The Alberta Government has announced its first ever policy aimed at supporting the province’s French speaking community.
The policy creates a new Francophonie Advisory Council aimed at making sure provincial services are available in French. The Franco-Albertan flag has also been elevated to an official “symbol of distinction” in the province, putting it amongst Alberta’s official emblems such as the coat of arms and wild rose.
“This is truly a historic moment in Alberta’s history and marks a turning point for French-speaking Albertans as Canada marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation,” says Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda. “Alberta’s French Policy will enhance our competitive advantage, strengthen our relationship with the francophone community and leverage our fair share of funding support from the federal government. I am proud that the Government of Alberta built a meaningful, collaborative and respectful relationship with the province’s Francophonie to create Alberta’s first French Policy. This is Alberta’s gift to Canada – a symbol of our unity and shared future.”
“On behalf of the community, we applaud the Government of Alberta’s commitment towards its Francophonie,” adds President of the French Canadian Association of Alberta Albert Nolette. “We are grateful to Minister Miranda for his exemplary leadership. We will continue to work with the government to ensure the implementation of this policy.”
After English, French is the most spoken language in Alberta with roughly 238,000 French speakers across the province. Both Bonnyville and St. Paul are part of the Alberta Bilingual Municipalities Network.