INTRODUCTION

This annual report provides an overview of the principal
activities of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-
Britannique spanning the period April 1992 to March 1993.

The Fédération’s programming for 1992-1993 included
activities related to politics, education, provision of services
in French, as well as community, economic and cultural
development. In addition to the issues dealt with in the
programming, three events were of particular interest to the
Fédération and prompted it into action:

-Constitutional negotiations surrounding the
Charlottetown Accord and the constitutional referendum
campaign;

- Lobbying in support of the establishment of the first
francophone school board in British Columbia;

- Organization of a regional seminar on economic
development - “Séminaire régional sur le développement
économique” -and the establishment ofa standing committee
entrusted with developing an economic space within our
francophone community.

The community displayed its vitality most particularly
through cultural activities that contributed to the implemen-
tation of the cultural development policy. The 32 member
associations regularly called upon the expertise of the
Fédération’s personnel to respond to various needs. It is most
certainly because of the solidarity of the association network
and the support shown throughout the constitutional debate
that the Fédération was successful - for the first time in the
history of the francophone community in British Columbia
- in securing a meeting with the Premier, Mr. Harcourt.

Furthermore, “La Fédération des Franco-Colombiens”
acquired a new nameat its last Annual General Meeting. The
new name - La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-
Britannique-was adopted in order to include all francophones
living in British Columbia, regardless of their place of origin.
This change, in addition to all the significant events detailed
in this report, is indicative of the progress the francophone
community in British Columbia is making toward its full
development and toward new partnerships.

THE FEDERATION DES FRANCOPHONES DE LA COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE TAKES PART TO THE
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE AND TO THE REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN

During the 1992-1993 period, constitutional issues were at
the forefront of the Fédération’s priorities. Following the
failure of the Meech Lake Accord, the francophone commu-
nity in British Columbia determined that it would assert its
rights and ensure that any new constitutional agreement
would allow the community to participate fully in the
political and economic growth of British Columbia. When
the process of constitutional reform got under way in the Fall
of 1990, the F.F.C.B. was ready to take on its role in the debate.
Over the next two years of political lobbying, the goal
remained the same: to secure the necessary amendments that
would safeguard the future of our community as well as the
future of other francophone and Acadian communities
throughout Canada. One of our immediate goals was to
secure a Canada Clause and a Charter of Rights and
Freedoms that would recognize government responsibility in
ensuring the vitality and development of our communities.
This goal was attained with the Charlottetown Accord
package.

Meetings with elected officials, including federal and
provincial ministers and MLAs -and even some premiers -
increased considerably. Among the most significant events
of the past year was a meeting in Vancouver on May 4, 1992
between representatives of the francophone community in

The Executive Director, Yseult Friolet and the President, Marie Bourgeois
after a meeting with B.C. Premier, the honourable Mr. Harcourt.

B.C. and Quebec’s Premier Bourassa, during his visit to B.C.
One very important event from this period stands out as a
high point:a first-time meeting on May 11, 1992 between the
Premier of British Columbia and the province’s francophone
community, represented by Marie Bourgeois, the Fédération’s
President, and Yseult Friolet, its Executive Director.
Following this meeting, Mr. Harcourt declared publicly that