SASKATCHEWAN MAKES STRIDES TO PROVIDE FRENCH-LANGUAGE SERVICES

Over the last few years, Saskatchewan has made strides towards implementing its French-language Services Policy, to provide better access to information and services provided by the provincial government in French.

"We are determined to do our part to offer high quality services in French that are easily accessible, regardless of the ministry or program," Provincial Secretary and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, June Draude said. "Investing in French-language services is an investment in the future of our growing province."

Adopted in 2003, the French-language Services Policy is a formal commitment by the province to enhance French-language services and sets out goals for communication, service delivery and development, in consultation with the Francophone community.

Accomplishments include funding for six French-language child care facilities and training in French for child care and preschool providers, collaboration between the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour and the Francophone community to assist Francophone labour mobility, and the delivery of the government's first bilingual websites.

"We started small by building on the programs and services we already had in place," Draude said. "It was a modest start, but already we see increased capacity to provide additional French-language services."

As part of a bilingual country, Saskatchewan has obligations to offer French-language services in the areas of justice and education. The province's French-language Services Policy goes beyond these obligations, recognizing the important contribution of Saskatchewan's Francophone community to the social, cultural and economic development of the province.

Details of accomplishments by ministries, crown corporations and government agencies are outlined in the Report on French-language Services 2007-08 and 2008-09. The report and Saskatchewan's French-language Services Policy are available in English and French at www.ops.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Fellinger
Office of the Provincial Secretary
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1370
Email: nicole.fellinger@gov.sk.ca