French Services Now Being Offered to Nova Scotians

Acadian and Francophone Nova Scotians can now apply for birth and marriage certificates, renew vehicle registrations, get information about government programs and services, and access other government services in French.

"We are pleased to begin offering French services to Nova Scotians," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "This is the start of a long-term project and will improve services for Acadian and Francophone communities within Nova Scotia."

A long-term French-language services plan outlines initiatives to develop and maintain French-language services in government. First priorities include recruiting bilingual staff, French-language training for existing staff and translating commonly used forms and publications.

To date, high traffic areas of the Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations website have begun being translated, a bilingual web developer has been hired and bilingual staff have been hired in the call centre and customer service offices in the Dartmouth and Yarmouth Access centres.

Establishing a French-language services plan is the first of many successes under 2004's French-languages Services Act. The province, under the leadership of the Office of Acadian Affairs, is working to ensure government policies, programs, and services that reflect the needs of the Acadian and Francophone community of Nova Scotia.

"This is a great starting point for our French-language services and we will continue to work toward providing more services and information to Acadians and Francophones in their language of choice," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Acadian Affairs.

For more information on French services see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/onlineservices/home , call 424-5200 in the Halifax area, or toll-free 1-800-670-4357.