Ottawa, Canada — The Canadian government has announced a significant new investment of $20.5 million over the next five years to support the labour market integration of official language minority communities. The funding, which will be allocated to the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities Program, aims to foster inclusive and diverse employment opportunities for both Francophone and Anglophone minority groups across Canada.
The Enabling Fund, which had already received a $74.5 million investment for the 2023–2028 period, will now total $95 million. The initiative focuses on supporting English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities outside of Quebec, as well as racial minorities, such as Black Canadians and other non-Caucasian groups. The new funding was announced by Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, during the Dialogue Days event, a key annual consultation with community organisations.
The enhanced funding will support 14 organizations across Canada, ensuring that every province and territory has one Francophone and one Anglophone organization benefiting from the program. This announcement follows discussions held at the 2024 Workforce Summit on strategies for improving labour market development for these communities.
Strengthening Community Economic Development
The Enabling Fund aims to strengthen the vitality of Canada’s official language minority communities by driving community economic development, enhancing human resource development, and fostering local labour market partnerships. Over the past five years, the fund has created more than 60 new businesses and facilitated the creation of over 4,500 jobs across the country.
In addition to helping businesses and job seekers, the program benefits over 90,000 individuals, businesses, and community groups annually. This includes more than 11,000 young people and 12,000 newcomers, all of whom gain access to job training, resources, and support for workforce integration.
Minister Boissonnault emphasized the importance of removing barriers to employment, particularly for individuals in minority language communities. He said, “By removing barriers to labour participation, we can help more Canadian families find good jobs. This includes addressing language barriers and ensuring people can access the support they need.”
Supporting Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages
This funding also contributes to the government’s broader Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration, which aims to promote the equality of English and French in Canadian society and ensure equal access to opportunities for individuals in both official language communities.
The latest investment underscores the Canadian government’s commitment to supporting the diversity and economic vitality of its official language minority communities. By ensuring that all Canadians, regardless of their linguistic or cultural background, have access to meaningful employment, the government is working to foster a more inclusive and resilient economy.
Through the Enabling Fund, the government continues to drive its agenda of inclusivity and equity in Canada’s labour market, helping to create a more accessible and diverse workforce for the future.