Statement on Official Languages funding for Campus Saint-Jean

I am pleased to learn that the federal government has finally committed Official Languages funding for post-secondary institutions including Campus Saint-Jean. I fully support the creative funding formula on offer to the province announced today as a way to address Campus Saint-Jean’s immediate funding crisis.

After more than a year of advocating for emergency funding for Campus Saint-Jean in the House of Commons, I am grateful to finally see this announcement and to learn that Campus Saint-Jean has been prioritized for support. It is an indication that the federal government understands the critical role Campus Saint-Jean plays in protecting Canada’s official languages in Alberta and western Canada and in meeting the government’s Article 23 requirements for equivalent support for French in Alberta.

Last week, I joined Alberta NDP Advanced Education Critic David Eggen to urge the federal government to immediately provide emergency funding of $15 million for Campus Saint-Jean, thus ensuring that the campus could survive Jason Kenney’s massive cuts to the University of Alberta. I also asked the federal government to further commit to longer-term sustained funding for the campus.

I now urge Jason Kenney to finally accept federal dollars already earmarked for the campus and to work with the federal government to quickly access the additional funding announced today. Premier Kenney has previously rejected federal dollars for Campus Saint-Jean and abandoned his own obligations to provide funding to the campus in compliance with the 1976 agreement between the campus and the province. Instead, he has chosen to allocate $1.5 million to fight the Association Canadienne-Francais de l’Alberta (ACFA) - representing the oblates of the campus - in court.

While I believe that the government should work with the provinces on funding agreements, Jason Kenney’s belligerence is threatening Campus Saint-Jean’s future. Today’s announcement puts the ball decidedly in the Premier’s court. Clearly the federal government, by requiring a mere 5% match from the province to receive the first year of funding, is seeking an agreement.

The Premier has a decision to make. He either accepts this generous funding agreement or he reveals his intention to dismantle Campus Saint-Jean.