Province partners with francophone group to deliver entrepreneurship program in French

The provincial government is partnering with a francophone economic development group to deliver a provincial entrepreneurship program to French speaking people living in Newfoundland and Labrador. The development officers of the R�seau de d�veloppement �conomique et d�employabilit� (Economic Development and Employability Network) or RD�E, have received training from the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development to deliver its Getting the Message Out program to francophone audiences.

Last week, at the all-grade school �cole Sainte-Anne in La Grand� Terre on the Port au Port Peninsula, RD�E economic development officer Sandra Barter-Martin made the first delivery of the Getting the Message Out program in French to high school students.

"I believe this is the first time the provincial government has worked in partnership with francophone residents of the province to deliver a government entrepreneurship program," said Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. "I am pleased that we are able to extend the reach of this program to the francophone community. This initiative shows that real change is taking place in Newfoundland and Labrador."

The Getting the Message Out program is a federal-provincial initiative delivered by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. It is designed to change attitudes and foster confidence among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about the province�s economic future by raising awareness of the increasingly diversified opportunities for entrepreneurship in all areas of the province. Audiences are introduced to successful, innovative Newfoundland and Labrador businesses in traditional and emerging new sectors of the economy. Half of the program�s activities are directed toward youth audiences, the other half to target groups such as municipalities, chambers of commerce, employment readiness groups and regional economic development boards.

The RD�E is a branch of the F�d�ration des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador. Its aim is to help francophones start businesses, support job creation, encourage economic development, and promote bilingualism as an added value for business. The RD�E has two economic development officers in the Port au Port region, one in Labrador and one in St. John�s working in four strategic sectors: knowledge-based economy, tourism, rural development and youth involvement in economic development.

Qu�on se le dise!, the French name of Getting the Message Out, was initiated jointly by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development and the French Services Division of Treasury Board Secretariat, whose mandate is to build the capacity of the provincial government to deliver services in French in partnership with other government departments. French Services operates under the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages.

There are approximately 2,500 francophones in Newfoundland and Labrador and approximately 21,000 people who are able to speak the French language.

Media contact : Clifford Grinling, ITRD, (709) 729-7066

2002 10 30                                        3:20 p.m.