FRENCH-LANGUAGE SERVICES POLICY ANNUAL REPORT RELEASED

Over the last two years, Saskatchewan's Francophone community has had better access to important information in both official languages.

Details were released today in the Annual Report for the French-language Services Policy and covers accomplishments during the two years since the policy implementation: 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. The Policy is a formal commitment by the province to enhancing French-language services and sets out goals with respect to communication, service delivery and development, in consultation with the Francophone community.

"The progress made since the French-language services policy was adopted in 2003 is significant," Government Relations Minister Harry Van Mulligen said. "One major achievement is the adoption of the Implementation Guidelines for the policy by government in January 2006."

Although Saskatchewan is not a bilingual province, it is part of a bilingual country and has constitutional obligations to offer French-language services in the areas of justice and education. With its French-language services policy, Saskatchewan goes beyond these obligations recognizing the important contribution of Saskatchewan's Francophone community to the social, cultural and economic development of the province.

"Saskatchewan's Francophone community contributes a great deal to the character and success of this province," Van Mulligen said. "And by broadening access to government services in French, the vitality of this community is strengthened."

The administration of the policy is the responsibility of the Office of French Language Co-ordination (OFLC) in the department of Government Relations. OFLC provides translation services to other departments and Crown corporations and agencies and administers the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on French–language services.

Copies of the French–language services policy and the annual report are available on the Government relations Website at www.gr.gov.sk.ca/oflc/index-e.htm.

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For More Information, Contact:

Gladys Wasylenchuk Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-1370