Fifth Anniversary of French-language Services Act, Op-ed

NOTE: The following is an op-ed by Graham Steele, Minister of Acadian Affairs.

I would like to take this opportunity to say happy fifth anniversary to the French-language Services Act. The act is vital to Nova Scotia's Acadian and francophone community, and it is a tremendous honour for me to acknowledge this milestone.

Since the act came into effect Dec. 9, 2004, the services offered in French have grown considerably. From the 811 health telephone line and the 511 road conditions line to the translation of news releases and government website material, bilingual signs in hospitals, and bilingual interactive and online services for Access Nova Scotia and others, French-language services are important for francophone Nova Scotians' health and security.

These services, and the many others we offer in French, would not be possible without community involvement. During the last few months, I had an opportunity to witness Nova Scotian Acadians' great passion and pride for their culture, from the perspective of Minister of Acadian Affairs. The dedication of Acadian and francophone community leaders is impressive. They continuously portray the value of the French language in their cultural, economic and everyday life.

French-language services are a shared responsibility between government and our community partners. Government departments and the Office of Acadian Affairs are portals for people in the community to ask for services, and I encourage all Acadian and francophone Nova Scotians to continue with these requests. By working together we can make great strides to develop and maintain the French language for future generations.

As we reach the five-year mark for the French-language Services Act, the province remains committed to the preservation and growth of the Acadian and francophone community. Our goal is to enhance the lives of Nova Scotia's Acadian and francophone families by making services accessible in their first language.

I thank the Acadian and francophone community, the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, the government of Canada, the province's French-language Service Coordinating Committee, the staff of the Office of Acadian Affairs and the public service for supporting the implementation of the act over the past five years.

Thanks to such involvement, the province's ability to provide French services will continue to evolve.