At the end of October, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, representing the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, unveiled a federal investment of $1.8 million for a Francophone Economic Development Fund aimed at bolstering projects with a beneficial influence on Francophone communities.
In the upcoming three years, the fund is set to offer financial assistance to not-for-profit organizations, supporting priorities such as economic development and diversification, encompassing trade and investment, economic immigration, the green economy, youth, and tourism.
Conseil de développement économique de l'Alberta will oversee the administration of the fund in collaboration with Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba and Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan.
This investment is anticipated to finance approximately 30 community-based projects, contribute to the creation of around 150 jobs, and stimulate an additional $5.5 million in community-based investments.