Province pledges $7 million for anglophone groups

The Quebec government is giving nearly $7 million in financial aid to organizations that work with anglophone communities in order for them to diversify and expand their offerings.

Kathleen Weil, the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, made the announcement Tuesday morning. Included among the eligible organizations are non-profit groups, social economy organizations including co-operatives and public institutions offering aid to anglophone communities.

The bulk of the funding will go toward the Community Health and Social Services network, which will receive $5.7 million over three years.

It will distribute 93 per cent of the funds to 25 local and regional organizations that it co-ordinates. In addition, the English Language Arts Network (ELAN), Seniors Action Québec and Literacy Quebec will each receive $400,000 over three years, according to a press release from the secretariat that was issued in French only.

The Liberal government created the Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers in November 2017 with the aim of “ensuring that the concerns of English-speaking Quebecers are taken into account in government orientations and decisions in collaboration with government ministries and bodies.”

The government announced last March that the secretariat would receive $24.5 million over six years.