Loading...
The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-01-31, Page 25Government signs protocol on language OTTAWA — Secretary of State Lucien Bouchard and Lyn McLeod, chairman of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, (CMEC), have signed a new five-year protocol for agreements on minority -lan- guage education and second-lan- guage instruction. Under the protocol, the federal government, over the next five years, will contribute $1.2 billion to the provinces to assist them in pro- viding, through the provincial edu- cation systems, programs in the mi- nority language (English in Quebec and French elsewhere) and pro- grams in English and French as a second language. "This represents an increase of $145 million which reflects the spirit of the Official Language's Act and is a tangible demonstration of this gov- ernment's commitment to the pro- motion of linguistic duality as a firth damental aspect of Canadian soci- ety," said Mr. Bouchard. The protocol provides for most of these additional funds to be used for new federal -provincial initiatives. The federal and provincial govern- ments have also agreed to give pri- ority to the following areas: —access to minority -language ed- ucation at all levels; —expansion of services in French at the post -secondary level; —expansion of teacher -prepara- tion programs; —increased opportunities for sec- ond -language learning. Mr. Bouchard announced that he expected approximately two-thirds of the available funds to be devoted to education in the minority lan- guage. "Priorities for the use of the funds 1.are .set ouCii; the >protocoI,'-hessaid, "and access to education in 'the mi- nority official language, as provided for " in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is clearly the first prior- ity for the federal government." "All provinces now provide educa- tion in the minority official language and English and French second -lan- guage programs," stated Mrs. Mc- Leod, noting that the provinces are at different stages in the develop- ment of their programs. "The new _protocol will ensure theseservices are maintained and new activities are developed at all levels of the education system." Emphasizing that the success of these programs is due in large measure on close co-operation be- tween the federal and provincial governments, Mr. Bouchard and ? Mrs, McLeod noted the protocol pro- vides for an annual consultation be- tween the two orders of government on priority areas. It makes provision as well for each order of government, within its own area of jurisdiction, to consult inter- ested groups. The protocol also provides for two national ptpgrams, the summer lan- guage binary program, and official language monitor program. They are funded by the federal government and administered by the CMEC, in collaboration with the provincial governments. The two ministers praised the strong spirit of co-operation that prevailed throughout the negotia- tions on the new protocol. "I know this spirit of -harmony will be maintained during the negotia- tion of the new bilateral agree- ments," said Mrs. McLeod. "These agreements, "Mr. Bou- chard said, "are a shining example of intergovernmental co-operation in an area that demands sustained co-ordination by both orders of g yv ernment." Over the past five years the feder- al government has contributed $1.032 billion to assist provinces and territories with their official lan- guages education. u?t ea ;13 LIBRARY BOOK SALE — Friends Lisa Alexander and Erin Whiteley looked over the magazine selection at the recent Friends of the Library book sale in Wingham. Grain producers area pleased with drought aid Spokesmen for producers of On- tario's three largest grain crops — soybeans, wheat and corn — have stated their support for the drought aid formula announced by the Cana- dian Government in late 19. . At the first regular meeting of the three producer groups since the drought relief program was an: nounced in November by federal Ag- riculture''Mihikter` D6W Mazankow- ski, and Grains and Oilseeds Minis- ter Charles Mayer, unanimous ap- preciation was expressed for the aid formula and the degree to which it matched recommendations made by Canadian grain prodicer groups. "The 1988 drought affected crops in many areas of Ontario, but was particularly devastating for growers in Southwestern Ontario counties where grain production is most con- centrated," said Owen Dobbyn, chairman of the Ontario Soya -Bean Growers' Marketing Board, who also chaired the January meeting of ., the three groups, "Financial effects of'the drought will become increasingly obvious during the next few months as farm- ers face seeding costs for the 1989 crop," stated Ontario Wheat Pro- ducers' Marketing Board Chairman Glen Courtis. Cliff Leach, president of the On- tario Corn -Producers' Association expressed the hope, "that applica- tion forms will be mailed to affected farmers very soon so that financial assistance can be distributed well. before the 1989 planting season be- gins." In their January meeting, the three groups also discussed crop in- surance and farm income stabiliza- tion programs,and emphasized. again the urgent need for improve- ments in these statutory plans to re- duce the future need for emergency ad hoc measures such as the 1988-89 drought aid program. 1989 PRICES ARE for the first 25 words: All Ontarioo.. oo... o,..... $275 Central Ontario . e , .. $135 Western Ontario . , ..... $130 Eastern Ontario ..... e e $ 70 Northern --Ontario ..... e , ... $ 50 Cross 'Canada e .. e . $843 . . e f.: EXTRA WORDS 25-50 words $3 each, 50-75 words $7 each ,A1 adquar " compUt r ,aety Ork o tib 7 transp ant centres, Health Ainister Elinor Caplan and Ron Kanter, MPP for St. Andrew -St. Patrick, an- nounced., Capital funding of $839,000 has been allocated to MORE to set up its Toronto office at 984 Bay St. and to establish the computer link to trans- plant centres in Toronto, Hamilton, London, Kingston and Ottawa. The network will keep a record of potential recipients in Ontario, plac- Dr. and Mrs. S. G. Leedham at- tended the Ontario Veterinary Con- vention held in Hamilton last week. While in Hamilton they visited with their son Robert, who is attending McMaster University. NOTICE FRED LAWRENCE ELECTRIC LTD. willnow be knQwn_ _s:8¢.. Dunbar & Cook Electric Ltd. effective immediately For home, farm & commercial wiring call Don Dunbar - Auburn or Paul Cook - Belgrave 526-7505 357-1537 INTERESTED IN PERFORMING OR CREATIVE ARTS? The Wingharn and area Arts Steering Committee is a newly formed committee which is trying to make contact with per- forming and creatilte arts groups, clubs and individuals (for example dance, pottery, music, drama, quilting, books clubs, etc). To make sure that you or your group is involved in future community events, and is included in a Directory of Commu- nity Arts Groups and individuals please complete the following form or call the Recreation Department at 357-1208 for more information. NAME OF GROUP/INDIVIDUAL GROUP ACTIVITIES CONTACT PERSON PHONE Thank You! Please return to the Wingham Recreation Office, or any Huron., County Library, no later than February 20, 1989. .L<¢ °y. '<%.51 u 4 i 4is$g. s>o{, fJ