entrepreneurs to encourage innovative, sustainable and entrepreneurial economic practices.
| Across Western Canada, WD partners with the FEDOs to address and provide strong assistance to francophone entrepreneurs and communities. In 2005, this partnership, under the broader umbrella of the WCBSN, was highlighted by the Commissioner of Official Languages as a best practice in identifying and meeting the needs of francophone entrepreneurs and communities. |
WD's partnership with Canadian Heritage for the Interdepartmental Partnership for the Official Languages Communities program (IPOLC) will continue until March 31, 2007. The IPOLC Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) is intended to encourage new partnerships in the OLMC and seek projects resulting in long-term sustainable community and economic advancements.
WD and Industry Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the tele-education and tele-learning pilot projects and youth internships in the West. Pilot projects target:
- universities and colleges serving OLMCs;
- the catchment areas for universities and colleges in OLMCs; and
- minority communities that have research programs with such universities or colleges.
The major focus of the pilot projects has been expanding content and applications as opposed to supporting infrastructure or capital development. The internships serve to establish opportunities for youth to develop skills and labour capacity in their province of residence, and provide an environment conducive to enhancing their skills in the minority official language.
WD employs a flexible, comprehensive and integrated approach to innovative business development and sustainable communities in Western Canada’s francophone communities. It offers WD the flexibility to support operating funding to existing francophone organizations, while enhancing the suite of services that can be offered to francophone entrepreneurs, SMEs and OLMCs.
1 Members include Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), Women’s Enterprise Initiative Centres (WEIs), Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs), and Canada Business Service Centres (CBSCs)
2 Western Centre for Economic Research (2001)
3 “A Frontier Approach to Canada-United States Multifactor Productivity Performance,” Statistics Canada, April 3, 2003.
4 The Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians is responsible for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, which expires on March 31, 2007. WD is delivering the program in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. UAS program resource allocations are reported in the RPP of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).
5 The completion of delivery of $92 million in funding for the Alberta (60 per cent) and Saskatchewan (40 per cent) Centenaries. The year 2005 marked the 100th anniversary of Alberta and Saskatchewan joining Confederation and WD supported capital legacy, celebration and learning projects that will have lasting benefits for community development.