Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority Language Education

Intergovernmental Cooperation in the area of Minority Language Education aims to help provincial and territorial governments, directly or through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), provide members of the English (in Quebec) or French (outside Quebec) minority language community with the opportunity to be educated in their own language and to experience cultural enrichment through exposure to their own culture.

On this page:

• Cooperation framework
• Eligible recipients
• Eligible expenditures
• Calendar
• Content of application (action plan)
• Evaluation criteria
• Funding terms
• How to apply
• Contact us

Cooperation framework

The Government of Canada and CMEC, the key partner for federal intervention in the field of education, sign a four-year protocol for agreements. Multi-year agreements accompanied by an action plan are then negotiated under the protocol with each provincial and territorial government for minority language education, or with CMEC or the provinces and territories for interprovincial, interterritorial or pan-Canadian projects. Complementary contributions may be made in addition to the bilateral agreements for the purpose of carrying out initiatives that address emerging priorities.

The funding provided under this sub-component is intended to support initiatives related to a strategic framework, which describes for each linguistic objective six outcomes domains relevant to the advancement of official languages in education: student participation; provision of programs; student performance; enriched school environment; access to post-secondary education; and support for educational staff and research. These outcomes domains serve as a base for the provinces and territories in establishing their action plans and developing targets and performance indicators.

Eligible recipients

Provincial and territorial governments and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.

Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures include:

• a portion of the costs incurred by the provinces and territories for support and administration activities related to minority language education, program development, training and development for teachers and professional staff in the minority language education system, student support and all other expenditures covered under federal-provincial/territorial agreements, including expenditures related to capital projects and interprovincial/interterritorial or pan-Canadian projects undertaken by the provinces and territories or through CMEC.

Calendar

Bilateral agreements with each provincial and territorial government are reached after the protocol for agreements, which sets the parameters for the particular period of cooperation, is signed.

Applications for funding may be submitted at any time during the fiscal year.

Content of application (action plan)

Preamble

• Overview of the province's/territory's minority language education programs and second language instruction programs.
• (Baseline) reference data for provincial/territorial performance targets and indicators, the performance measurement strategy used and data sources.
• Description of the consultation process established for initiatives undertaken pursuant to the protocol.
• If applicable, measures taken in communication and outreach activities to the other official language group.

Table

• Provincial/territorial initiatives for each outcomes domain funded.
• At least one performance indicator and one target for each outcomes domain funded.
• A breakdown by fiscal year of contributions from the Government of Canada and the provincial/territorial government to expenditures projected for each outcomes domain funded, as well as total expected annual expenditures by initiative.

Evaluation criteria

• Linkages with the objectives of the Intergovernmental Cooperation sub-component.
• Helping move forward and structuring the provision by the recipient of minority language education services.
• Linkages with minority language learning issues.
• Linkages with consultation of the target partners.
• Projected outcomes and impact on area of intervention.
• Relevance of proposed performance measurements.
• Balance between budget and proposed activities.

Funding decisions are based on the above criteria and available funds. All funding decisions are made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Funding terms

Funds are paid under a contribution agreement that specifies the reporting requirements and the terms and conditions of payment.

The Department will assume no responsibility for any contractual commitments entered into by the Applicant prior to confirmation of financial support from the Department.

How to apply

Provincial and territorial governments that wish to apply for funding from the Intergovernmental Cooperation in the area of Minority Language Education sub-component should contact the Official Languages Support Programs of Canadian Heritage.

Contact us

Email

pch.dglo-olsp.pch@canada.ca

Telephone

819-994-2222
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST).

Regional offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage