English-speaking Community Sets Priorities at Conference

MONTREAL, March 25, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - More than 180 members of the English-speaking Community of Quebec from across the province took part in a community priority setting conference this weekend. The Conference concluded with the signing of a declaration that identifies priorities to ensure a vital and sustainable future. They are: Access to services in English; Community Building; Economic Prosperity; Identity and Renewal; Leadership and Representation; as well as Strong Institutions. To read the Declaration click here.

"The declaration distills these priorities to their very essence to ensure our community sees itself reflected in all of them," said Noel Burke, chairman of the Priority Setting Steering Committee (PSSC), noting that individuals and organizations can attach themselves to these community-wide concerns when working with government and other partners.

The declaration reaffirms the English-speaking community as an integral part of Quebec society and notes that our community must have an equal opportunity to contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political life of Quebec.

The declaration calls upon individuals and community groups to work in a collaborative environment to develop and implement specific strategies that support these priorities; to engage with the Committee to create an action plan for the community based on the priorities identified and validated through the Strategic Priorities Forum process; and to solicit all levels of government to consider these priorities for the purposes of policy and program development in support of the English-speaking community of Quebec.

The declaration, written by the nine-member Committee that governs the process, synthesizes the community's input to come up with the high level priorities of the community. The weekend's conference was the culmination of the first phase of the Strategic Priorities Forum process that included 19 regional and sectoral consultations, five focus groups and an online survey of more than 500 English-speaking Quebecers, all of which sought the community's input on the priorities for a vital and sustainable English-speaking community.

The Declaration was signed, on behalf of the community, by the Priority Setting Steering Committee that was chaired by Burke, the Interim President of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). The committee also includes John Gancz, Cheryl Gosselin, Debbie Horrocks, Leila Marshy, Brad McDonald, Ann Marie Powell, Peter Quilliams and Irene Tschernomor.

The Priority Setting Steering Committee is a standing committee of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) that was set up to assist the community to articulate the community's five-year priorities. The Committee, which oversees the Strategic Priorities Forum, will submit its first report to the community at the QCGN's Annual General Meeting on June 16.

Rita Legault, Director of Communications
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