The President of the AMBM and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued the following statement on the occasion of the 12th edition of National Francophone Immigration Week, taking place from November 3rd to 9th, 2024:
The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and its members join their voices with the Manitoba government to highlight National Francophone Immigration Week, which is in its 12th edition this year, under the theme Our Future Heritage.
We welcome the proclamation on National Francophone Immigration Week 2024 published by the Manitoba government, which acknowledges the historic and ongoing contribution of Francophones to Manitoba since the 18th century and underscores the importance of Francophone and bilingual immigration for the growth and diversity of Manitoba’s Francophone community. In its proclamation, the Manitoba government invites Manitobans to take a moment to reflect “on how we can build the future collaboratively.”
We take this opportunity to warmly thank the Honourable Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration, and the Honourable Glen Simard, Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, as great allies of our bilingual municipalities for their unwavering support and commitment to Francophone and bilingual immigration in our province.
Francophone and bilingual immigration is a key factor in the economic and social prosperity of our Francophone and bilingual communities, as well as for Manitoba as a whole. Our bilingual municipalities are experiencing unprecedented growth: from 2016 to 2021, they recorded an increase of more than 8%, significantly exceeding the provincial average of 5%. This historic growth demonstrates the attractiveness of our communities and reinforces our commitment to having the necessary resources to successfully welcome newcomers and families and ensure the sustainable prosperity of our Francophone and bilingual communities.
We are proud to count on the Manitoba government to face the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by this growth. A strengthened municipal-provincial partnership and effective intergovernmental coordination are crucial to align our efforts and capacities to build even more prosperous, welcoming, and attractive communities.
The importance of reliable data for long-term planning of essential services and infrastructure is crucial, particularly for regionalizing our efforts in Francophone and bilingual economic immigration.
Through the strong partnership between the Manitoba government and the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM), our subsidiary is responsible for coordinating the Francophone sub-component of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) under the Invitation to Manitoba initiative. This partnership enables CDEM to attract essential Francophone and bilingual talent to Manitoba, contributing to the development and sustainability of our employers and communities.
Ultimately, we reiterate our commitment to working closely with the Manitoba government to go even further: the AMBM and CDEM are determined to continue making a concrete difference from the ground up.
National Francophone Immigration Week reminds us of the importance of building a prosperous and inclusive future for all Manitobans. Together, the AMBM, CDEM, and the Manitoba government will continue their efforts to ensure that our bilingual municipalities are attractive, welcoming, and prosperous places where our Francophone and bilingual legacy is renewed every day. Through our shared commitment, we will contribute to building a dynamic and open Manitoba, for today and for future generations.
The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 16 local governments committed to providing services in both official languages to their citizens. Together, these municipalities represent the majority of Manitoba’s population. Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership is also at the helm of the AMBM Group, a consortium of three complementary organizations: the AMBM, the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM) and Eco-West Canada (EWC), which specializes in the green economy. These three complementary organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) across the province.
Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, [email protected].
