Federal/provincial partnership announced for French language training

Treasury Board President Anna Thistle and John Montague, Regional Director - Atlantic Region, Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC), announced today a partnership for the delivery of French language training to federal government employees.

Language Training Canada, PSC, has contracted French Services, Treasury Board Secretariat, to provide full-time French language training to seven federal government employees who work in the province. These employees are in positions which require the ability to communicate in both of the country�s official languages.

"Through French Services, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to provide this service to the PSC," said Minister Thistle. "It complements the French language training now being offered by the provincial government to our employees."

Currently, French Services offers French language training to more than 300 provincial and federal employees in seven communities - St. John�s, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Burin, Stephenville, Corner Brook, and Labrador City.

Further to the seven federal employees receiving intensive training, there are also 30 more federal employees receiving part-time training in St. John�s, Corner Brook, and Stephenville.

"This partnership is the result of a successful pilot project last year," stated Mr. Montague. "Through this partnership, rather than the federal government having to establish its own training program, it can access the quality training and teachers already available through the province�s French Services. It�s a win-win situation."

French Services, Treasury Board Secretariat, provides services in French within the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. French Services acts as a resource to provincial government departments and develops strategies to offer services in the French language to the Francophone population of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is funded through a five-year Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages cost-shared on a 75/25 basis.

The Public Service Commission of Canada, through Language Training Canada, is responsible for providing French language training for federal government departments and employees.

Media contact: Carmel Parsons, Communications, (709) 729-6830.

2000 10 17 11:10 a.m.