Yellowknife’s Collège Nordique Francophone officials are baffled by a significant funding reduction from the federal government in September. The college, which previously received $2.8 million from the Department of Canadian Heritage, accounting for 63% of its budget, will now only receive about a third of that amount. Executive Director Patrick Arsenault expressed surprise at the drastic decrease, noting they were expecting a slight drop but not to this extent.
The funding changes stem from a bilateral agreement for minority-language education signed between Ottawa and the territorial government in March. Under this agreement, the college will receive $348,000 for action plan implementation, along with $1 million in annual project funding for the next three years. Additionally, the college has been granted $7.7 million in project funding spanning from 2020 to 2025.
Arsenault, who was in Ottawa when the funding cut was announced, met with Official Languages Minister Steven Guilbeault. He mentioned that while significant investments had been made, the budget reduction was hindering their operations and future planning. The college had anticipated the funding cut and had already left three positions vacant since June. However, due to the substantial decrease, they have had to further reduce staff by four positions, impacting seven employees out of a total of approximately 20.
President of the college’s board of directors, Aleksandar Kovacevic, acknowledged the economic context in Ottawa but believed the cuts were severe, especially considering the college’s recent progress. The reduced funding may necessitate difficult decisions in the future, he noted.
Despite the funding setback, the Department of Canadian Heritage mentioned that the college remains eligible to apply for project-based funding. However, Arsenault emphasized that the college requires more than just project funding to fulfill its mandate of supporting minority-language speakers. For Kovacevic, the budget cuts have renewed his commitment to serving the francophone community, viewing it as an opportunity to ensure the college continues to promote French language and culture in the North.