Post-secondary institutions that serve French-language minority communities are essential to their vitality and development, particularly in remote northern regions like Yellowknife.
Today, Marc Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, announced an investment of nearly $5 million for a major project at Collège nordique francophone. He was accompanied by Michael V. McLeod, Member of Parliament (Northwest Territories), and the Honourable R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister of Justice and Government House Leader in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Serré made this announcement on behalf of the Honorable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The investment announced today will help the institution increase access to French-language post-secondary studies for its student population by offering programs that meet the labour requirements of the Franco-ténois community. This support will help ensure better planning and use of resources in order to offer quality French-language post-secondary training programs, as well as an enriching student experience. The Collège will be able to develop a strategy for diversity, equity and inclusion. This initiative will make its courses more accessible and inclusive. Classrooms will also be set up to facilitate virtual teaching.
The Government of Canada is providing more than $4.2 million over three years for this project, while the Government of the Northwest Territories is allocating $680,000 over the same period.
The project is funded under the Canada-Northwest Territories agreement on minority-language education and second official-language instruction from 2019-20 to 2022-23.
