Posted on 01/08/2010, 12:45 pm, by mySteinbach

An expansion of an existing building in Ste. Anne that houses the South Eastman Regional Health Authority will accommodate a new Bilingual Service Centre as well as offices for the Town of Ste. Anne and other tenants, Premier Greg Selinger announced.
 
“We are pleased to work with the Town of Ste. Anne and have been committed to increasing access to French language services here in this area and in the province,” said Selinger. “We are striving to give the public improved access to a variety of government services, all under one roof and in both official languages.”
 
The addition will be made to the existing building at 30 Dawson Rd. in Ste. Anne and will approximately double the size of the current 6,000-square-foot building.  
 
“The property was purchased with the support of Caisse Populaire La Prairie in Sainte-Anne and will represent no cost to the tax payers,” said Bernard Vermette, Mayor of Ste. Anne. “This project will result in key returns to the community and we are confident the new office space will help promote local development and enhance our economic, tourism and community development initiatives.”
 
The project will provide the public with one-stop access to provincial staff from Francophone Affairs Secretariat, Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs, Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Water Stewardship and Employment Manitoba. The existing building accommodates South Eastman Regional Health Authority employees as well as staff from the Community Development Corporation. Citizens will be able to obtain information in the official language of their choice at the new Bilingual Service Centre.
 
Development of Bilingual Service Centres has been a unique initiative and a first for Manitoba, the premier said. The centres provide more practical and accessible bilingual services and have already been established in St. Boniface, St. Vital, St. Laurent, St. Pierre-Jolys and Notre Dame de Lourdes. 
 
More information on the French Language Services policy of the Government of Manitoba is available at www.gov.mb.ca/fls-slf.