In a move to strengthen French-language services, the Manitoba government has announced a new multi-year funding agreement with the Association of Bilingual Municipalities of Manitoba (AMBM). Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard, also responsible for Francophone Affairs, unveiled the agreement on International Day of la Francophonie.
The historic agreement, totaling $885,000 over four years, builds upon $165,000 provided in 2023-24, bringing the total investment to $1,050,000 for the period from 2023-24 to 2027-28. The funding, sourced from a combination of provincial and federal contributions under the Canada–Manitoba Agreement on French-Language Services, aims to empower bilingual municipalities to enhance services in French.
“This historic agreement is the result of our commitment to strengthen French-language services in Manitoba,” said Minister Simard. “Working hand in hand with our municipal partners, we were able to craft a multi-year agreement that gives bilingual municipalities the tools they need to offer Francophones access to local services in their official language of choice. Our government will continue to work with municipal and stakeholder leadership to realize our shared goal of making Manitoba a truly bilingual province.”
The announcement was made at the opening of the AMBM leadership meeting in St. Boniface, where members were informed of the deal.
The funding will support the implementation of the Municipal Maturity Model (3M), a tool that allows municipalities to assess and improve their French-language service offerings. It will facilitate enhanced translation, language training, policy development, the normalization of bilingualism, and efforts to attract bilingual residents and entrepreneurs.
Ivan Normandeau, president of the AMBM, hailed the investment as “unprecedented” and a “significant advancement in the delivery of municipal services in both official languages.” He emphasized the agreement’s role in providing “essential predictability,” allowing for confident implementation of the 3M model.
Minister Simard also acknowledged the AMBM’s crucial role in supporting bilingual communities over its 30-year history. “The ongoing vitality and prosperity of our bilingual communities is a testament to the essential role the AMBM has played for over 30 years,” he said. “They are valued partners in our efforts to enhance the vitality of Manitoba’s Francophone community and support and assist its development.”
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