The Government of Canada has announced over $78 million in funding over five years to support seven organizations, including five post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. This funding is aimed at improving access to French-language health services for Francophone minority communities. The announcement was made by the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, alongside Member of Parliament Ginette Petitpas Taylor.
The investment will support a range of initiatives under the Official Languages Health Program (OLHP). These projects focus on increasing access to care in French, enhancing recruitment and retention of bilingual healthcare professionals, expanding internship and placement opportunities in Francophone communities, and strengthening training programs at Francophone post-secondary institutions.
The OLHP, launched in 2003, is funded through Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages. It supports non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and provincial and territorial governments in their efforts to enhance healthcare access for official language minority communities (OLMCs)—including Francophones living outside Quebec and English-speaking communities in Quebec.
Under the “Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration,” the OLHP is receiving a total of $206.7 million over five years, including an additional $14.5 million to expand its reach. This increased funding will further support the training and retention of bilingual health professionals, the development of health networks, and other innovative projects that address the healthcare needs of OLMCs.
Additionally, as outlined in Budget 2023, the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening the country’s public healthcare system with nearly $200 billion in investments over 10 years. This includes $46.2 billion in new funding to provinces and territories, with $25 billion delivered through bilateral agreements tailored to address each region’s specific healthcare priorities.
