La Butte, NS -June 7, 2010- On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament (West Nova), today announced funding for the Centre provincial des ressources préscolaires de la Nouvelle‑Écosse.

This funding will enable the Centre to provide support to Acadian and Francophone communities in Nova Scotia that wish to establish daycares and early childhood and family centres, as well as to educate governments about the needs of Nova Scotia’s Acadian regions in terms of early childhood services.

“The Government of Canada is convinced that the development of the early childhood sector is crucial to the long-term vitality of official-language minority communities,” said Minister Moore. “We are proud to support the Centre provincial des ressources préscolaires, an organization that is deeply committed to the improvement of programs and services for children in Nova Scotia’s Acadian and Francophone daycare centres, preschools, and kindergartens.”

“The Centre provincial des ressources préscolaires plays a key role in strengthening the place of French in Nova Scotia,” said Mr. Kerr. “The funding from our Government means that in the future, the Centre will be better equipped to meet the needs of children, parents, and educators in our French-speaking communities.”

“Funding provided by the Government of Canada will help us enhance and support the introduction of early childhood services in Nova Scotia’s Acadian and Francophone communities,” said Suzanne Saulnier, Executive Director of the Centre provincial des ressources préscolaires.

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $16,000 through the Community Life component of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage aims to foster the development of Canada’s minority Anglophone and Francophone communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.