Organizations
Preamble
Purpose
Principles
Joint Committee
Mandate
Signed

A

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ("HRDC")
as represented by
the Executive Director (Prince Edward Island) of
Human Resources Development Canada

and

THE ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY ("ACOA")
as represented by
the Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
and Federal Co-chair Knowledge Economy Partnership

OF THE FIRST PART

AND

THE PROVINCE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
as represented by
the Deputy Minister of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism
and by
the Clerk of the Executive Council and Provincial Co-chair of Knowledge Economy Partnership

OF THE SECOND PART

AND

THE ACADIAN AND FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
as represented by
the Chairperson of La Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin
and by
the Chairperson of La Société éducative de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard

OF THE THIRD PART

PREAMBLE:

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality of the French and English linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development, as well as fostering the full recognition and use of both French and English in Canadian society, as set forth in section 41 of the Official Languages Act;

Whereas HRDC and ACOA are committed to supporting the development and enhancing the vitality of the Francophone and Acadian community in all areas within their purview;

Whereas the Minister of Human Resources Development and the Canada Employment Insurance Commission and the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism on April 26, 1997 signed on behalf of their respective governments the Canada - Prince Edward Island Agreement on Labour Market Development;

Whereas the Government of Prince Edward Island approved a French Services Policy on March 2, 1995, attached as Appendix "A", which indicates the importance given by the Province to improving the delivery of services to the Acadian and Francophone community;

Whereas on August 13, 1993 the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island signed a General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages to strengthen the capability of the Province to communicate and deliver quality services in French, to contribute to the development and vitality of the Francophone community and to promote full recognition of English and French in Canadian society;

Whereas the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island assigns a high priority to human resource development and considers it a key component of economic and social development and to this effect an agreement was signed on December 5, 1994 between the Government of Prince Edward Island and La Société éducative de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard;

Whereas the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island signed the Knowledge Economy Partnership Memorandum of Understanding on February 5, 1997 to develop human resource potential for the future;

Whereas HRDC, ACOA, the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Acadian and Francophone community agree that the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding will be guided by the general provisions of the National Agreement in Principle between the Government of Canada and the Minority Francophone Communities of Canada signed on December 13, 1996;

Now, therefore, the parties agree as follows:

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to set up a mechanism for cooperation between HRDC, ACOA, the Province of Prince Edward Island, as represented by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Executive Council, and the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island as represented by La Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin and La Société éducative de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard.

2.0 Principles

Within the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Parties agree to be guided by the following principles:

a) HRDC, ACOA, and the Government of Prince Edward Island wish to work in full cooperation with the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island in fostering its development, in particular, through the delivery of labour market programs and services to this community;

b) HRDC, ACOA, and the Government of Prince Edward Island wish to work in full cooperation with the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island to foster and promote the development of the knowledge-based economy within that community.

3.0 Joint Committee

3.1 The Parties agree to create a joint committee to be known as the Francophone Human Resources Development Committee.

3.2 Membership will be comprised of senior officials of federal and provincial departments and agencies with a particular interest in the economic and human resource development of the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island, as well as four representatives from the community. Other members may be appointed by each co-chair as appropriate. The co-chairs will be named by the Parties.

3.3 The committee shall meet on a needs basis but at least quarterly.

4.0 Mandate

The committee shall seek to adjust the policies, programs and services of HRDC, ACOA and the provincial government which are related francophone human resources and knowledge-based economy development, so that they foster the development and vitality of the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island. To this end the committee will:

Provide HRDC, ACOA and the Government of Prince Edward Island with advice on new programs, policies and services to be developed to meet the needs of the Acadian and Francophone community;

Facilitate the coordination of local and regional projects and initiatives aimed at human resources and knowledge-based economy development;

Explore the feasibility of using new applications for providing community-based human resource services to a broad range of clients;

Facilitate the exchange of information on human resources, innovative projects and initiatives, and various actions being taken, including monitoring the impact of legislative changes;

Facilitate liaison between community-based groups and government departments and agencies, and between economic partners outside the community.

This Memorandum of Understanding signed in English and French on June 12^th , 1997.

for the Department of Human Resources Development
___________________________

Derek Gee
Director General (PEI)
Human Resources Development Canada

for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
___________________________

Dan Fenety
Vice-President
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Federal Co-chair Knowledge Economy Partnership

for the Government of Prince Edward Island
_________________________

Leo J. Walsh
Deputy Minister
Department of Economic Development and Tourism

_______________________________

Verna Bruce
Clerk of Executive Council and Provincial Co-chair
Knowledge Economy Partnership

for the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island
________________________

Antoine Richard
Chairperson
La Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin

_______________________________

Gabriel Arsenault
Chairperson
La Société éducative de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard