The Government of Canada Marks 35th Anniversary of Official Language Monitor Program

The OLMP provides participants with an opportunity for full-time or part-time employment in the classroom, helping teachers give students linguistic and cultural enrichment in their second official language, either English or French.

"This program promotes our linguistic duality, of which we are very proud as Canadians. It is part of our identity and a cornerstone of our country," said Secretary of State Moore. "This is a wonderful investment in our young people and a tangible contribution to the development of a genuinely bilingual Canada."

"Second-language instruction and support for Francophones and Anglophones living in minority communities are essential to ensure the future of Canada's linguistic duality and to bring Canadians together throughout the country," said Mr. Lemieux.

The Program, which is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, is administered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), in cooperation with provincial and territorial departments of education. CMEC is an intergovernmental body made up of the ministers of education and advanced education from all the provinces and territories.

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the vitality of Francophone and Anglophone minority communities and to recognizing the importance of linguistic duality as an economic, social, and cultural asset for all Canadians. Youth and culture are among the targeted areas for action in the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada 2008-2013.

This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.

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