Released: March 2nd, 2010

Vancouver – Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon, the province’s largest parent-lead French second language advocacy group, is happy to announce the $110 million Annual Facilities Grant (AFG), which was cut by the Ministry of Education in August of 2009, is being re-instated through March 31st, 2011.

Earlier today the BC Provincial Government submitted its 2010-2011 budget. In the budget announcement the province has committed to reinstating the $110 million AFG. This funding cut had forced a number of school districts across BC to find millions in savings and cuts for the coming school year. Because of this, French second language programs, such as French immersion, were specifically targeted for consolidation and even elimination.

Over the past few months Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon members have been active in over 46 communities in calling on their local MLA’s to re-instate this crucial grant. We were joined by a number of School Districts, the BCSTA, the BCTF, and a handful of other educational partners.

“We are optimistic that the financial measures announced today, especially the re-instatement of the Annual Facilities Grant, will alleviate some of the budget short-fall pressures school districts across British Columbia are experiencing” said Robert Rothon, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon.

“We will continue to monitor the budget short-fall situation in School Districts across BC” he concluded.

Contact: Robert Rothon, Executive Director or Glyn Lewis, Chapter Support & Community Outreach