during constitutional negotiations he would be one of those
supporting the provision for the vitality and development of
official language minority communities. Finally, during the
months of July and August 1992, the Fédération undertook
its most intensive lobbying at the multilateral talks on the
Constitution and at the Constitutional Conference in
Ottawa. Throughout the negotiation process we kept up a
media campaign which was intensified during the lead-up to
the referendum. The Fédération, which was a registered

Es a oe

The Federation’s President, Ms. Bourgeois, discusses constitutional reform
with Quebec’s Premier Bourassa.

referendum committee, campaigned as “Les francophones
de la Colombie-Britannique pour le OUI”.

Over the last two years, five briefs were presented before the
various constitutional committees set up by the Federal
Parliament and the Provincial Legislature. On many occa-
sions during the constitutional reform process the Fédération
undertook mass mailings of documentation and letters both
to elected officials and to its members and the community.

Asa result of the constitutional negotiations, the Fédération
forged new alliances with, amongst others, “Les Amis du
Canada/Friends of Canada”, “Affiliation of Multicultural
Societies and Service Agencies of B.C.”, “Social Planning and
Research Council of B.C.” and “British Columbia Organi-
zation to Fight Racism”. The links that existed with the
native groups “United Native Nations” and the “Native
Council of Canada” were strengthened when we were offered
a seat within their delegation during the multilateral
meetings on the Constitution held in Vancouver, Toronto
and Ottawa.

In spite of the rejection of the Charlottetown Accord, the
process of constitutional reform allowed the francophone
community in British Columbia to make significant head-
way in that the government of British Columbia was among
the leaders that came out in favour of the clause support-
ing the vitality and development of official language
communities.

TOWARDS A FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL SYSTEM

Securing governance of its schools remains the primary
tactic of the francophone community in British Columbia
to counter assimilation and to preserve its language and
culture. During 1992, the Minister of Education, the
Honourable Anita Hagen, publicly recognized the province’s
constitutional obligations regarding the education of its
French language minority. During a press conference in
February of 1992, the minister invited public reaction to the
report handed down by the “Special Committee on Minority
Language Education in British Columbia” which, in particu-
lar, proposed the creation of a francophone public school
board. At that time, the campaign led by the Association des
parents francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the
Fédération aimed at raising the awareness of the community,

elected officials and civil servants within the Ministry of
Education was gaining momentum. On December 23, 1992,
the Minister of Education announced the creation by
September 1995 of a francophone school board to govern
education in French as a first language in British Columbia.
Although pleased with the political commitment of the
provincial government, the Fédération was, however, disap-
pointed that the creation of the school board depends on the
financial participation of the federal government. Accord-
ing to the Special Committee on Education, as of the Fall
1993, francophones will be involved in the committee
responsible for setting up the new school board.