Thank you.
The Alberta Bilingual Municipalities Association, the ABMA, is a not-for-profit association that represents member municipalities in Alberta. Its message is simple and clear: Bilingualism is a driver for economic growth. The ABMA plays a crucial role in Alberta's economic development because it knows that placing bilingualism at the core of municipal economic strategies can help communities create jobs, improve tourism and optimize investment opportunities.
Not surprisingly, Alberta's bilingual municipalities have a vast network of organizations, institutions and businesses that have achieved great success by offering services in French. However, we have to do more to put those networks and achievements on the national map for several reasons, the most important one being that very few people in our province and across Canada know how big and dynamic Alberta's francophone communities are.
The ABMA wants to ensure that municipalities have the tools and resources they need to respond to the needs of francophone newcomers, tourists and businesses. We also want to recognize our country's commitment to the two official languages and build a meaningful, collaborative relationship among francophone communities in Alberta to ensure that they remain economically sustainable for generations to come.
Bilingual communities are in the best position to identify opportunities for greater synergy and collaboration in order to optimize the scope and impact of services provided to the francophone population because they are closest to francophone businesses and residents. By working collaboratively with local and provincial governments, francophone communities across Alberta can develop new ideas, new solutions and a new perspective on what success means in Alberta.
Thank you.