Economic Development Initiative

What is the Economic Development Initiative?

In June 2008, the Government of Canada released the 2008–2013 Strategy for Official Languages: A Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada with a budget of $1.1 billion divided among 13 federal departments and agencies. 

The Roadmap assigns responsibility for the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) to Industry Canada and the Regional Development Agencies, including Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) as delivery partners.  The initiative aims to help individuals, businesses, youth and immigrants to flourish in the language of their choice and in their communities.

WD will invest $3.2 million through the EDI over five years towards projects that support business and economic development that encourages sustainable growth in Western Canada’s Francophone communities. 

WD will work with the Francophone Economic Development Organizations and members of the Western Canada Business Service Network to serve the needs of francophone entrepreneurs and western Official Language Minority Communities.

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have further questions concerning the EDI, contact us directly at any of our offices, by email, telephone, fax, or mail.