Educacentre decision detrimental to the community

The landlords for College Educacentre have joined the French-language employment service in opposing early contract termination by the provincial government.

The service is housed in the headquarters of Le Cercle des Canadiens Franais, the power-centre for francophone services in Prince George. Executive director Rene Trpanier said the loss of the French employment agency was unjust.

"The Francophones in Prince George and Northern British Columbia are being targeted by the cuts announced by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development," she said. "The employment services offered by the College ducacentre, Prince George's campus, will be cancelled at the end of January, even before the end of the contract. Moreover, the reasons given by the ministry do not match the current service level."

"There is no doubt this decision is detrimental to the Prince George community," added Robert Doyon, president of Le Cercle des Canadiens Franais. "The employment services level offered at the Educacentre campus in Prince George is at a premium and the number of times people come for help amounts to an average of 100 per month. The people who visit the employment service center discover other existing programs on site in the educational and cultural sectors.

This structure facilitates the integration of several newcomers in their new community. "

The entire employment program was established under the federal government more than 10 years ago, but was recently transferred to the provincial government.

"I am appalled by the lack of provincial commitment to official languages of Canada," Trepanier said. "Francophones who live or wish to settle in Prince George should not have to seek employment services at centers that will not respond to their needs."

The officials from the organization said Le Cercle des Canadiens Franais has offered several programs and services to the people of Prince George and surrounding area since 1960. The Prince George campus of the ducacentre College was opened at the French Community Centre in 2000 to provide employment services and since then has expanded to more educational services.

There are about 4, 585 people who use French at home or at work in Prince George, they announced, with 250 of them reporting that they use French at work.