FREDERICTON (CNB) – New Brunswick will host the next Ministerial Conference on Canadian Francophonie, to be held in the Dieppe-Moncton region June 15-16. The theme will be Le nouveau visage de la francophonie canadienne (the new face of the Canadian Francophonie).

The Ministerial Conference on Canadian Francophonie is the only intergovernmental forum in Canada that brings together ministers from all governments to work together for the development of the Canadian Francophonie.

"The Dieppe-Moncton ministerial conference will give ministers an opportunity to consider the make-up of Canada's francophone diversity and to discuss steps to be taken to reflect this diversity in the provision of government services in French," said Paul Robichaud, deputy premier and economic development minister. He is also minister responsible for the Francophonie in New Brunswick.

During the conference, ministers will discuss priorities related to the Canadian Francophonie, including immigration and economic development. They will exchange observations on the favourable circumstances that exist in Canada to live in French as well as on best practices in the provision of services in French.

The new director of Radio-Canada Acadie in Moncton, Michel Cormier, will deliver the opening talk on this topic. Cormier is an experienced reporter who hails from Cocagne, in eastern New Brunswick.

"New Brunswick intends to take advantage of its involvement in this federal-provincial-territorial conference to highlight its distinct characteristics and our government's commitment to the Acadian and francophone community," said Robichaud. "Strengthening the Canadian Francophonie can only contribute to the vitality of the language and French-speaking language and culture to promote a better quality of life for residents. "


01-06-11