The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting research and innovation in French, recognizing the strength and value of a dynamic French-speaking research community for the country’s scientific and economic ecosystem. On behalf of Minister Steven Guilbeault, David Myles, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced an investment of $900,000 over three years to support Acfas’ Service d’aide à la recherche en français. This initiative primarily targets researchers in Canada’s minority Francophone communities, including professors, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, in collaboration with post-secondary institutions.
The funding will enable the Service d’aide à la recherche en français to enhance support for researchers by assisting with funding applications, recruiting and training a research advisor, establishing a post-award ethical certification support service, actively promoting its services to key stakeholders, and organizing at least one pan-Canadian event annually to mobilize Francophone minority scientific communities. These measures form part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, which aims to improve French-language research nationwide.
Minister Guilbeault highlighted that Canada’s two official languages are central to the country’s identity, cultural richness, and economic strength, emphasizing that the investment will allow Francophone researchers to access resources necessary for innovative projects and advancing research in French. David Myles underscored the importance of a French-language research ecosystem for the vitality of communities and the country’s scientific prosperity, noting that the funding will strengthen expertise, expand support, and enhance mobilization opportunities across Canada.
Acfas’ Service d’aide à la recherche en français, launched in 2023 with support from both the federal and Quebec governments, builds on the legacy of Acfas, founded in 1923 to promote research, innovation, and scientific culture in the French-speaking world. The organization’s mission includes disseminating knowledge and supporting the scientific approach to improve societal quality of life. The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 recognizes the cultural, social, and economic value of official languages and seeks to strengthen the situation of French-speaking minorities outside Quebec and English-speaking minorities in Quebec.
