Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities

The Enabling Fund program (EF) is Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) main program to meet its legal and mandated obligations under Section 41 of the Official Languages Act. Subsection 41(1) of the Act commits the Government of Canada to “enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.” Subsection 41(2) requires that positive measures be taken for the implementation of these commitments. Launched in 2005, the EF and its predecessor the Support Fund (1999-2005), is an integral part of the Government’s official language strategy. It is delivered through contribution agreements with a pan-Canadian network of 14 designated community economic development organizations, one in each jurisdiction, with more than 130 employees working in 50 locations across the country. This network of community economic and human resource development leaders serves Canada’s OLMC in partnership with other governments and private sector partners.